here and there in good health. I have been received with a great deal of kindness, and am already engaged to preach in two of the largest congregations in the city. But there is no vacancy in either; or indeed if there were, my friends in the country would not have much reason to be alarmed upon the occasion. I have a large acquaintance in town, and so many engagements among them, that I have my hands pretty full of business. But I assure you that in the midst of all this hurry, I am not forgetful of my friends at Kibworth, nor of good Mr. Mitchel in particular; and am therefore glad that I can conclude this letter with a piece of news, which I believe will be agreeable to him.

The story is this. A gentleman lately deceased has left six thousand pounds to be distributed among young ministers. It is not yet determined how many are to be admitted to share it. However, by a general consent I have been fixed upon as one, and it is thought that each share will at least amount to about thirty pounds. I trouble you with the mention of this affair, because I am fully persuaded that you are so good as to interest yourself in all the concerns of

Your most affectionate Friend and humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

TO MISS KITTY *.

London, August 6, 1724.

Ir is with a great deal of pleasure that I sit down to converse for a few moments with my dear and charming mistress, whose company is more to me than the whole world besides; and without whom I seem to be half alone, even in London, that seat of entertainment and improvement, although surrounded by circle of the kindest and most agreeable friends.

I have a thousand tender things in my heart, which I should be very desirous to transcribe upon this occasion. But it is my misfortune, that instead of a whole delightful morning, it is but a few minutes that are allowed me to converse with you; and if I am not upon my guard, I shall spend the whole of my time in describing and lamenting its shortness. I will not, my dear creature, throw away these precious moments merely in saying that I love I have told it you already a thousand times, and you have had the justice to acknowledge that you believe it; indeed, if I had never given my passion utterance, your own merit and my disposition, joined with

you.

"Miss" Catharine Freeman is the only young lady whose name is honoured by the addition of this complimentary monosyllable; the term Mrs. being employed in all other instances. The latter style appears indeed to have been in ordinary use, as in the title page of a sermon preached by Dr. Doddridge upon the removal of young persons by death, occasioned by the decease of a little girl, who is there stated to have died March 26, 1727, "in the twelfth year of her age ;" she is called Mrs. Ann Smith.

our intimate acquaintance, might have prompted you to suspect it.

You have sometimes been pleased to express your apprehensions that some of the polite ladies about London might make a more powerful impression upon my heart; and I would fain remove such ideas, which as they are very unreasonable in themselves, may be equally prejudicial to me; and I hope I shall now be able to succeed, for I have within these few days conversed very freely with a great variety of the most agreeable women, whom I have the pleasure of knowing, and have been very curious in remarking their behaviour, and examining their characters, and upon the whole, I have not found any one of them that could have made herself mistress of my heart, though it had been entirely disengaged, much less for whom I could be contented to exchange you. Indeed, I cannot but feel surprised to think, that I have found a dear girl at Burton, who so far exceeds the most celebrated among them, not only in beauty, seriousness, sincerity, and good nature, which seem the more natural growth of the country, but even in good sense and politeness, which they are ready to challenge as their distinguishing prerogative. I therefore once more positively assure you, and I give it you under my hand, that I neither will nor can entertain any thought of a change, but that you may be as secure of the constancy as of the sincerity of my affection.

I heartily wish I could have the same confidence

in you. But indeed, madam, you must pardon me, when I say, that I have a great many tormenting fears, as to the effect which may be produced in your mind, which was never over-resolute, by an absence of so many weeks; and these apprehensions are very much increased, when I consider that there are some persons about you, who, though they may be my friends in every thing else, are yet my enemies in that one great affair, in which I have the most occasion for their kind assistance. I hope they will not be so injurious as to assault me while I am at so great a distance, and utterly unable to defend myself. But if they should insinuate any thing to my disadvantage, I do most earnestly entreat you to remember, that as my worldly happiness is centred in you, so in all human probability they are pleading for the ruin of one who is, with too great an excess of tenderness,

Dear lovely Creature,

Your most affectionate Lover

and most obedient Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

P.S. My humble service to your good father and mother. I most heartily thank them for the favour they do me in allowing this correspondence; and however the affair may issue, I shall always recollect it as a most important obligation. Remember the lines of short-hand, which you are to send me at the end of Mr. Freeman's letter.

MY DEAR LIFE,

TO MISS KITTY.

London, Aug. 22, 1724.

It is impossible to express the impatience with which I have been waiting for a letter from Mr. Freeman, and a line or two from your charming self, which I think you gave me some little foundation to expect; and as I have not yet received either, I am almost ready to imagine that you have forgotten me. I am sure that if you have, it is at best a very unkind return, for I always remember you, and remember you with all imaginable tenderness and affection. I take this method of letting you know that there is such a person as your humble servant still living in the world, and I hope very quickly to come and remind you of it myself. Yes, madam, these long weeks, I had almost said these years of absence, are drawing on to their end, and if I live till next Friday, I hope to see you at Burton. I entreat you, my dear, that if it be possible you will contrive to be at home that evening, for otherwise I foresee, by an infallible prognostication, that I shall be in great danger of a violent fit of the vapours. And yet, madam, I will presume to remind that though I am so earnestly desirous of the sight of you, as that to obtain it, I can quit all my friends, and all the entertainments of this polite and agreeable town, not only with content, but with pleasure, yet still as you may order it, the meeting may be very little to my satisfaction; for it is possible my charmer may

you,