which I meant them. You tell me that I am a good preacher, but a very bad prophet, when I say that you will quickly understand French better than I do. I am very much obliged to you for giving me a character, which I should otherwise, perhaps, have been puzzled to make out a title to; but you must give me leave to say, that in the latter part of your sentence you hardly do me justice. It is true, I do not lay claim to the gift of prophecy; but I think I shall be very capable of supporting it, if all my predictions are as well made out as that which concerns you. I assure you, that though I judge by your own account, which is expressed in the most modest terms, you have already attained a much better acquaintance with the French language than I can possibly pretend to. It is true, I have had an opportunity of conversing with several French people, and so am not entirely a stranger to the pronunciation: but I assure you that I never read half the books you mention. Indeed it shames me out of my own negligence when I consider the improvement you make, and the business you dispatch, while I am afraid I am not improving my time to half so good a purpose. Besides, the character that you give me of many of the writers you mention, which I know is entirely to be depended upon, will engage me to read them whenever they fall into my hands, especially Bouhours, Patrou, Pelisson, and St. Evremond.

I do not know what character my friends may have given you of my Sermons; but I am sure, if it be a very advantageous one, it will be my most prudent

way to take care not to undeceive you by preaching before you; for if I may be admitted to be any judge of my own performances, they will by no means answer your expectations. They are all upon the plainest and most practical subjects; and it is happy if they be at all calculated, as I am sure they were principally intended, to inform the judgment and awaken the consciences of the lowest of the people, and to fix their resolution for a course of rational, steady, and undissembled piety. It is not because I despise the charms of eloquence, that I have entirely laid them aside, but because I know that I am not at all master of them, and so choose rather not to attempt them, than by an awkward imitation to darken the subject to the vulgar part of an audience, without approving myself to the nicer judgment of the more polite. In short, I am grown very familiar with the old Puritans, and consequently I am a great favourite with the old women! Pray congratulate me upon this good fortune, which is entirely beyond my expectation or my hope.

But after all, you must not imagine that I have entirely lost all relish for finer compositions; on the contrary, I assure you that I attended on Dr. Latham's sermon at Leicester with pleasure, and frequently with transport. The most rational and pathetical thoughts were delivered with such elegance, propriety, and harmony of language, as could not but charm even stupidity itself; my attention was so entirely engaged, that I had no room for reflections of any other nature, except indeed for this one, "How

much does Mr. Hughes admire Dr. Latham, and how capable is Dr. Latham of relishing the performances of Mr. Hughes!"

You cannot imagine how much I miss your company at Hinckley. Mr. Cope left us at Christmas, and you know Mr. Some is not returned; so that, in short, I have not one person in the house whom I have any intimate acquaintance with. Nature, you know, designed me for a sociable animal, and I am sure you will pity my misfortune. I am forced to converse with the dead, because I want agreeable company among the living; and it is happy that I can meet with entertainment in the closet, when I can find none in the hall, the parlour, or the garden.

You inquire about Mr. Scott's* Poems. I only know in general, that he intends to print them by subscription; but what the price is to be, or how the subscriptions are to be obtained, I have not yet heard. However, when I know, I will not fail to inform you. I am very glad to hear that you are commencing a familiarity with the Muses, because you are very well qualified to be a favourite with them. I assure you that I will give you my opinion of your performances, with a great deal of freedom, if you will honour me so far as to make me a judge of them. I know pretty well what I have to expect, and therefore long for a sight of them.

I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

• Then a student at Kibworth.

DEAREST SISTER,

TO MY SISTER.

October 20, 1722.

You might very reasonably conclude that I was uneasy at being so long without hearing from you; but I will assure you, I know you too well to suspect that there was any thing of unkindness in the case. I remembered that a great many little accidents might occasion delay; but I was sometimes afraid you might be ill, and that made me impatient to hear how you did. The books you sent me were exactly right, and I am particularly glad of Clark's Annotations on the Old Testament, which will be of more use to me than any of the rest. The Essay on Free-thinking was written by the famous Mr. Collins, and has been agreeable enough to some of my companions. If I had written before I received them, it would have prevented the inconvenience of your parting with the fifth volume of Hall's Contemplations; for, a little after the date of my last, I bought a large folio of his works, which, among a great many other things, contains all his Contemplations. It cost me but six shillings, which is at the rate of about twenty pages for a penny.

You sent me a vast deal of ill news, which I am very sorry to hear. I never expected my cousin Doddridge would make any thing of his house; and if his wife dies, I hope he will bear it like a man ; for it would not be the worst affliction that could possibly befal him.

I do not at all wonder to hear that your good friends are disgusted at the remarks upon Mr. Wright's sermon; for orthodoxy and good sense are not the most intimate friends. But Mr. Wright's reputation is above the attack of any of Mr. Brag's admirers. You see his zeal for Mr. Horseman.

I cannot positively determine, whether I have met with my ideal mistress or not. But I will assure you I am a little apt to suspect it. It may not be convenient to be too particular in your inquiries; but there is really a charming girl in the neighbourhood of Leicester, that has some little resemblance, as far as I can remember, and if I were at leisure to attend to impressions of that nature, seems very well qualified to make an important conquest. I will not give you any description of her, because I know you will fancy it extravagant, and I shall fancy it defective. It is more than enough to tell you, that Mrs. Jennings says she could almost be in love with her herself. She is, unfortunately, one of the numerous offspring of a dissenting minister, otherwise you might hope to see her at Hampstead. You are really admirably good at giving advice, and so I desire that you will treat this head at large in your next letter. "Poor child!” says Mrs. Nettleton. Well, I ask her pardon heartily, and pray tell her that the business is not far gone. My pretty pupil has been here once; but she has not done herself the honour of receiving any of my instructions. I expect her immediately after Christmas; and she is really a dangerous sort of a companion. May it not then be hoped that the charms of the one may fortify me against the fascination of the other,