New Testament interleaved, three shillings and eight-pence, in all nine pounds and five-pence; received of Mr. Taylor's fund, two pounds ten shillings; remains due six pounds ten shillings and five-pence, payable to John Clark, bookseller."

King's Inquiry and the Appendix to Logic are used in our lectures, and consequently all Mr. Jennings's pupils are furnished with them. I observed that in the course of my reading I frequently met with observations on texts of scripture that might probably be of use to me, and therefore desired Mr. Jennings to procure me an interleaved Testament, for I had before only an old one with a very large margin.

In my last, sir, I sent you an account of the course of our public studies for this last half year, and you will perceive that they are of such a nature as to require a considerable exercise of thought, and that the references are generally long, and consequently that, though we have no evening lecture, still we have less time for our private studies than we ever had in any of our former half years; however, I generally find about an hour and a half in a day for the study of the Scriptures. The New Testament I read in the original without any commentator, but more of my time is spent in the Old, for I would willingly finish Patrick's Commentary before it is taken from Kibworth, which will be in a few months. I have read all but the second book of Chronicles, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles, and design to begin Louth on Isaiah and Jeremiah when I have done with these

and Dr. Prideaux's Connexion, which I am now reading, with a particular view to the prophecies. I do not entirely neglect the classics, though I have but little time for them. Since last vacation I have read some of Horace, with Dacier's Commentary, and a few of Tully's delightful works. I am ashamed to think how little I am acquainted with the Greek, and heartily wish I had been more careful in studying it when I was with you at St. Aibans. However, sir, that I might not forget the little I knew, besides the New Testament, which I mentioned above, I have read some of Isocrates, Homer, Lucian, and Xenophon, since last Whitsuntide.

In English, besides many other works which I am willing to peruse now, because I know not when I shall have another opportunity, I have lately read Burnet's Theory, which I took up with the expectation of meeting with some new philosophical discovery, in which respect indeed I was sadly disappointed; but however overvalued the philosophy of

it

may be, it is a book so much talked of, and there are so many fine passages in it, that I do not grudge the time I spent about it. I am now reading my Lord Shaftesbury's Works, which, as far as I can judge by the half I have dispatched, contain a strange mixture of good sense and extravagance.

I think, sir, the last time I saw you at St. Albans I told you the terms on which Mr. Hughes had left us; and, as you expressed some concern for his misbehaviour, I doubt not but that you will be pleased to hear how much he is mended. I suppose you know

that he is now fixed at Dr. Latham's*, in Derbyshire; and I am very credibly informed that he there keeps clear of those irregularities that tarnished his reputation at Kibworth, and applies himself to his studies with a great deal of diligence and answerable success, so that it is hoped he will be a very useful man, and a credit and comfort to his good father after all the concern he has had about him. I do not mention this circumstance in any sense as a reflection on my tutor's conduct in parting with him ; for I must acknowledge that though he was in many respects a very agreeable companion, yet it was found the interest of the house, in general, that he should be dismissed, and it has put an effectual stop to those unpleasant circumstances that began to appear among us; but rather, as it was from me, that you first heard the dark portion of his story, I thought myself obliged to acquaint you with the sequel.

My good tutor continues to treat me with a great deal of kindness, and lets no opportunity slip of obliging me at home, or promoting my interest abroad. I believe, sir, you remember the grant he has procured me from Mr. Taylor's fund, and he seems to think it will not be the last; and I I am partly obliged to him for the two guineas received of Mr. Barker, and the broad piece which Mr. D. Jennings gave me last time I was in town; and I understand that he has sent a kind character of me to the fund at Salter's Hall.

suppose

An eminent tutor, and author of a volume of sermons.

When I am speaking of his goodness I cannot forget that I owe even that to you, who have placed and supported me here. I know, sir, that you do not like compliments, and I would never deal in them; yet still I hope you will give me leave to tell you, with a great feeling of plainness and sincerity, that, if I did not frequently reflect upon the favours I have received from you, I could not keep on good terms with myself. I have nothing left to ask but the continuance of your prayers, that I may have the wisdom and grace to behave myself, both here and in the after part of my life, so that neither you nor my other friends may have reason to repent the benefits you have done me. I am,

Reverend Sir,

Your most obliged and most humble Servant,

PHILIP DODDridge.

P. S. Pray, sir, give my humble services to Mr. and Mrs. Downes and the young ladies, and Mr. Earl, with all other friends at St. Albans, or elsewhere, that inquire after me. I shall be very glad of an answer to my last of the 9th of December, which I take it for granted you received for the reason there mentioned. My tutor and his lady give their ser

vices.

FROM THE REV. SAMUEL CLARK.

DEAR PHIL.

St. Albans, October 3, 1721.

I HAVE nothing to object against your present method of study. I am sensible of the difficulties Pneumatology has attending it. The only method of extricating oneself out of them is to see that we have clear ideas of all the terms we use, whether single, or connected into propositions, and that we take nothing for granted without sufficient evidence; and, which flows from the other two, that we do not pretend to reason upon things about which we have no ideas, that is, that we do not pretend to impossibilities. Mr. Locke's Essay is so useful to direct the mind in its researches, that methinks it should have been read before you entered upon pneumatics. It might have helped to free you from the embarrassment you complain of. As to your contemplations upon the being and attributes of God, take heed of suffering your mind to rest in barren speculations. Whatever clear and enlarged ideas you attain to of the divine excellencies, see that they have a proportionable effect upon the soul, in producing reverence, affection, and submission. The consideration of the infinite distance between God and the creature, which strongly appears upon reading such a book as Dr. Clark's, directly tends to promote humility, perfect resignation, and all those other dispositions, which ought to be constantly prevalent in our bosoms towards our great Creator, in whom we live and move and