Lordship adverts. Paradise Lost has long been as familiar to me, as frequent reading and the highest admiration of it could make it; and the impression which the Review describes had certainly never conveyed itself to my mind. The whole structure of that magnificent poem, to say nothing of particular expressions, seems to me to be undeniably in conformity with a belief in the Trinity, and no one acquainted with the character of the work, of its author, or of the times in which he wrote, can doubt that his poetry is as much to be received for a confession of his faith, as if it had been delivered with all the solemnity of a religious creed. How far back then from the date of the publication of the Paradise Lost, will not the time employed in its composition carry the evidence of his opinions? It can never be indifferent to us to ascertain that these opinions really are supported by the authority of so learned, so pious, and so sincere a man, a man of such deep research, and endowed with one of the most powerful minds that was ever exercised on such subjects. We may, I think, pronounce with much confidence, from the evidence which you have adduced, that Milton's tenets can at no period of his life have been those of an Arian. No presumption, therefore, nor anything short of the most positive and indisputable evidence should induce us to attribute to him an elaborate treatise in favour of doctrines, which to the very close of his life he continued so openly to disavow. Believe me ever, My dear Lord, With great respect and regard, And obedient humble servant, GRENVILLE. P. S. I am not acquainted with the precise doctrines of the Churches of the Vaudois, "those who" in the language of Milton's exquisite Sonnet, kept God's faith so pure of old." Can any inference as to his faith on the points now in question be drawn from this passage, or is the purity of which he there speaks to be understood only as contrasted with the errors of the Church of Rome, which in the following lines are more particularly referred to? MY DEAR LORD, Dropmore, May 25. 1826. I RETURN you many thanks for your interesting communication of your translations of two very striking pieces of poetry; the latter of these was quite unknown to me, and I am much pleased with the turn of it, which is well preserved, and in some respects heightened in your translation. It is very flattering to me to see the idleness with which I sometimes give myself to this fascinating amusement, countenanced by the example and authority of one who knows so well how to employ his time to the best advantage, and to use it for the highest of all purposes. Since I returned home among my books, for with them only I consider myself at home, I have turned to some accounts of the Vaudois churches, and I think it quite indisputable that no Arian or Socinian, nor any person whose religious opinions had any such tendency, could possibly express himself as Milton has, not in verse only, but as you observe in prose also, respecting the purity and orthodoxy of those churches. This line of argument is, as I before took the liberty of observing to your Lordship, to be considered always in this case with a particular reference to the acknowledged piety and singular sincerity of Milton's character. This last quality, as far as I know, has never been denied to him, except by one only of the numerous adversaries whom his opinions have at different times raised up against him. And this one I am sorry to say was the late Bishop Watson, who, in a 30th of January sermon, referred to both by Todd and Symmons, has charged him with the grossest falsehood. It would not be difficult to show that this coarse invective is wholly groundless, and that the passage in Milton's works to which it refers has A A been utterly misunderstood by every one of those three critics upon it by Watson, Todd, and Symmons. I have the honour to be, With high respect and regard, My dear Lord, Most faithfully and truly yours, GRENVILLE. CHAP. XXIX. THE LORDS LIVERPOOL AND ELDON AID THE COLLEGE. BISHOP'S VISIT TO THE AUTHOR. HIS PERILOUS VOYAGE FROM BRISTOL TO SWANSEA. -HIS TRANSLATION TO THE SEE OF SALISBURY. 1823.-1824.-1825. IN the course of the session of Parliament of 1823, the sanction and support of Government was given to St. David's College by Lords Eldon and Liverpool, who concurred in annexing to it certain ecclesiastical sinecures, and some other pieces of preferment, in the gift of the Chancellor, by act of parliament. During the winter and spring of 1824, the Bishop's pursuits as an author, and the concerns of the college, jointly occupied his time and attention. In June, 1824, he paid a visit to the author at his residence in Gloucestershire; and by a happy but fortuitous coincidence, the American Bishop of Ohio, Dr. Chase, together with Sir Thomas and Lady Acland, and part of their family, were at the same time assembled under his roof. Many neighbouring friends joined the party on the day of their arrival; and few |