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congratulate those young ladies that are to be under her care. My brother and sister are removed from Stockwell. He is setting up a school at Hampstead; where I am sure they will be glad to see you. Pray direct to me very quickly at Mrs. Jennings's, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

REV. SIR,

TO MR. CLARK.

Harborough, April 27, 1726. THOUGH I have received no answer to my last of the 6th of March, which I hope came safe to your hands, with the two other letters for Mr. Wood and Mr. Hughes, I would not let this opportunity slip of letting you know that I am pretty well, although the breach between my late mistress and myself be not yet made up, but, on the contrary, is much widened since our parting.

It grieves me to the heart to complain of a person whom I still so heartily value and love. But really I have received most unreasonable treatment from her. She was not contented to break with me upon the most unreasonable and surprising terms, which I mentioned in my last, but proclaims it to all the world that I have left her basely, and so attacks my character in one of its most important branches, and forces me to tell the story in my own vindication. And though I always study to conceal her weakness as much as I can in justice to myself, yet all the

world so clearly see through it, that I can hardly bear the severity with which they are ready to blame her. Her determination fixes me a while longer at Harborough, where I meet with a great deal of kindness and respect from our own family and the neighbourhood. Mr. Some was with us to-day, and desired me to give his service to you, and to tell you that it was no designed neglect, but a necessary business which hindered him from waiting upon you in his return. I have little further news to send you except that Sam. Chandler's book is greatly admired here. We have heard of the compliments he has received upon it, both from the Archbishop and Dean of Canterbury. Mr. Jackson, Dr. Waterland's antagonist, prefers it to any thing he has read in this controversy.

About ten days ago four malefactors were hanged at Leicester, which I mention, because they are the first that have been executed in this county since I came into it, which is now almost seven years. One was a gentlewoman, who died for the murder of a niece of four years old. She was exceedingly fond of it, and by her will had settled all that she had upon it. As it lay asleep in her arms one morning a sudden fancy darted into her mind to cut off its head, which she immediately did; and afterwards fell into the utmost agony, and ran bloody into the street proclaiming what she had done.

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I hope Mr. David Some will come to live here this week, which will be a very great pleasure to me. shall expect very shortly to hear from you; and hope

you will inform me how your lady does. In the mean time you will please to give my humble service to her and all other friends with you. Pray forget not to mention your little one. I heartily pray that its life may be continued, and that it may be a growing comfort and entertainment to you both.

I am, Reverend Sir,

Your most obliged and humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

DEAR MADAM,

TO MISS KITTY.

You

Harborough, May 7, 1726. I HAVE now been reviewing those papers which contain the observations I made upon my own temper and conduct, from the time of Mrs. Jennings's coming to Harborough to my removal from Burton. have appealed to them as a sufficient vindication of the justice of those suspicions you had entertained with relation to my love. Therefore at the very time I entered upon their perusal I seriously prayed, that, if I had given you any just occasion for uneasiness, or if you had any rational foundation for your com

plaints against me, God would enable me to discover it, that I might humble myself to Him, and to you, and might make you the most honourable amends. In reading them over I have made the following remarks, each of which I could justify by many

citations, if it were necessary to enlarge so much

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1. That from the time of my journey to Bedford with Mrs. Wingate, which is now above a year and a quarter ago, we have never lived one month, and seldom a fortnight, without quarrelling.

2. That the anger and complaints always began on your side.

3. That whenever you talked of my faults, as you apprehended them to be, it was always with a very passionate air, and a protestation of being resolved to put an end to our affair.

4. That I never escaped a severe lecture after a journey to Harborough, or a design to take any pleasure in the conversation of an agreeable woman, though in the most perfect consistency with that superior affection which I owed to you.

5. That when you have begun a quarrel, I have never felt easy till I had brought about a reconciliation. And that when that reconciliation has been effected, I have rejoiced in it, and blessed God for it, as one of the most considerable mercies of my life.

6. That while I have been in suspense as to the resolution you would come to, I have oftentimes found a relief in appealing to God as a witness of the sincerity of my love and the injustice of your suspicions.

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7. That I have often mentioned these suspicions my prayers, as a just punishment for my excessive

love for you, and that at the very time when entertained them.

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8. That I have read no extravagant commendations of my friends in these papers; indeed, nothing with which I think a wise or a candid woman could be reasonably disgusted. The warmest expression that occurs is the citation of a remark made by another person. "This evening I was exceedingly entertained with the company of Mrs. Jennings, and I indeed think, that as my good friend William Mitchel then told me, she is fitter for heaven than earth,'" that is, in other words, I think her to be one of the most eminent Christians I ever knew. How heinous an offence! At many other times I have spoken of her and other persons with gratitude for their affection to me, and with great respect for their religion, good sense, and politeness. But, dear madam, what then?

9. I have further to observe, that in a few weeks before I went away from Burton, when, as I apprehend, your jealousy was at the highest, there are as many expressions of my love and tenderness to you, as in any other part of the papers whatsoever.

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Thus far, madam, I suppose you have read. And I solemnly profess, I think they are so far from justifying your suspicions, that their evidence might have been deemed abundantly sufficient to remove almost any doubt that you could have entertained. I have looked over some other memorandums that I have written since my coming hither; and here I find that I often express my tender thoughts of you,

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