to spend the Christmas with his en age of study, long past. For myfriend, the master of St. John's. self, I can only say, I have the same From whence, when he heard that appetite for knowledge and learned you was come to town, he intended converse I ever had; though not to go up, and spend the rest of the the same appetite for writing and winter there on a trial; so that, if printing. It is time to begin to live it agreed with him, he would spend for myself; I have lived for others every winter there. He mentioned longer than they have deserved of nothing of the state of his health, me. I have had, from Dr. Balguy, further than what he had told me at a curious letter of what passed in Bath, at the latter end of the year, the house of commons, on sir George that he was of late afflicted with an Saville's motion for bringing in his asthma, and that the air at Winches- bill for limiting the rights of the ter was too sharp for him. crown, by prescription. He was supported admirably well by our

P. S. In applauding your wis- friend, who, mentioning the case of dom, I forgot all my selfishness. But, the duke of Portland (indeed the ocwhere a whole letter is free from it, casion of the motion), was answered, it may be allowed to appear in a as to that point, by Norton, with a postscript. Your absence will be a challenge to debate it then, or elsegreat mortification, as well as loss to where; and in a manner, according us both.

LETTER CXI.

to his wont, a little brutally, though of the same side, as to the main question of subjecting the crown to the prescriptive laws of society. The truth was, that Norton, when attor

The Bishop of Gloucester to Mr. ney-general, had approved of, and Hurd.

advised the court measure against the duke of Portland. The opposi

Prior Park, Feb. 24, 1768. tion lost the motion, but by a very I AM glad to understand, by yours small majority, of 134 against 114. of the 19th, that Thurcaston pro- Two or three posts ago I received mises to set you right in your health. a letter from Mr. Yorke, in which

I do intend to write to the two are these words :-" Mr. Hurd is rechiefs in a little time. Instead of tiring to his hermitage, till Easter 4007. I have destined 5007. for this term: Mrs. Yorke is become an atbusiness; thinking, on reflection, tentive and admiring hearer of him. that 400% would be too scanty for Her good works must supply my depurpose. The 5001. being in 4 fects."-As yours now supply mine per cent. annuities, will always bear in that place.

the

that interest. The course four years, if three sermons a year; or three years, if four sermons. So much for that matter at present. I hope, that not only my Lecture, but your

LETTER CXII.

cester.

self, will be benefited, in reputation Dr. Hurd to the Bishop of Glouat least, by its commencing with you. Nor will you be hurried; for, at soonest, it will not begin till after the next long vacation, or with the new year.

Thurcaston, July 18, 1768.

I was extremely happy, my dear lord, to find three of your kind letYou talk (and well) of your gold-ters, on my return to this place. I

shall take them in the order of their good; but the keen atmosphere of Oxdates. ford may not agree with his constiThat of the 5th, which contains tution. It is well, if he has no betthe transcript to Mr. Yorke, has so ter reason for taking this degree, much of yourself in every word, that than one of the half dozen pleasant I cannot but be tenderly affected by ones you invent for him. I think it it. Your lordship knows how to certain the two Sisters will act in work up an ideal picture in such a concert on this occasion. way as is likely to make it very ac- Poor Dr. Atwell's death throws a ceptable to the party to whom it was good living into the hands of Mr. presented. Mason (for his late curate, Upton, told I am glad to find that the Life of me it was capable of great improvePetrarch did not disappoint your ex- ment), and will, I hope, restore peace pectations. I must, at my leisure, to the chapter of Gloucester. look over these three volumes. was a man of sense and learning;

He

This

Your short note of the 6th calls but had a turn of mind too busy, upon me to wish you joy of having and a temper too acrimonious, for put the last hand to your generous his own ease, or that of others, with and pious donation. Mr. Yorke, I whom he had any near connexion.— suppose, will soon notify to me my Whom does your lordship think of appointment to be your first preach-making rural dean in Stow deaner. 'Tis true, as you say, my own ery? ease will be sacrificed to the occasion; I thank you, my dear lord, for but that sacrifice would be well made, your congratulations on my advanceif I could hope to answer your de- ment to the doctorate; though I sign in any tolerable degree, and to doubt it will seem a little incongrusupport the honour of your Lecture; ous in me to combat the scarlet which last will very much depend whore in her own vestments. on this first essay. I can only as- did not JOSEPH MEDE; who should sure you of my best endeavours to have been my example in every thing. do both. I think I may promise not But your lordship is too reasonable to disgrace your institution by any to expect either the talents or the extravagancies at setting out: and modesty of that incomparable man, this caution, on such a subject, and in your little adventurer against Bain such times, may not be without bylon. After all, if I am defective its merit. in this quality, you must, in part, asI now come to your favour of the cribe it to yourself, who have contri10th. The compliment from the buted so much to make me vainer than University to our friend was out of I ought to be: witness what you say the common forms: but his services of your portico-reading, in the close to the body have been uncommonly of this letter which I am now answergreat, and the sweetness of his man-ing. But you suffer, I doubt, for ners makes him very popular. your complaisance: for was not the Little Wat was sent back without rheumatic pain you complain of, the a degree. The professor advised fruit of regaling over my Anti-Leland him to try his fortune again at Ox-in fresco?

term.

ford, rather than return to Cam- Accept my best wishes for yourbridge, as he talked of doing next self, and for those who are so dear He even told him, that suc- to you at Prior Park and at Clavercess at Cambridge would not wipe ton; and believe me to have the fideoff the dishonour of this rejection by lity you so kindly ascribe to your his own university. The advice was ever affectionate R. HURD.

Dr. Balguy's company, which, if he be a man of his word, you will have, suppose, in a few days, and then he will be assistant in our correspondence. I desire no larger a compass

Prior Park, Dec. 26, 1768. than you two will comprehend: the My dearest friend, circle will not only be large, but perYou make me very happy in your fect, while one leg is fixed, and the assurance to me of your perfect reco- other always running. My dearest very. Had I lived in the time of Mr. Hurd, ever yours,

Tully, and in his friendship, as I live in yours, I should have sacrificed to Esculapius in behalf of your honest and skilful surgeon.

You give me equal satisfaction in

W. GLOUCESTER.

LETTER CXIV.

the promise you make, of never de- Mr. Warburton to the Rev. Dr. Dod

clining me nor my friendship, when

it is convenient or useful to you.

*

dridge.

London, April 19, 1738.

Rev. and worthy sir,

A bishop, more or less, in this world, is nothing; and perhaps of as small account in the next. I used I FOUND the very agreeable favour to despise him for his antiquarian- of your letter of the 13th instant in ism; but of late, since I grew old London, where I am lately come for and dull myself, I cultivated an ac- a few days.

quaintance with him for the sake I can now easily forgive the Counof what formerly kept us asunder. try Clergyman,* as owing to him, Had he lived a little longer, I should in some measure, the acquisition of have been capable of succeeding him such a friendship as I flatter myself, in the high station of his president- sir, to reap in you. And though you ship. We laugh at the wrong heads give so polite a turn to that occasion, we neither care for, nor have to do I must never suffer myself to believe, with; but it is otherwise when our that it was any merit in my book, but friends are struck with this malady. a generous indignation against an It seems poor Towne thought my si- abandoned libeller, that has procurlence (which was so short that I did ed me the honour of so considerable not advert to it) was mysterious; so a patroniser.

he wrote me the enclosed; which, I will assure you, sir, that, next to together with my answer on the the service of truth, my aim in writblank, it is not worth while to send ing was to procure myself the favour back. I took the liberty to mention and friendship of good and learned your name; for his theme wanted an men. So that you will not wonder example. that I accept the friendship you are

Ralph is now at home, and taller, pleased to offer me in so generous better, and wiser; if not by some and polite a manner, with all the inches, yet by some lines. As to pleasure that gifts most esteemed his learning, I leave that to his mas-amongst men are generally received ter, with the same implicit faith that a good catholic does his salvation to the church.

*In January, 1737-8, Mr. Warburton published the first volume of the Divine Legation of Mo&c. and in March, a Vindication of the auYou now only want our dear friend thor of that work from the aspersions of the Coun

* Bishop of Carlisle, Dr. Lyttelton.-H.

ses,

try Clergyman's Letter in the Weekly Miscellany of Feb. 14, 1737. The professed editor of the Miscellany was William Webster, D. D.

with. Difference of religious per-ries. The necessity of consulting suasion, amongst sincere professors, books only to be met with here, has never was, I thank God, any reason brought me to Cambridge; but my of restraining or abating my esteem long nights in company make my for men of your character in life and mornings by myself so very short, learning. that I am likely to return as wise I have read your proposals for the as I came; which will be in a few Family Expositor, and have enter-days.

tained, from the specimen, so high Before I left the country, I had an opinion of your notes and para- the pleasure of receiving your Famiphrase, that, had I any thing material ly Expositor. My mother and I took on the gospels, I should be very cau- it by turns. She, who is superior to tious, (without affectation,) of laying me in every thing, aspired to the them before so accurate a critic, not- divine learning of the improvements, withstanding all the temptations I while I kept grovelling in the human should have of appearing in so ho- learning in the notes below. The nourable a station. But the truth is, result of all was, that she says she is I have little of this kind on the evan- sure you are a very good man, and I gelists worth your notice, and your am sure you are a very learned one. work is already in the press: but you I sat down to your notes with a great shall be sure to command what I deal of malice, and determined resohave on the other parts of the New lution not to spare you. And let me Testament on occasion, if of any ser- tell you, a man who comments on vice to you. In the mean time, I the Bible affords all the opportunity make it my request to be admitted in a caviller could wish for. But your the list of your subscribers. I shall judgment is always so true, and your pay the subscription money to Mr. decision so right, that I am as unproHett, but shall take no receipt, be-fitable a reader to you as the least of cause I would have one from your- your flock.

self, in order to engage you to begin A friend of mine, Dr. Taylor of a correspondence, from which I ex- Newark, (M. D.) who has seen your pect to receive so much benefit and book, desires to be a subscriber. If pleasure. you will be so good to order a book I am greatly indebted to you, sir, to be left for him at Mr. Gyles's, he for your good prayers. I beg you has orders to pay for it.

would do me the justice to believe I have taken the liberty to enclose you do not want mine, being, with two or three papers of proposals, just the utmost esteem and sincerity, now offered to the public by my dear sir, your most affectionate hum-friend, Dr. Middleton, for his Life of ble servant.

Tully. I am, dear sir, your very affectionate friend and brother.

LETTER CXVI.

Mr. Warburton to Dr. Doddridge.

Cambridge, April 4, 1739.

May 28, 1741.

Dear sir,

I WRITE to you amidst a strange

mixture of entertainments and study

THIS day sevennight Mr. Gyles

between the college-halls and libra-gave Mr. Fowler himself the remain

ing sheets, which I suppose you have distressed sister and her children received by this time. (who all live with me) the small reAfter an extremely fatiguing jour-venue it has pleased God to bless me ney in the stage coach, with very in- with, with much greater satisfaction different company, increased by worse than others spend their's on their taken up on the road, I reached Mr. pleasures. I do not know how it is, Gyles's between eight and nine last but though I am far from being an night. hero, yet I find Brutus expresses my

I have abundance of thanks to re-exact sentiments, when he says to turn for the very friendly entertain- Cicero, Aliter alii cum suis vivunt. ment I met with at Northampton, from Nihil ego possum in Sororis meæ Liyou and your excellent lady. I must beris facere, quo possit expleri voluntell you frankly, you have more happi- tas mea, aut officium.* But you will ness than usually comes to the share of reprove me, I know, for this false moone man, and, to make it the more ex- desty in apologizing for this compaquisite, of several kinds. Providence rison; and say, where is the wonder, has treated you with a feast of many that a man, who pretends to be a courses; which none but a good Le- Christian, should not come behind a vite under the old law, when the dis- pagan, how great soever, in the perpensation was exact, could fairly pre-formance of moral duties. However tend to. That you may long enjoy this may be, I can assure you my only every part of it, especially "that last concern on this occasion was for an and best-which shares and doubles incomparable mother, whom I feared all the rest," is the earnest prayer the misfortunes of a favourite daughof, dear sir, your most affectionate ter would have too much affected. brother and friend.

But, I thank God, religion, that religion which you make such amiable drawings of in all your writings, was more than a support to her. But I ask pardon for talking so long of myself. This is a subject I never choose to talk of, yet I could not forbear mentioning it to a man I so much esteem, and whose heart I know to be so right.

I

I SHOULD not have been so long in making my best acknowledgments It was with great concern I found for your last kind letter, had not my Mrs. Doddridge so ill at Bath. absence from home, and a late un- know the grief this must have occahappy domestic affair, prevented me, sioned you. But I know your suffiand engrossed all my thoughts-the ciency. I trust in God she has by misfortunes of an excellent sister and this time received the expected beneher children, by her husband's ill fit from the waters. It was by accisuccess in trade, yet attended to with dent I saw her name in Leake's book the utmost honesty and sobriety; so (for then I had not received your that, to his own ruin, he has been a last) a little before I left Mr. Allen's. considerable benefactor to the public I visited her twice. The first time while in trade, and his creditors at she was going out to drink the waters, last no losers, but himself undone. the second time a visiting: so I had I do not know whether this be an al- not the pleasure of much of her comleviation or aggravation of the misfortune. But I can tell you with the utmost truth, that I share with this

*All do not live alike with their relations. As for me, I cannot satisfy my wishes nor my duty in kind offices to my sister's children.