servant in the country here." The old man, it seems, though he was doting, hit upon the truth.

Mr. Pringle in his will appointed Mr. Skelton executor to his children, an office which he discharged with great fidelity, as his son the present Mr. Pringle of Caledon assured me. I question if he ever committed, with his knowledge, a single act of injustice.

Some years after, a Mr. Clarke, who had married his brother Thomas's daughter, made him executor, leaving his fortune at his disposal. To the widow, who I believe, had no child, he gave as much as he thought just, and the rest to the Clarkes. This lady was afterward married to Mr. Ennis an attorney.

Lord Orrery, when he lived at Caledon-castle, often invited Mr. Skelton to come and see him. Once his lordship did him the honour to dine with him at his lodgings in Monaghan, a short time before he went to London to publish "Deism Revealed."

This was a work, he thought, of too great importance to be published in Ireland, and therefore he resolved to take it to London. Accordingly, his rector having offered to do duty for him in his absence, and pay him his salary, he set out for that metropolis (in 1748) to dispose of it. In this expedition he was accompanied by a Mr. Thompson, a clergyman.

Having taken Oxford in his way, he shewed his production to Dr. Connebear. This good man, who himself stood forth a strenuous supporter of our faith, after slightly looking over the manuscript, approved of it as far as he went. He then took down from his library the Essays of Mr. Hume, whose curious method of weighing evidences, as a small dealer does his ware, is so much admired by his ingenious disciples. "Have you seen these," he said, "that we lately published?" Mr. Skelton replied he had not; but on reading parts of them here and there, he remarked that he had anticipated answers to the chief of Mr. Hume's objections. However, in compliance with Dr. Connebear's desire, he introduced Hume's cavils about a balance, and answered them on the principles of common sense, which that gentleman, in his refinements, seems to have forgotten. It is still to be lamented, that the enemies of truth are often

superior to its friends in clearness of expression, and elegance of style, the chief requisites of an agreeable writer. The defenders of our holy religion,. depending on the strength of their arguments, have sometimes paid too little attention to arrangement and perspicuity. Whereas the advocates for infidelity, who are destitute of solid arguments, endeavour to make amends for this defect, by the beauty of language, and allurements of eloquence, which, like the voice of the Syrens of old, are only designed to charm us to our ruin. "What's the reason, sir (I said to Mr. Skelton once) that these deistical writers, Hume, Bolingbroke, and Gibbon, are so clever, while their opponents, worthy good clergymen, are often inferior to them in point of composition ?"—" Do you think," he replied, "the devil ever sent a fool on his errand?" He then remarked, that God Almighty often made use of weak instruments, like him, in the support of his religion, to shew, that with the most puny defenders, he could overcome all the strength of his enemies. "For the weakness of God is stronger than man."

Upon Mr. Skelton's arrival in London, he brought his manuscript to Andrew Millar the bookseller, to know if he would purchase it, and have it printed at his own expense. The bookseller desired him, as is usual, to leave it with him for a day or two, until he would get a certain gentleman of great abilities to examine it, who could judge if the sale would quit the cost of printing. These gentlemen who examine manuscripts, in the bookseller's cant, are called "triers." "Can you guess (he said to me) who this gentleman was, that tried my Deism Revealed."—" No, I "cannot."-" Hume the infidel." He came it seems to Andrew Millar's, took the manuscript to a room adjoining the shop, examined it here and there for about an hour, and then said to Andrew, print. By Deism Revealed he made about 2001. The bookseller allowed him for the manuscript a great many copies, which he disposed of himself among the citizens of London, with whom, on account of his preaching, he was highly famed. His powerful pulpit eloquence, which he displayed in their churches, brought him into notice. The citizens of London, to whom he afterward dedicated a volume of sermons, were, he said,

at that time excellent men, and admirable judges preaching.

Mr. Thompson and he took lodgings at a noted coffe house. He had an opportunity, he said, of making ma observations on mankind, during his residence in that gr city, which affords such an amazing variety of characters, he found his understanding to increase daily by his versation with people of good sense and knowledge c world; whose observations made him discover many and deficiences in his Deism Revealed, which he too' to rectify and supply, passing after his arrival there, a part of his time in altering and improving his book spoke always with a degree of rapture of the citi: London, from whom he received many public and civilities. He had a letter of credit, he told us, upor merchant there, who, without regarding it, thoug' very good, gave him money on his own account, "Sir, I am to take as many of your books as wi amount to all this."

One day he went to a jeweller's shop in Lond at some articles of great value, which he was com to buy; and when he observed that he could not them, till he should get an acquaintance of skill t them, the jeweller, though a stranger to him, bac them with him, for he had an honest face, and 1 he would bring them back. This was a degi dence which an Irish visitant but rarely ex England.

He remarked, that the London merchants company at dinner, as their business prevente staying to enjoy the glass. But they made suffic for this seeming parsimony by splendid and eleg furnished with every rarity and luxury. At ti he passed many agreeable hours with compan tain and instruct him. It was pleasant, he obs merchants, many of whom had the whole, or greater part of their property at sea, liable to the winds and waves, relaxing themselves in as much ease and complacency, as if they h exposed to the fickle elements.

At one of these entertainments, he happ

at it was pleased

The bencht of

the first

At at last

4.

›ndon sent a message once would promote him in his ok upon Christian morals. senger to ask his lordship, d Whole Duty of Man? To ed any answer. The old e of his favourite books. bly qualified for instruction,

at that time excellent men, and admirable judges of preaching.

Mr. Thompson and he took lodgings at a noted coffeehouse. He had an opportunity, he said, of making many observations on mankind, during his residence in that great city, which affords such an amazing variety of characters, and he found his understanding to increase daily by his conversation with people of good sense and knowledge of the world; whose observations made him discover many errors and deficiences in his Deism Revealed, which he took care to rectify and supply, passing after his arrival there, a great part of his time in altering and improving his book. He spoke always with a degree of rapture of the citizens of London, from whom he received many public and private civilities. He had a letter of credit, he told us, upon a great merchant there, who, without regarding it, though it was very good, gave him money on his own account, saying, "Sir, I am to take as many of your books as will nearly amount to all this."

One day he went to a jeweller's shop in London to look at some articles of great value, which he was commissioned to buy; and when he observed that he could not purchase them, till he should get an acquaintance of skill to examine them, the jeweller, though a stranger to him, bade him take them with him, for he had an honest face, and he was sure he would bring them back. This was a degree of confidence which an Irish visitant but rarely experiences in England.

He remarked, that the London merchants seldom had company at dinner, as their business prevented them from staying to enjoy the glass. But they made sufficient amends for this seeming parsimony by splendid and elegant suppers, furnished with every rarity and luxury. At these, he said, he passed many agreeable hours with company fit to entertain and instruct him. It was pleasant, he observed, to see merchants, many of whom had the whole, or at least the greater part of their property at sea, liable to the mercy of the winds and waves, relaxing themselves in private with as much ease and complacency, as if they had not a ship exposed to the fickle elements.

At one of these entertainments, he happened to meet