"6. Though there may be some good hints lost for want of transcribing; and yet I hardly think it necessary to copy out every academical exercise, as it would fill up time which might be better employed.*

"7. One thing, I think, was very useful in the academy where I was educated; and that was, that plain easy books of practical divinity, such as Grotius de Veritate Rel. Chr., &c. were recommended to the pupils to be read in their own closets on Saturdays, from the very beginning of their studies. For this purpose our tutor never read lectures on Saturdays; and, indeed, when all is done, it is a good acquaintance with practical divinity that will make the best Christians and the best ministers.+

"8. You will have many lads coming from grammar schools; and as many such scholars will not be fit to enter upon your academical course with proper advantage, should not the perfection of the studies of grammar, algebra, and geometry, be the business of your first half year?‡

"9. Are the hands of enemies so effectually chained up from offering us any violence, that they cannot indict or prosecute you under the pretence that your academy is a school?"§

"I should, therefore, incline to find out a medium, and the plain short-hand, which is one of the first things I should teach, would do much to obviate the objection.

+"I acknowledge this to be a useful hint; and hope my pupils will allow some time to practical writers every day as I have done, unless when accidentally prevented, for more than ten years.

"I propose that the perfection of these studies should be the employment of the first year.

§"I know not how it may be in other places, but about us I cannot discern so much fury in the clergy; nor do I imagine they could make any thing of a prosecution. It was once attempted to the shame of the undertakers, with regard to Mr. Matthews of Mount Sorrel."

Dr. Doddridge soon had occasion to change his opinion, and to experience something of the "fury" which his candour would not allow him to apprehend. The Rev. Mr. Wills, of Kingsthorpe, a small village in his neighbourhood, full of the divine right of kings and priests, remonstrated at his intruding within the pre

"Sir,

FROM THE COUNTESS OF HERTFORD.

"Grosvenor Street, Feb. 23, 1729.

"I could not have been so long without making my acknowledgments for the favour of your excellent and obliging letter, had not my Lord Hertford's illness in a long and severe fit of the gout confined me to a continual attendance to his chamber. He is now, I thank God, on the recovery, though not yet able to walk without the help of crutches.

"Our human state is indeed liable to many inconveniences; we are loaded with bodily infirmities, and tormented with passions; but a few circling years will clear the prospect, and we shall, through the grace of God, be relieved from all the pains and sorrows which vex us here. My health has been very uncertain all this winter: at the beginning of it a violent rheumatism confined me to my bed and chamber for some weeks; and I am at present very much disordered by a very severe cold, which has lasted me more than a fortnight, and is rather worse than it was at first. My Lord and my daughter assure you of their sincereest regards. I am truly concerned to hear that you have been so ill, but I hope you will enjoy a more confirmed state of health for the future, that you may pass your pilgrimage here with as little uneasiness as mortality will admit of.

"Governor Shute* brought me your picture, which I shall always set a high value upon, as I shall do on every thing that reminds me of so worthy a friend.

cincts of his parish to preach; and Chancellor Reynolds verified Dr. Watts's anticipation, by attempting to put down his academy. An act still remained on the statute-book respecting schoolmasters, the 13th of Charles II., which the toleration act had not noticed, and a prosecution was commenced to enforce its penalties. But, happily a member of the house of Brunswick was upon the throne, and George II. issued a nolo prosequi for the protection of the defenceless nonconformist.

* Mr. Shute was the brother of Lord Barrington, and Governor of Massachusetts from 1716 to 1730.

"I will not trouble you any longer at present, than to beg to be remembered in your prayers, that I may lead a life of holiness for the few remaining years that may yet be left me. "I am, with sincere friendship,

"Sir, your most humble servant,

"F. HERTFORD."

FROM THE REV. PHILIP DODDRIDGE, D.D.

"Rev. Sir,

"Harborough, Nov. 8, 1729.

"The great regard I have for your judgment, and my confidence in your generous and most obliging friendship, engages me to beg the favour of your advice in a very important affair, with which I am exceedingly embarrassed.

"I have now before me an unanimous and most pressing invitation to Northampton, accompanied with all the circumstances of seriousness, zeal, and affection, which is possible for a plain honest people to express. You know, Sir, that it is a very large congregation, and though their sentiments be much narrower than I could wish, which alarms some of my wisest friends in these parts, yet I am ready to hope I might have a comfortable settlement amongst them, and a fair prospect of considerable usefulness, with the blessing of God attending my labours. They are, indeed, a people of a very low taste as any I ever met with, which is a circumstance I own disagreeable to me, but which, if it were the only objection, might well give way to the solemn arguments on the contrary side.

"But the greatest difficulty of all, is that which relates to my scheme for academical education. I have been preparing for the business of a tutor several years; I am now entered upon it, and find it a delight rather than a fatigue. On the whole I have reason to believe, and it is the judgment of Mr.

Some, Mr. Saunders, and several of my other friends in these parts, that my designs for education are as likely to succeed as any others which I can form for the service of the church, since my intimate acquaintance with Mr. Jennings's method may give me advantages above others who are vastly my superiors in genius and learning. Besides that, I am under such obligations to my pupils and their friends, as would make it highly indecent for me to lay aside the business till their course be dispatched.

"The people at Northampton do indeed freely offer to admit of my going on with this employment amongst them. But, allowing it were possible to do something that way, it is apparent that many great advantages must be resigned which I am very loath to quit. The prudence of Mrs. Jennings and her generous friendship, which makes this family far more. agreeable to my pupils than any other which I could offer them in exchange. The temper of the dissenters in these parts, which cheerfully allows innocent freedoms, which to such young students should not be denied. The great leisure I have for study, while all the care of the people lies on Mr. Some, and the countenance which his name gives to my scheme, besides the much greater and more important advantage I receive from his most intimate friendship and daily conversation. While I am here I consider myself as still in a course of education, and hope, if God spare my life to the end of these four years, to have made some considerable improvements in my academical scheme, and to be in many other respects abundantly fitter for public service than I now am. If I go to Northampton, I may indeed spare a few hours every day to read and explain Mr. Jennings's lectures to one class at a time; but I shall have very little opportunity of increasing my own stock, which is yet but very small. I can never expect a flourishing academy, for provisions are very dear there, and many other circumstances make it an inconvenient situation for young students; and, at present,

my engaging in such a variety of business, might, perhaps, shock my constitution, and much more probably expose me to the censure of the world, as guilty of inexcusable rashness and arrogancy. Mr. Some and Mr. Saunders do not think it prudent to oppose my going; but I am confident they would neither of them be thoroughly pleased with it. I was very unwilling to determine the affair absolutely till I had consulted with you. I beg your speedy answer, and desire that you would please to communicate this to Dr. Hunt, Mr. Neal, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Jolly, Mr. Auther, and any other friend whom you may think proper. I have just been writing to Dr. Wright about it, and should be glad if you had an opportunity of talking over the business with him. I beg a particular remembrance in your prayers, and humbly hope that God will direct me to what will be most for his glory, and the good of his church, to the service of which I have devoted my life, and all my little capacities and opportunities of usefulness. I cannot conclude without returning my hearty acknowledgments to good Dr. Watts for his many favours. I assure you, Sir, that I have the most tender and respectful sense of them, and shall rejoice in every opportunity of cultivating a further friendship with you, as one of the greatest honours and pleasures of my life.

"I am, Reverend Sir,

"Your most obliged humble Servant,

"P. DODDRIDGE."