His

He treats Mr. Jennings's lectures with the utmost contempt, and has frequently said that he thinks himself capable of composing much better. airs, you are sensible, make him very ridiculous; and his quarrelsome temper, which he indulges without any regard to prudence or gratitude, makes his companions the more ready to expose him. His friendship with me has long been at an end; but, for my own sake, I treat him with civility. I know he has imposed upon me in very many instances, and you know I dislike him. He has no intimate companion but Mr. Burroughs, whom he had wheedled to bear his charges to London. I do not desire to expose his character; nay, on the contrary, I design to all the good things of him at London, that I think he deserves but I use this freedom with you, that you may learn never to trust him, and not to be concerned at his unaccountable behaviour towards you.

say

I think, sir, you inquire about our Homilies; you know we should regularly have one every week ; but as we have had several interruptions, (from the old lady's death and Mr. Jennings's frequent journeys to Hinckley), Mr. S. and I have made only three a piece, and Mr. Some two. Mr. S.'s are very excellent, the subjects are Benevolence and the Government of the Passions. His style is nervous and unaffected; and yet his cadences are not very harmonious. His thoughts are well digested, and his reasoning just; his compositions are crowded with excellent thoughts, but more calculated to inform the judgment than to entertain the imagination or command the passions. Mr. Some is elegant, pathetic, and harmonious, and

deals much in similies. His thoughts are not ranged in a very exact order, nor does he always keep close to his subject; yet it is impossible to hear him without being charmed. I observe, that he has some sentences which are incomparably fine, and far superior to the rest of the discourse; and as these sometimes appear to have been brought in, and connected a little unnaturally, I am ready to suspect that they are not his own: many of them, I believe, are Norris's; and some of them are fine enough to be yours. His subjects are the Love of God and a Heavenly Conversation.

I have made three discourses already, as I hinted above; they are on Industry, Pride, and the Pleasures arising from Verse. I will assure you, sir, it is my sincere opinion, that there is nothing extraordinary in them, though they passed off tolerably well from the pulpit. They are, at least, very unfit for your perusal; yet, as I can deny you nothing, you may command a sight of them when I see you next, but I should be ashamed for them to appear at Findern. Most of the thoughts, as well as the subjects, are trite, and the style is too much neglected. I shall heartily submit them to your correction, when we meet at London or Hampstead. In the mean time, sir, give me leave to acknowledge, that if there be any thing pardonable in them, I owe it in a great measure to your conversation and friendship. I am charmed with the thoughts of seeing your sermon on Gen. xlvii. 17, knowing I have every thing to expect from it; and therefore must beg the favour of you to send it to me after the vacation, and I will transcribe it, and return the

copy; for I would not give you the trouble of writing it out. There is no need of spreading your reputation at Kibworth, for every body here acknowledges the charms of your compositions; therefore, it is not to serve you, but to oblige them, that I shall take care to put it into their hands. I should have been glad of an opportunity of showing it to Mr. Clark, who is not acquainted with your merits and accomplishments, and has so just a taste of fine writing, that I am sure he would be very agreeably entertained with it.

I heartily rejoice in Mr. Cater's recovery, and that he still continues so constant to his excellent friend.

that, upon the

I hope he would pardon me, if I say character you have given me of him, I already esteem him, and hope I shall some time or another have an opportunity of paying my respects to him in person. In the mean time, sir, I desire that you would give my humble service to him, and assure him that I think it an honour that he is pleased to mention my

name.

I hope, my dear sir, you will pardon the inaccuracy of this letter, which I write in the utmost haste, and which I shall hardly have time to review. When you favour me with an answer, direct it to Mr. Nettleton's, on Hampstead Heath, near the Windmill.

I am, with the utmost respect and sincerity,

Dear Sir,

Your affectionate Friend and obliged Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

P.S. Mr. Jennings and family give their service. I set out for London in the morning with Mrs. Jennings in the coach. Mr. Grey is likely to settle at Newport Pagnel. Mr. Jennings removes to Hinckley; and Mr. Watson, of Mount Sorrel, whom I consider as an incomparable preacher for the Dissenters, is likely to come in his room. Mr. Richards is come from London, and preaches at Kibworth and Hinckley, as there is occasion. Pray let me know in your next whether you have seen the collection of Sir William Temple's Letters in two volumes octavo. If you have, give me your thoughts about it; for I always read a book with more satisfaction and profit, when I have your judicious reflections upon it. I send this by Mr. Cope.

TO MR. CLARK.

Hampstead, July 6, 1722.

REVEREND SIR,

I DESIGNED to have waited upon you on Saturday, but the rain hindered me. There was also some necessary business that detained me in London till last night, and my sister is so urgent with me to spend the rest of my time with her, that I can scarcely deny her; so that I am afraid I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you till about seven o'clock on Sunday. I hope that nothing will then happen at St. Albans to rob me of the pleasure of your company. I am very glad the end of the vacation is so near; for I have been tired of this idle life a pretty while since; and yet I have not known how to settle to any important business at

Hampstead, much less at London. I have been to wait upon my friends, and the executor, and they all treated me with a great deal of civility; but in some respects this journey has not been so agreeable as the last, for I have not received any money since I saw you in town, except a guinea of Mr. Wright, the merchant. My brother, sister, and Mr. Robertson are well, and give their service. My humble service to Mr. Downes's family, and thanks for all their kindness when I was at St. Albans.

I am your most obliged

and most obedient Servant,

TO MY SISTER.

P. DODDRIDge.

DEAR SISTER,

Hinckley, July 30, 1722. I GOT well to Hinckley the day after I left Hampstead. My company was as good as I could have expected. There was indeed one violent Tory; but when he knew that I was a dissenter, he had the good manners to drop the discourse. We had a volume of Dryden in the coach, and that served to entertain us when conversation began to flag. Our accommodations on the road were tolerable; but the humour of the gentleman I mentioned just now engaged us in some expenses, which I could gladly have spared; but it was no great matter.