events and characters which it records. It forms the foundation of all authentic history; and there is one thing in its own history which is very curious, but very little known; namely, that Moses was not the Author of it but only the Editor; that is, he did not compose the facts of which it consists into a narrative in his own words, but merely collected several distinct ancient narratives into one. I could in a conversation with you show you that the first chapter, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd verses of the second, were written by one person, and the remaining part of the second to the end of the third by another; while the story of Cain and Abel is in a style very different from the former two. The fifth chapter has all the character of a distinct table of Genealogy; and the chapters from the beginning of the sixth to the end of the ninth are remarkable for brevity of diction, but at the same time for breadth and comprehensiveness of language. The same observations may be applied to the remaining parts of the book: some parts of which are evidently a translation from hieroglyphics (i.e. sacred engravings— figures of animals which each stood for a word or idea) into alphabetical language. I say these things to awaken your curiosity, which is the mine out of which all knowledge and truth are derived, provided its inquiries be rightly directed at first. Curiosity every day enlarges the mind with new discoveries of truth-fills it with genuine light; but if at the outset curiosity fixes itself upon certain dazzling fictions, and embraces doctrines which allure and charm the imagination without satisfying the reason, then the light which the mind thinks it receives is only darkness. Take heed, therefore, my dear child, as the Scriptures advise, that the light which is in thee be not darkness.' We are all very well. From your most affectionate father, "JOHN HODGSON." Soon after Hodgson's removal to Whelpington, he received a kind letter from T. W. Beaumont, Esq., offering him the perpetual curacy of Hexham, then vacant, the value of which was about 150l. per annum, personal residence being required. This small benefice he of course declined. Mr. Beaumont's letter is dated on the 6th of October in this year. TO THE REV. J. RAINE, Whelpington, 7 Dec. 1823. Have you ever sought for the original instrument which gave the rectory of my parish to Newminster Abbey? You will remember that the record of it has been cut out of the Bishop's register. "I am still at war with the Radicals at Jarrow, and feel a determination to withstand them: for, if the Easter dues be given up, all my plans for double duty at Jarrow and Heworth will fall to the ground, because the remaining revenues will be inadequate to the support of two curates. It grieves me much too that I have had no answer to my last application through Mr. Darnell, whether, since my removal hither, I might expect that the piece of ground adjoining Heworth Chapel-yard would be enfranchised by the Dean and Chapter, for the purpose of building a parsonage-house there. I bought the lessee's interest in it in the full expectation that it would be conceded to the living. "You will see by the Durham Chronicle that, if radicalism should once prevail, I am foredoomed to destruction. I have not been more than once in Newcastle these two months, but the last time I was there I had the honour to see the bill-sticker posting me on the walls of the Exchange in a very conspicuous manner. But, as the defamation of the clergy is the only source which the Radicals have now left to make a livelihood out of, I must submit to take my share of their bespattering. "I got last week the third volume of Mr. Surtees's book, the splendour of which will certainly be enough for the eyes of the Newcastle critics. Sir John Swinburne is in raptures with it. I have not seen his brother. I do not know how to write to Surtees about it. Will you do me the favour to say that I have received it, and that I am very greatly his debtor, not only for it, but for favours which I can never repay him or be too grateful for? I really find it the most arduous of all tasks to write to my friends about productions of their own brain with which they may favour me; because mere dry thanks for a book which has real intrinsic excellence in it are but mean and sordid stuff as returns for such a favour as Mr. Surtees has conferred upon me, and I know him too well to sit down and con over words and sentences for fine phrases and expressions about the labour and genius that have been expended on the work. "Mr. Taylor too has been here from Sunderland not long since, and he said something about Mr. Surtees having had some communications with me respecting the embellishments of my book, which, at the time, I did not understand rightly, and answered in a negative manner; for which I was heartily vexed when I was left here alone to reflect upon what he had meant; as Mr. Surtees certainly not only gave me ten pounds towards them, but mentioned other assistance that would be given when it began to show itself again sub die.* "I have been long wishing to write to you, and have far more to say than I can recollect now. Of dilapidations I have pocketed about 1441. and expect the remainder soon. Mr. Gardener's executors sent a surveyor from Newcastle, who saddled them with a little more than Mr. Fairclough had charged. "There is a mighty mass of papers in the Tower, which were brought from Whitehall about seven years since, concerning the Great and the Scotch Rebellions: but when Mr. Lysons shewed them to me they were unsorted: possibly they may contain the information you are in quest of. But does not the pedigree tell against your supposition? or, if the place in question was sequestered, did it not pass by consent of Government to the Dilston family? Was not the estate restored with the Restoration? The date of the first Lord Derwentwater's marriage with Katherine Fenwick may possibly lead you to some conclusions on the subject. Look into Dugdale and such other authorities. I will not be idle, but will call at Capheaton to-morrow and try what Sir J. S. can furnish me with; but I cannot write to you again on the subject till our next post-day after to-morrow, which is Thursday. This is a dull, wild, and dreary place in winter, and you will be disappointed to hear a worse account of it, viz., that the living turns out to be at the least 1007. a year less than it was represented to the bishop. The account sent him was taken from the agent's accounts for 1820, when lamb and wool as well as the land were at much higher rates than now. The land then was 170l., now 130l. But I am not complaining; only telling you how things are. Most truly yours, "JOHN HODGSON." "Mr. Tate has never sent me the Eriypappa for Dawes's monument, which has been ready for it since May. Shall you see him at Christmas? I am ashamed to teaze him about it. "To THE Rev. J. Baise.—T De 229-Plenty of sheils but no pears. I went & Intearen in Henis, mi spent all day in rummaging the Recori Lisera nere n rest I'ma canon ie Meiden; but, though I met with large Pige 3. Is and rundles of Japers labeled • Sequestrations." I met vin nothing nat br freny upon the point to which you directed me to steer. Tu must take 1 ir granted that Sir William Fenwick's estates were sai mery beause they were ordered to be surveyed and Esposed. Nothing was more frequent than for estates to le long der sequestration and with the hammer lifted over them, and yes so be at length alowed the miles they in truth belonged to, after heavy bribes had suht the Commissioners justice. This is everywhere apparent in the petitions and correspondence respecting the property of the Swatumes, ectcerning which the Record closets at Capheaton afford arms of prot "MY DEAR SIR, To W. C. TREVELYAN, Esq Whelpington, 27 Dec. 1823. "I am very much obliged by the loan of the MSS., which I return; and which have afforded me much useful information for my work. You will not, I know, be surprised to hear that the Whelpington lava rests upon a flagged floor. I opened the spot yesterday. Around the outsides the floor was thickly covered with charcoal, and above it with broken pieces of whinstone and about five inches of clay, which contained a few bones. The place is certainly very curious; but I have been so far wrong in supposing it to have had its origin in natural causes that I dare not attempt to say whether it has been an unsuc cessful attempt to burn whin into lime, or to roast it previous to subjecting it to fusion into iron. Believe me to be always most truly yours, "JOHN HODGSON." To W. C. TREVELYAN, Esq. "MY DEAR SIR, Whelpington, 30 Dec. 1823. "I have sent as many impressions of vegetables as the basket wall hold, and any of those that are left, excepting a very few, you are most perfectly welcome to. Should you wish for more, or better impory satonya, Mr. Hill, of Kenton, will, I am sure, be most happy to order them to be collected for you in Fawdon Colliery; and if you do not like to apply to him yourself I shall be glad to do so for you. The speci mens on the top of the basket are from Jarrow Colliery; the rest from Fawdon. Those figured thus [a sketch], appear to me to have belonged to a very large plant, consisting of numerous branches, lessening in thickness very gradually, but very sensibly. Some of them I have seen have a sort of leaf or arm growing from the under-angle of each quarry, thus [a sketch]. The leaves where the quarries are of this size [a sketch] are about three inches long, ridged on the outer side, and sulcated on the lower surface, [a sketch]. "I did not ever suppose the spot I opened last Friday was of the same active volcanic nature as those mountains which throw out lava; but that the contents of the place had been melted and retained in their original situation; in the same manner as the old red sandstone on Little Mellfell, in Cumberland, certainly has been at its junction with the trap-rock, on the east side of that hill. The unfused stones around the outside of the bottom of the kiln and those in the fused mass are all of about the same sizes as are usually broken for lime, and of about the same size as the masses of iron subjected to the roasting-ovens before they are put into the furnace to smelt. The flags were much too thin and too loosely laid to justify the supposition that the place had ever been a dwelling-house. But I will talk to you more upon this subject when I have the pleasure of seeing you, which I will certainly do on Thursday if I possibly can; but, as I have my amanuensis here at present, I must not indulge myself with staying at Wallington all night, but be at home to see him at work by daylight on Friday morning. Most truly yours, "JOHN HODGSON." |