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the Press, I am sure, and will venture to say in the name of all my friends, that none of them will be willing that you should have the trouble.-What do you think of Mr. Jortin (whose name has been mentioned to me in a letter from another friend besides you) for an assistant? But surely a proper person may be found, without giving either of you the trouble. For my own part, I should be ashamed that you, Sir, should have any.

"The Preparatory Essays are going forward. I have received lately several pertinent observations from different hands, and yesterday one or more very valuable pieces from one of the best perhaps in the kingdom. One excellent hand is unhappily rendered useless, at least for a time; and that incomparable person (who cannot be unknown to you) laments he can do nothing in this way at present. He had before done his utmost, and I hope will be able to do more hereafter.

"I was to have met a most ingenious and sensible friend of the number this afternoon at another friend's house. I went: but a letter came last night, mentioning he had been ill for above a fortnight."

Nov. 26. "You see, Sir, the method our friend Dr. Middleton has taken. He tried men's pulses first by an introduction. He had their observations, and could guess by those at the utmost they could do. And now his larger work is in the press, and will be out soon, with his name to it. Perhaps also the names will be set to ours, after a proper trial for several think it best that some names should accompany it, though others are still of a different opinion; and the Preface must be altered, if names should be inserted." Nov. 28. " And yet the Queries which are to be amongst these Preparatory Papers, will plainly discover to the great men to whom they have been sent in MS. that the preludes come from the same hands, or society, which drew up the Disqui

sitions."

Jan. 1, 1748-9. Again concerning the Work;

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and

Mr.

Mr. Jones thus gives his own character: "You see, my dear Sir, I am not fit for writing letters; because I. mention every thing in them as I would in private conversation with the most intimate friends; and hardly know where to stop, when I think I can disclose my mind with safety. You will kindly pardon my giving you so much trouble. My heart is sincere, and my time (I may reasonably suppose) but short in this world; so I make the more haste to do every thing that I think to be my duty, and likely to be any way serviceable to the world. I wish I had far better parts. None have a heart more sincere, or more desirous to advance true Christianity upon a Scriptural (i. e. a truly rational) bottom. I write these, as I would my last words to my excellent friend. But (N. B.) I can be cautious enough in writing or speaking to others: and some have therefore thought me too reserved. But I have found it best to be so with some people, as you may very well suppose."

Jan. 23. "As to books to be sent to proper persons who may befriend the design, I wish you would be pleased to consider about such persons before you discourse Mr. Millar, and then the proper number of books for presents of that kind may be ascertained: which Mr. Millar should undertake to send to any parts of the town, according to directions hereafter to be given.-You, Sir, know who are the most proper persons; and it is submitted to your judgement to form a private list of them, and then agree. For my own part, I desire none; only, if it sl. all be thought proper, seven or eight may be delivered to you, when printed and bound, one of the best being for yourself.

"What think you of the following persons amongst others?-Lord Chancellor and his two Sons.-The Speaker of the House of Commons.-Lord Lonsdale [a very worthy Nobleman, and well-wisher to every good proposal of this kind: now in town.]-Judge Burnet. Mr. James West (of Lincoln's-inn.)-Mr.

Fellowes

Fellowes (another M. P.)-Mr. Lyttelton.-Mr. Archdeacon Squire; with a few more such worthy

* "Coulson Fellowes, esq. M. P. for the county of Huntingdon for 20 years; resigning his trust therein at the expiration of that grand Council in 1761. He is a gentleman, of great worth in all respects; a true friend to his country; a man of extensive knowledge in almost all parts of learning; of great insight into matters of civil policy; well acquainted with the real interests of these kingdoms, their connexions in trade, commerce, and interest with other nations; a well-wisher to the improvements of arts and sciences, agriculture, &c. and whatever tends to the real benefit of these dominions; a very judicious and hearty friend to liberty, religious and civil, and always steady to those principles in our grand Senate, where he invariably and impartially endeavoured to promote the true welfare of these his Majesty's realms, and of his dominions abroad. Of this he made a public and honourable declaration in a great assembly of the principal Gentlemen of the County of Huntingdon, met upon a public occasion; assuring them, that he had always this great satisfaction in his breast, of having always voted according to his conscience.-Mr. Fellowes is generally allowed to be one of the best politicians in this kingdom, and an excellent calculator in matters of loss and profit. His successful management in regard to the public funds, where his own interest is concerned, demonstrates this. He is said to be (and very probably is) immensely rich. The principal fault which is ascribed to him is too much parsimoniousness; yet he is by all allowed to keep a good table, and to make generous entertainments to his friends (even 20 dishes at a time, as a gentleman who has been present told me), though he himself feeds only upon puddings, broths, herbs, and water, even in the midst of the greatest varieties. I myself have more than once observed his conduct in these particulars, both in his own house, and elsewhere. In short, I take him to be a truly excellent man, though not altogether free, as I imagine, from the unhappy failing commonly imputed to him. I seldom or never saw a man every way so rational and just in his sentiments. Mr. Fellowes accidentally observed to me, that the Mosaic Dispensation was, considering the time, country, and all other circumstances, a most wise one, being convinced that it must be, in these dark ages, from God only. He travelled, in his younger days, into foreign parts; and was at Rome at the same time with Dr. Middleton, whom he often accompanied in viewing the curiosities of that city and the country surrounding it. They both returned together as far as Dover; where the Doctor left him, going to his neighbouring benefice of Hythe. His conversation is very agrecable, instructive, and useful, even at these years, being (I suppose) past 70. He is both ingenious, lively, chearful, and extremely well versed in History, antient and modern, as I evidently discerned in various conversations with him at different times; and has also a considerable command of the Classics

members of the Convocation, as Archdeacon Denne, &c. &c. A copy should be sent to Rev. Mr. Broughton, in Bartlett's-buildings, to present to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, meeting there weekly. [This is also a way to make the thing more known.] And to the Secretary also of the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, &c. &c.The books need only be sent, wrapt up in paper, and properly directed, with no other intimation.

"Be pleased to contrive how to send the inclosed Queries safe to the Lord Chancellor. His Lordship need not know from whence they come. You may Classics. He is uncommonly abstemious, being naturally of but a weak constitution, but a constitution excellently well managed by the very prudent methods which he takes to preserve it. He drinks only water, and seldom, if ever, even touches the least drop of wine. I have seen him, at full tables, exercising these prudent, and, to him, very salutary measures of moderation. And when I once observed to him his great command of himself in this way, he told me it was no virtue in him, for that he had not the least inclination or desire, at any time, to do otherwise than he did; and also he found this to be best for him. I would have this very worthy Gentleman's character enquired after further, by those who have better opportunities and better abilities than I have. He will be found,' if I mistake not, to be an example of every thing that is truly valuable in human life. [I minute these things down in my usual way, for materials only, or hints for further inquiry.] Mr. Jenner (now Doctor and Archdeacon) being accidentally at a coffeehouse in town, soon after his entering into orders, was suddenly attacked, by a very bold Unbeliever, upon the principles and pretences (as he called them) of the Christian Religion, and the authority of its ministers, &c. decrying them all with the most supercilious disdain. The young clergyman was abashed. Mr. Fellowes, who knew Mr. Jenner, being then in the same room, heard the scoffer with patience, and said nothing till he had done then begged leave to make his observations upon what had been said. He applied to the objector, upon the single point of his having acted indiscreetly and unpolitely on that occasion, and in such a company, and so pressed the matter home, that the adversary, consummately impudent as he was, had not a word to say for himself, took up his hat, and quitted the company. [A story somewhat similar to this is reported of the younger Dr. B—— a Physician, who made it his business to debauch young gentlemen in their morals, that he might have them afterwards under his cure.]" This Note is from Mr. Jones's MSS.-Mr. Fellowes died Feb. 23, 1769.

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get Mr. Millar to write the directions, and perhaps also to send the little packet to him.

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Together with the Queries, you receive a Synopsis to keep by you for direction, &c.-Also a paper beginning with, "N. B. No more papers,' &c. which you may communicate to Mr. Millar, if you please, yet taking it back again when perused. There is also a small paper of Directions for the Printer. And Mr. Archdeacon Law's tract on Catechising, which I once mentioned to you, and is a small present to you.-That most worthy man (the Patron) did me the favour to call upon me about a fortnight ago, in his way to Cambridge, where he purposes to take the degree of Doctor soon. He invited me to go over to see him, and I intend to go this week. After he has done with Cambridge, he proposes taking a trip to town, &c."

"Whenever the Convocation has a meeting, you will hear if any mention has been made of the late address to the two Archbishops, &c."

"And it is thought that it may be adviseable (immediately after the publication of each volume) to exhibit, with short and pertinent introductions, one or more specimens, especially such as shall be judged to be the most apposite, in some or other of the best Newspapers.-Nor will it perhaps be amiss to engage Mr. Cave* to join in the service; who has

* Mr. Cave appears to have entered warmly into the scheme. On announcing the "Disquisitions," and a pamphlet which preceded it, he says (Gent. Mag. vol. XIX. p. 288.) "Our Readers have already, in the Mag. the chief arguments in the two preceding pamphlets, which reprint several, and one whole letter, from vol. vii. p. 20, 21, 22; they will find the affair further discussed in the said vol. p. 261-2-3, 235 E, 546-7; also vol. xi. p. 83 E. vol. iv. p. 539, 551, 636. vol. viii. p. 182. vol. ix. p. 113." In the same volume, pp. 413, 437, &c. is given an ample Summary of the Disquisitions," with this note: "To comply with the prevailing turn which seems fond of authorities, and to shew the world that the authors of these Disquisitions advance no opinion but what has been sufficiently warranted by the best churchmen, they have added an Appendix, setting forth the concurring judgment and declarations of several learned men of the Church of England, relating to some of the principal points; reserving the rest, if there should be occasion, for some further opportunity."

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