REV. SIR, TO MR. BRAILFORD*. July 8, 1727. SINCE it will be my misfortune (unless your most penetrating judgment fail you), to be incapable of reaping those "important services" which I am to receive from you, in the progressive steps of life, I am very solicitous that I may not load myself with an unnecessary burden, by neglecting to return those honours with which you have already favoured me: a negligence which would be doubly culpable, as the weight is so small, and the recompense so easy ! You were pleased last night to give me a public reproof; but as I am not capable of performing that kind office in your behalf, in so decent and graceful a manner, I hope you will pardon me that I choose to wave the circumstance of doing it before the family, though I may attempt it in a more quiet way, especially since I can answer for it, that it shall be at least with equal tenderness and respect! I know the liberality of your heart so well, that I do not care to exhibit all my store at once, lest I should not have it in my power to make any suitable acknowledgment for future favours of the same kind! As for attempting to address you with expressions of love and respect, however sincere, I find, by long experience, that they weigh so little * On a violent quarrel which we had before the whole house. with you, that I shall never offer to pass them upon you as current coin. You will easily perceive by my admonition, the generosity of my temper, and my wonderful affection for you; and you, sir, very sufficiently know how far you "already excel me;" how "much more you are reverenced by our common friends ;" and how "much more you are admired in this congregation" when we have been called to appear under a public character; and yet I would fain put you into a way of excelling me a great deal more! I would humbly advise you, my good friend, to spend a little more time in your study, and to resolve that you will do as much business there in a week as a person of ordinary industry, and of a capacity inferior to your own, might with ease dispatch in a day. This would make such an alteration for the better, as would soon become discernible to your more intimate acquaintance; and as it might not be wholly unnecessary to preserve the best reputation you have already gained, so it would probably render you better satisfied with your own conduct, and prevent those violent fits of the spleen which dispose you to quarrel with your friends upon such trifling occasions. I would further humbly propose that you should endeavour to restrain at least the appearance of so great a complacency in your own dear self, and in those ecstatic exclamations which, as you inform us, you meet with from most of your hearers. It is tyrannous to insult those who are following you at an humble distance, and with all that respect which we owe to so great and superior a character! Once more, sir, I would humbly advise you to study and practise a little more discretion in your manner of giving a reproof. In good earnest, Mr. Brailsford, I am amazed how you could imagine, that a man of my temper could bear to be treated so roughly as you handled me last night-and that before the children and servants, and how you could prevail upon yourself to expose, in the most malignant colours, the little defects you saw in my character; although you knew, as I am confident you must know, that I esteemed and loved you from my heart. I had often told you, what I own to be no part of my praise, that I am not philosopher enough to bear such kind of treatment; and you yourself, of all persons in the world, would, perhaps, be most disgusted at it. Had you told me of what displeased you between ourselves, in any easy complaisant way, and not with so much of the air of the Cynic or Dictator, I should immediately have fallen under the conviction. I should have told with you my natural frankness of temper, that though I meant no harm, I saw upon reflection that what I said to you before Dr. Lane had but little politeness and less wit; so that, for my own sake, I could have wished it unsaid. The freedom I used of Pat. Puffer was ridiculous and indiscreet, and the less excusable, because I had before been censured for such sportive phrases; and I should have added that I heartily thanked you, and took that reproof as one of the most valuable instances of friendship which you could have given me. At present I own it seems to me to have proceeded merely from the malicious design of making me uneasy, because I had happened to offend you. It was indeed a kind of usage I had not been accustomed to; however, I hope I freely forgive you, and heartily pray that God, may make us both wiser and better. After all, I must plainly tell you, that though I think you, upon the whole, a person of sense, piety, good humour, and wit; yet your own conduct must determine whether I shall be, with the utmost sincerity and tenderness, Your very affectionate Friend—or, with the most profound respect, Your most obedient and most humble Servant, PHILIP DODDRIDGE. P.S. I own there was a little too much bitterness in some things which I said to you last night. I wish my friends would consider the tenderness of my temper so far as to treat me civilly, till I offer them a decided affront; for, with relation to a haughty unkind observation, I am like Echo, as described by Ovid, Quæ nec reticere loquenti, mer. TO MRS. HANNAH CLARK. July 29, 1727. I HEARTILY thank my dear Clio for her care in answering my letter, I will not say so speedily, but after a less than usual delay. Every letter I receive from you brings some new instance of your goodness. It was exceedingly kind to delay a journey into Kent that you might favour me with your charming company, which to me makes every place delightful but, alas! I shall not see Kent this sumHad I no friend there, it would have been a disappointment to me to have lost an opportunity of serving my Clio, and of enjoying her conversation for so many days together; but nobody's time is less at their command than mine. The illness of a neighbouring minister obliges me to stay at least a month before I begin my journey, which I should wish to commence next Monday; and when I come to Town it will be but for a few days, perhaps a few hours. I send you this notice, my dear, that you may not depend upon seeing me in August, nor break any scheme of pleasure from a regard to me. In the mean time believe me, you have a large share in my heart, and that I place your recovery among those favours of a Divine Providence to me, which, if they do not inspire me with the warmest sentiments of gratitude and love, do at least shame my stupidity and inconstancy to my most gracious and generous benefactor! Assist me in returning my |