such extraordinary means of improvement; and how I, who have as yet made but little proficiency in Magic, should know any thing of what is going on in the social world, which I have long since exchanged for a wilderness.

It is but very lately that I have been informed of the death of the pope. I heard of it by an honest neighbour, who told me at the same time, that the Roman bishops were going to choose the Pretender in his room! And, if I had not been peculiarly careful in my inquiry upon that head, I question whether I should yet have known that the king was returned from Hanover.

However, sir, you are not to despise me on account of this courtly ignorance; for I assure you I am much better acquainted with our domestic affairs; and, if I had a mind to display the force of my eloquence, and the superiority of my understanding, I could fill up the remainder of the page with a variety of words - and phrases, which would be as unintelligible to you as Baxter's Methodus Theologiæ, and would fully convince you, that in one respect at least, I was admirably qualified to write a supplement to Flavel's Husbandry Spiritualized. But considering, that it is very possible you may have them in Scotch, I choose to descend from these altitudes, and talk with you in a manner suited to your capacity.

I question not but you will be transported with joy, when I tell you that one of the most useful members of our family was lately delivered of a dozen and a half of pigs; the greater part of which are still

in very good health; and that the greyhound bitch, who has the honour of being retained in our service, is recovered from a lameness in one of her legs, which seemed to endanger her future usefulness. And you will certainly sympathize with me in my sorrow, when you hear that the greatest part of our young pigeons, from whom I promised myself a great deal of comfort and inward satisfaction, have been devoured by sundry villanous owls and weasels who invaded the dovecote, vi et armis; and that others have perished for lack of food, by reason of the extraordinary fruitfulness of the season! which is a paradox to be referred to your most serious consideration.

It were easy to enlarge on these most delightful and edifying subjects; but, I perceive the letter grows under my hands, and that there is a considerable portion of yours that still remains unanswered.

As to my retirement at Kibworth, which you are pleased to inquire after, I bless God, it is upon all accounts much to my satisfaction. The people are plain, honest, intelligent Christians; perfectly free from that plague of bigotry and enthusiasm which overruns some of the neighbouring congregations, and treat me with all imaginable kindness and respect; and I am persuaded there is a hearty affection on both sides. The Hinckley people have been most wretchedly distracted; but I would hope they are now in a pretty fair way of being settled under a Yorkshire minister, who is come among them; but the affair is not yet determined, and for the particulars

of their story I refer you to Mr. Mason; for I have neither time nor room to enter upon them. Mrs. Jennings talks of removing to Harborough; but she is still at Hinckley and Mr. Richards with her. He is not settled in any place, but is fully employed as a supernumerary. As for Mr. Some, I leave him to answer for himself. Mr. G. is dismissed from Dr. Latham's, and I suppose it is but a little while, and he will appear in that honourable station, to which he has been so long aspiring, and for which he is no doubt most admirably furnished, having spent almost two whole years in his preparatory studies!

if

The mention of this very naturally leads me to inquire whether you have not yet entered upon your public work, and when I may hope for the pleasure of seeing you at Kibworth. I intend a journey to London in the beginning of July, and shall be glad you would come down with me. I will conduct you to Mr. Freeman's, where I am sure I shall have interest enough to make welcome. But then you must certainly give me a sermon, and I flatter myself so far as to believe that you will easily be persuaded to do so; for I assure you, for your encouragement, that you shall be at liberty to say whatever you please, provided it be but agreeable to reason and scripture, and that without giving any more offence to any of your hearers than to

you

Your most affectionate Friend and humble Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

P. S. My humble service to both your brothers. I am very sorry to hear that one of them has not been well. I am glad he has attacked Collins, and sincerely wish him all imaginable success. Jackson of Leicester, who is Dr. Whitfield's antagonist, is going to publish an answer to Collins, and complains of his book, as having a very pernicious tendency. I have not yet seen it.

REV. SIR,

TO MR. CLARK.

Burton, June 24, 1724.

I TAKE this opportunity of letting you know, that at Mr. Massey's desire, I have deferred my intended journey till the beginning of August, and therefore I hope you will not depend upon my assistance in July. My time will allow me to add nothing more, but that I am in danger of losing my mistress, and that I am, Reverend Sir,

Your most obliged Servant,

PHILIP DODDridge.

TO MY SISTER.

June 24, 1724.

IT is in August, and not in July, that you are to expect the happiness of seeing your most affectionate Brother and humble Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

TO MR. POOL AND MY OTHER COVENTRY FRIENDS.

GENTLEMEN,

Burton, June 28, 1724.

I HAVE Mr. Remmington's letter now before me, in which you propose a meeting at Lutterworth. I will plainly represent the state of the case, and then leave you to judge of it. When I was at the meeting of ministers at Hinckley, I did expressly assure Mr. Warren that I would have nothing to do at Coventry, as the head of a party against him. Thus you see, I have put the affair out of my own hands; and neither honour nor conscience will permit me to hearken to any further proposals of that nature. Now, though I would most willingly give you a meeting to pay my acknowledgments to you for your many favours, and to enjoy the pleasure of your company, yet as I am confident that my doing it at this time would be interpreted by some persons as an intimation of my willingness to settle among you in case we could agree upon money matters, I cannot persuade myself to give them such an opportunity of reflecting upon my moral character, which I am persuaded, they would not fail to improve to the utmost; and I question not but that your sentiments will herein concur with mine. I heartily beg that God would direct your important affair to such an issue as may be most for his glory and your own comfort, and am, with the sincerest respect,

Gentlemen,

Your most affectionate and most humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

VOL. I.

D D