know any one circumstance of your character that was a little defective, I would be sure to expatiate upon it out of pure good nature.

You see, madam, I can give reproof and instruction, when I see occasion, as well as my aunt. Remember, you must have as much consideration as I had, and bear it patiently, because it is for your good! I am glad that you have put such a gentle interpretation upon those words in your last letter, which I was ready to complain of as too rigorous. As for my ideal charmer, she is more orderly than could be expected; and I believe the reason is, because a hurry of business before the vacation leaves me but little time to converse with her.

I doubt not, madam, you would make an excellent philosopher, if you would but give up your mind to it. For you argue with great strength of reason about a variety of subjects, and your maxims on the education of youth are so very sage and well digested, that, to make you a very homely compliment, you talk more like a good old gouvernante, that has had the experience of fifty years, than a fine young lady, who has but just danced out of her teens.

You do me a great deal of honour when you invite me to be your chaplain. And really I am fond of the proposal, because I am sure to be very much improved by your conversation, and you will give me excellent assistance in composing my sermons. But you must know, madam, I am under a pre-engagement to my mamma, in case she wants me; but, if she does not, I am at your service. On second

thoughts, I should rather advise that you and your old gentleman contrive to live with her, that so I may have the pleasure of serving and conversing with both together.

Now I talk of this old gentleman! I profess, madam, I wonder you are not ashamed, I speak it with reverence to my aunt, to mention him as you do: "a good natured old soul, that has his coffers full of the good things of this life, and takes me for better or worse." Is it not a shameful thing that an agreeable young lady, that has a great fortune of her own, and is capable of making any man in the world as happy as she pleases, should talk of throwing herself into the arms of an old, dry, unsociable mortal (for unsociable he will be let him be ever so good natured), only for the sake of his full coffers. I profess my blood rises at such a profanation, and I should immediately break out into an heroic rage, but that I suppose there is no actual occasion. However, I have a copy of verses a little to this purpose, that may divert mamma and you at a more convenient season.

I am extremely obliged to you for your learned thoughts on the subject of love. As far as I am capable of judging, they are very elegant and judicious; and some of them will be of service to me in my composition; though others are too gay and humorous for a pulpit. You talk of restoring that generous passion, which in this present age is degenerated into selfishness and baseness; and indeed, madam, when you and mamma have pitched upon

my mistress, I design to give the world a noble example of a constant, unsullied, and well conducted passion; yet, as it will certainly be my fortune to fall in love with a person that I do not deserve, I am afraid you will be ready to call it selfish and mercenary. It is true, having no estate of my own, I must look a little after the dross of mammon; yet I am sure you will never see me follow an old, haggard, spleen-blighted soul, for the sake of her full coffers.

As for the discourse I am about, it is not intended to restore love; but which, perhaps, is more necessary, to moderate and restrain it; and to show the unhappy consequences it leads to when not under the regulation of religion and prudence. There will come in some odd speculations by the by, as "why students are more amorous than other men? and why those marriages are not always the most happy that are preceded by a violent love?" How I shall manage it I cannot tell; but I am afraid it will not, after all, be fit for your perusal. I am sure it will never bear your criticism.

I am extremely concerned for the persecution you suffered from your twenty-four admirers, for I think that was the sum total. I concluded that the merry confessor was my friend and brother Mr. Mead; but I cannot imagine whom you mean by wise Sam! I am sure it cannot be Mr. Clark of St. Albans, for all his appetites to kissing are mortified, and he never goes about it but with fear and trembling. I suppose, however, that it was some Reverend Sir; and if it were, I am sorry that you beat him. I thought

our cloth had always protected us, and that we had never occasion to exercise our carnal weapon. I hope, for the sake of my dear brethren, that all the ladies have not this amazonian turn. For my own part, I am not much concerned, for I have almost forgotten what kissing is. However, since I know it would be too great a presumption to use so much familiarity with my aunt, I must beg my cousin Robson to inform me, whether the eyes or the lips are made use of upon that occasion. I remember, that formerly I had a gift that way; and perhaps, with a little labour, might be able to recover it, especially under so good a mistress. And I am the more inclined to attempt it, because you know, Solomon tells us, that there is a time to kiss, Eccles. iii. 5. Our translators by a mistake render it to embrace; but the original Hebrew word properly signifies to kiss. However, if the ladies are very much bigoted to their English Bible, we young scholars must yield ourselves to their argument and their phrase.

But to have done with my criticisms, which may perhaps seem pedantic, (but you know it is good to have a little Hebrew in our letters for variety; besides, it is a pretty piece of learning, which methinks the ladies would not be ignorant of), I intend to set out for London to-morrow sennight. I shall come by the Northampton coach, and spend a few days at St. Albans; and I think to trouble my mamma with a letter from thence. In the mean time, madam, give my humble duty to her, and assure her that I am a very good boy, and so shall see her face with

great comfort. I hope you will pardon the length of this letter, because it is at least a sign of the extraordinary respect with which I am, honoured madam, Your most excellent Nephew

and obedient humble Servant,

TO MR. CLARK.

P. DODDRIDGE.

REVEREND SIR,

May 2, 1722. I COULD not neglect this opportunity of paying my respects to you, though there is nothing in your last that actually requires an answer; and I am the more willing to embrace it, because I know Mr. Scott and Mr. Burroughs are desirous of the honour of being known to you, and will be glad to be thus introduced into your company. They leave Kibworth several days before the vacation, and Mr. Jennings advises them to travel in the coach. The fare of the Leicester stage is twenty-two shillings; but Mr. Jennings and I think to set out for Northampton in a chaise which a friend left us; to call at Lady Russell's in the way, and so take the flying coach at Northampton, which will not be near so chargeable. I hope therefore to see you the same day that I mentioned in my last.

Mr. Jennings removes to Hinckley next week. The people at Kibworth have, partly by his advice, sent an invitation to Mr. Watson, of Mount Sorrel.