Mr. Freeman's house. As I ride upon a horse that is little more than his own size, he has seized upon me twice with so much violence, as to carry off two large pieces of my great coat. I did not know but that some of my rivals might keep him in pay, for I have more than one in the neighbourhood; and I was so terrified with the fury of his assaults, that my friends at Stretton were apprehensive that his interposition might break off the match; but, upon a further inquiry, I am inclined to believe that he is actuated purely by a zeal for the establishment, and that he would tear out my heart for being a schismatical teacher: and therefore out of my concern for the dissenting interest, and abhorrence of a persecuting spirit, I shall sign a warrant for his execution, or at least close custody.

I am sorry to hear by your letter, that the managers of the fund have sunk the Kibworth allowance from eight to five pounds a year, which will oblige me to greater frugality. However, I intend a journey up to London this summer; and hope, sir, to have the pleasure of wishing you joy at St. Albans about the 25th of July. I have little further to add, but that I have lately had another invitation from Coventry. The greatest part of the people are so disgusted at Mr. Warren's conduct in the affair of an assistant, that they are struck off from him, and are building another meeting. The mayor and several of the aldermen, and other considerable persons in the city, sent me word, in the name of the rest of the schismatics, that they had unanimously chosen me

for their minister; and the messengers assured me, that if I would put my coming upon that footing, they would immediately raise me a subscription of a hundred and fifty pounds a year. Though I have but thirty-five at Kibworth, and never expect any thing like what they propose, I did not think it required a moment's deliberation, but immediately sent them an absolute refusal, which I am persuaded you, sir, will not disapprove, and that I shall never repent it. As for the scholars you mention, they were three pretty boys, that I had taught for a while at Nuneaton. I thought they might have been a credit to Mr. Downes's school; and I knew I could not do the children so much service any other way as by recommending them thither. Mr. Some rode several miles upon the occasion, but he found they were otherwise engaged. My humble service to your lady, &c.

P.S. I have lately received Mr. Baxter's works, which I am now reading with abundance of pleasure. I have Dr. Burnett, both on the Reformation and his Own Times; besides, I am become a member of a society for the propagation of learning, which furnishes me with a great many valuable books.

DEAR SIR,

TO MR. MASON.

Monday, May 11, 1724. I AM extremely obliged to you for the pleasure which you express on receiving the long scrawl of impertinence which you mentioned in your last, and which could not possibly have any thing in the world to recommend it, but that it came from a person who is most sincerely your friend. Your last of the 28th of March was wonderfully entertaining to me, not only as it came from dear Mr. Mason, but as it contained a great deal of news, which was very agreeable to those friends in this neighbourhood who are acquainted with the persons mentioned.

As for the account you sent me of your studies, I heartily thank you for it, and wish you success answerable to the diligence with which I am confident you pursue them. I never had an opportunity of perusing Mark's Medulla, but I know it is a book in good reputation. However, I persuade myself that your good sense will teach you not to take your notions of divinity from any human system, but from the word of God, which is certainly the only standard of orthodoxy; and your observations of that latitude of expression, which is there used, will certainly preserve you from that fondness for particular modes of phraseology, to which the generality of learned men are so shamefully enslaved.

I hope that your frequent reference to the rabbinical writers will not incline you to fall in love with

them. If I may credit the report of others, they abound in trifling and impertinence, and I have observed that when a man gives himself up to their study, he generally contracts a childish and fanciful way of thinking, which is extremely foreign to sound reason and good sense, and of which the learned Dr. Lightfoot himself is a remarkable instance, though he was certainly a very great and valuable

man.

I envy you the happiness of attending upon Mr. Eames's lectures, which every body allows to be very valuable. If a late invitation had brought me to London, I should have taken the happy opportunity of putting myself under his tuition, and we should have been fellow-pupils once more. At present I apply myself entirely to the Bible, theoretical and practical divinity, but principally the latter. I have many useful books, and a good deal of time to make use of them; but I have no other tutors than a few honest farmers and good old women, from whom nevertheless I hope for some considerable edification. As for dear Kitty, she is still my pupil; but I assure you she has taught me some new lessons since I came to Burton, which I never had occasion to take out before. It is the opinion of most of our neighbourhood, that we are likely to enter upon a course of experimental philosophy together; but for my own part I think that is very uncertain.

You tell me, most learned sir, that if you may intrude so far upon my more necessary studies, you will now and then propose a case to be more largely

discussed for your satisfaction. If it be a case of conscience, I am most heartily ready to serve you, and the rather, because I have lately been looking over some casuistical writers; but if it be any critical or mathematical difficulty, I am sure it will not be much to my satisfaction nor yours either, unless you intend to exult over your friend's ignorance, and triumph in the superiority of your own understanding.

I am heartily sorry to hear that my good friend Mr. Burroughs is undetermined with relation to preaching. He seems to me to be furnished with so considerable a stock of learning and eloquence, as well as piety and good sense, that he will certainly wrong the world if he does not appear in a public character.

I long for a sight of Mr. Scott's poems, from which I have a very considerable expectation; but I think I will not trouble you to send them down to me, because I shall be in town myself in a few weeks.

I desire you would give my hearty service to Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Halford, and Mr. Belsham. I have all their letters by me, and shall answer them very speedily, according to their respective ages. I will tell Mr. Halford what is likely to become of Hinckley; but I have not time to say any thing of it now, but that in general the congregation is in a great deal of confusion: however, I believe the face of affairs will be altered in a few days. I am told that the Right Reverend Mr. G. is to be dismissed