heartily sorry that I am prevented from paying my respects to them as I intended.

I am, Reverend Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

P. S. I had the misfortune to lose myself for a while, after I parted from you, in going from Harborough to Great Bowden. I wandered a considerable time in the dark, and at last blundered upon Kibworth in my way.

TO MR. WARREN.

REV. SIR,

Stretton, Sept. 16, 1723.

I AM informed that the question is still entertained as to inviting me over to preach at Coventry. Without inquiring what is likely to be the result, I think it necessary to let you know, that for many important reasons relating both to Kibworth and Coventry, I have long been absolutely determined not to meddle any further in that affair, and therefore I desire that none of my friends there will give themselves any trouble about it. I heartily wish that the choice of an assistant may issue so as to be most for the advantage of the congregation in general, and for your satisfaction in particular.

I beg the favour of you to give my humble service to my friends at Coventry, and thank them for their kind thoughts of me. I am very much obliged to you for the civility and kindness with which you have always treated me, and am with the utmost sincerity,

Reverend Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

FROM MRS. NETTLETON.

DEAREST BROTHER,

Hampstead, Sept. 21, 1728. AFTER long indulged expectations and many uneasy thoughts about you, to the universal joy of our house, on the 13th of this month I received your welcome letter, and immediately read it to your little wife and my mother, and then went into the next chamber, and read it again to the young ladies. My mother was so overjoyed to hear from you, and so affected with your letter, that indeed she wept while I was reading it. I am heartily glad you got well home, and had a pleasant journey, and should have been pleased if you had had more agreeable companions; but as the time was short, it was of little moment. I hope by this time you are pretty well settled, and more easy in your solitude; yet I could heartily wish you a little good company; though I

doubt not but that you have that best companion, the peace of God, in your own bosom; and besides, you have so many good gentlemen, old and young, in leathern jackets to converse with when alone, that will find your you solitude both pleasant and

profitable.

I am extremely obliged to one of the best of brothers for his tender concern for me, particularly for the share I have in your prayers, which I assure you

prize at a high rate, and hope through mercy I am the better for. I have taken the brandy with milk for I believe about three weeks; and I give my dear brother many thanks for his kind present, and shall continue to take the remedy as long as it agrees with me, until at least, if it please God, that I am better. I question not the continuance of your prayers on my behalf, and hope that you will never forget to beg for me an entire resignation to the Divine Will, a fitness for heaven, and living comforts in dying moments.-I pray that God may make and continue you long a glorious instrument in His hands of much good to many souls.

Poor cousin John died the Wednesday after you saw him; he went out of the world seemingly in a stupor, but was sensible he was dying, and told his wife just before he expired that he wished she could die with him, but never mentioned any thing of another world, nor desired to be prayed by; he died very quietly, as they say, and was buried the Saturday following. Cousin Phil was sent for, and seemed much concerned that he had not seen him alive.

Your brother, I bless God, is well, and desires his service, as does my mother. Your mamma Earbery was here yesterday, with her two pretty daughters. She gives her blessing to her child, and says she was very glad to see him, and will write to him shortly. I am sorry to hear of Miss Kitty's illness, but hope by this time she is perfectly recovered. Pray give my humble service to her and to good Mrs. Jennings. Pray write as soon as you receive this, for your letters are extremely pleasing to,

Dearest Brother,

Your affectionate Sister and humble Servant,

ELIZ. NETTLETON.

TO MRS. BETTY CLARK.

September 24, 1723. It is such an awful business to write to a lady of so delicate a taste and so exact a judgment as Philomela, that I profess I have been seven weeks contriving how I should begin. You will be so just, or at least so kind, as to imagine that I have had a great many fine things floating upon my mind upon such an occasion; but after sundry elaborate sentences which I had composed with indefatigable industry, I could not find one that entirely pleased me, much less could I expect that it would please you. At length I happened to recollect how much time I had

spent in these preparatory studies, and found upon reflection that I had no longer a choice left as to what I might say first, for I perceived it was absolutely necessary to begin with begging your pardon that I had begun no sooner, which I here do by these presents with all humility. In short, madam, you are bound to excuse me in reason and humanity; for you cannot think that I am so stupid as to be insensible of the honour you do me in permitting the correspondence, and here you have it under my hand that it was only a respectful silence, and proceeded from the profound veneration which I entertain for your person and your judgment.

Had it indeed been an affair of less importance than paying my respects to Philomela, I might have excused the delay by the great variety of business which has lain upon my hands. You must know, madam, that I have just been removing my household goods; and from that dismal solitude in which I have remained buried ever since I came to Kibworth, I am now emerged into a very agreeable family, where I have as pleasant society as I can ever expect when absent from you. Besides this important business, which I have just dispatched, I have lately had an invitation to a large congregation in Worcestershire, which has taken up many of my thoughts. There are almost a thousand people, many of them very substantial tradesmen, so that there would be a comfortable maintenance for a minister and his family. I confess it was a sort of temptation; but the people