thoughts of a journey to London this winter. I have not time to give you an account of the reasons that determine me to this resolution. I will communicate them the next time I see you, and I question not but that they will give you full satisfaction. They principally regard the temper of the people in general, and some present circumstances of the congregation. I acknowledge that a handsome salary of one hundred and twenty pounds a year, and the pleasure of being so near you and my friends at Hampstead, were considerable temptations; but you know, they are not principally to be regarded in an affair of this nature. I am really convinced that I am likely to do more service in the world, by spending a few years longer at Kibworth, where I have an opportunity of studying closely, and improving myself in a plain, useful way of preaching; and where I have an abundance of friends, and no enemies, than by venturing so young into that censorious, wrangling town, where I may meet with many snares, especially with regard to orthodoxy, which perhaps may not have the prudence to avoid; and where, if my reputation be once lost, it may never be regained.

I

I hardly ever lived more agreeably in my life than I do here at Burton. I have some good books above stairs, a charming and a kind mistress below, and, when I have a mind to go abroad, a good horse at command, with abundance of friends all round the country, that rather exceed than fail in their expres sions of love and esteem. I shall not, therefore, be in haste to leave them till I have a prospect of a com

fortable settlement for life. When I wrote to you, I thought Mr. Foxon's place would have been such a haven, but after due information, and mature reflection, it appeared doubtful, or rather improbable. My hearty service to my sister, and Mrs. Nettleton, and all other friends, and pray excuse the trouble of two unnecessary and chargeable letters from

Your obliged brother and humble Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

P.S. If my sister does not write in a fortnight I will disclaim all relationship to her.

DEAR MADAM,

TO MRS. JENNINGS.

Saturday, Jan. 4, 1724. One o'clock in the morning.

As I have an opportunity of paying my respects to you by accident, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I borrow a few minutes from my sleep for that purpose. I heartily thank you for your kind invitation to Hinckley, and am very desirous of an opportunity of waiting upon you, and the rest of my friends there. But, with your permission, I shall choose to defer it a few weeks longer. Miss Kitty and I talked of a journey about the beginning of November, and she will tell you how we were prevented. It was a great disappointment to me, as

well as to her, that we did not see you on this side the country last Michaelmas. And I earnestly beg that you and Mrs. Wingate will come and spend a few days with us this spring, a pleasure which I shall expect with the utmost impatience.

I have no very great stock of news to send you. The most considerable of that which concerns myself, is, that I find my settlement at Kibworth extremely agreeable; and have no thoughts of removing very quickly. I have had a pretty urgent invitation to go to London and preach a few sermons at the late Mr. Foxon's place. But I did not think it at all convenient to expose myself to the world, and the temptations of the town. I perceive, by Mr. Lee, that you have received some misinformation concerning this business, and I cannot possibly imagine which way it came; for it was determined in the negative above three weeks ago. I told Mrs. Mitchel that, in case I had gone to London, I would have waited upon you to have taken my leave. Perhaps her husband might misunderstand her; I likewise told them the last Lord's day, that unless the Wednesday's lecture was pretty well attended, it would be the last newyear's day sermon which they must expect at Kibworth while I stayed. From hence several of the people very injudiciously inferred, that it was the last sermon I should ever preach there; and that I should set out for London the latter end of the week. I suppose I need not say a great deal to show the injustice of the conclusion.

Our friends on this side the country are most of

them well, except Mr. Perkins's eldest son. As for Mrs. Edwin, I suppose Miss Kitty has delivered her of a son, and so my service that way will not be necessary. I have heard nothing from my sister since September, which gives me some uneasy apprehensions about her. Perhaps you have heard of Mr. Radford's removal from Harborough. Mr. Some is very much at a loss for an assistant, and I have been forced to preach several Lord's days for him in the morning, and at home in the afternoon. I believe he has his eye upon Mr. S-, if he can remove from Duffield before his year is expired.

I am very sorry that Miss Jennings's eyes have been so bad, and that Mrs. Wingate has been indisposed. I desire you would give my humble service to that agreeable lady, and tell her that I heartily ask her pardon that I did not wait upon her at Leicester. Mr. Some positively told me, the Saturday before, that there would be no service on the day when she intended to have been there; so that I thought her coming uncertain; and it was not without some inconvenience that I could have spared that day from my studies, because something had happened to interrupt me in the beginning of the week. I persuade myself, that a lady of so much good temper will easily excuse a fault of this nature, especially when she considers that it was sufficiently punished by the loss of her company; which I have the common sense to admire to a very high degree.

You were so obliging, dear madam, as to tell me, that if I wrote to you, you would favour me with a

line or two in return. You will give me leave to remind you of the promise, and will please to direct your letter to be left at Mr. Some's. Pray let me know what news you have at Hinckley, especially relating to deaths and matrimony; and, which I am most of all concerned about, whether you intend to stay there, or have any thoughts of removing into our neighbourhood. It is really my opinion that I shall continue several years longer at Kibworth ; and, if it would at all suit with your convenience to remove hither, I should be ready to serve you to the uttermost of my power. But however that affair may be determined, it is with the greatest cheerfulness that I shall embrace every opportunity of expressing the sense I have of your favours, and the sincerity, respect, and affection with which I am,

Dear Madam,

Your most obedient and most humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

P. S. Miss Kitty has found another spark since I came to Burton; so that if Mr. Ward has any thoughts that way he must make haste.