was touched when I heard the story. And, as my circumstances will allow me to do but little for the relief of a person whom I yet heartily compassionate, I was willing to communicate it to some abler friends, and particularly to you, sir, desiring you, if you think proper, to endeavour to pick up some little matter on her behalf among your acquaintance.

I have little news to send you, but that my dear friend, Mr. David Some, continues in a very languishing condition, and I am full of the most melancholy apprehensions with relation to him. I earnestly beg you would afford him, as well as myself, an affectionate remembrance in your daily prayers. Excuse the faults of this hasty letter, and remember with usual kindness,

your

Your most obliged and affectionate Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

TO MY COUSIN DODDRIDGE.

DEAR COUSIN,

March 25, 17%5.

I HAVE troubled you with two letters since I came down from London, but have not yet received any answer to either, which makes me fear that something more than ordinary has happened to prevent it. I received a letter from my uncle Norton last week, in which he tells me you have been unwell, which indeed furnishes you with a better excuse than I

could have wished. I hope you are by this time perfectly recovered, and desire the favour of a line or two from you soon.

I should be sorry to lose your correspondence, in which I have promised myself a great deal of pleasure. Methinks, as we are so nearly related, and so few of our family remain, we should not live like utter strangers. I have no considerable news to send you, but I bless God continue well, and my circumstances are, in all respects, agreeable and easy. We both live upon the unmerited bounty of divine Providence. Let us both live to the honour and glory of our great benefactor; and while our persons are separated let our prayers meet at the throne of grace; and let us take care so to conduct ourselves as that, however distant we may be from each other upon earth, we may live together in heaven.

I RECEIVED yours and my brother's with great pleasure, and indeed with some surprise, for I was almost in doubt whether you were alive or dead. I beg the favour of my brother not to write too soon, that I

may see about a quarter of a year hence, whether he can find any new apology for his delay: for really he has said so many humorous things already upon that head, that I should think it difficult for any body but himself to add any thing more. I write so soon myself, not intending a complete answer to your letter, which would take up more time than I can now persuade myself to sequester from my sleep, after a hard day's work of courtship and of study, but merely to let you see that I am not angry. Indeed you know how to excuse a fault so handsomely, that when you ask pardon, I am sure it is more out of form, than from necessity. But in short, I am willing to give a penny to let you know that I am very well, and very cheerful, except when Kitty puts me into the vapours, which I assure you she sometimes does. It was not above a fortnight since, that she was going absolutely to discard me, on account of Stella, an old maiden lady for whom I have long entertained a very ardent, but rather platonic affection. I am happily got over that severe trial, and find that, as Terence judiciously expresses it in that celebrated example in Lilly's Grammar, Amantium iræ amoris redintegratio est.

I have, according to my brother's and sister's reasonable advice, summoned all my philosophy to my assistance, and thus in some measure moderated those transports which arose in my mind on the prospect of the transcendent dignity which we are shortly to assume, in consequence of our intimate relationship to that most illustrious citizen Philip Doddridge, Esq.

A letter from my uncle Norton informs me

that he is very much indisposed, and has retired to his seat at Hampstead for the air. If he should happen to die, you are sensible it would not be many thousands out of my way, as there is an estate of fifty pounds a year after my aunt's death; which, by the by, could make but little amends for their loss. The old people are well and cheerful; and my uncle writes, not only with respect, but with a fatherly fondness. My service waits upon my brother and all friends, and my bed upon myself, to which I hasten with all that stupid precipitancy, or precipitant stupidity, which generally about this time of night subdues the transports of

Your most indolent

and nonsensical Brother and Servant,

PHILIP DODDridge.

My legacy and your guinea may not perhaps be paid this twelvemonth.

DEAR SIR,

TO TOMMY FREEMAN.

Burton, April, 6, 1725. YOUR last, which we received yesterday, informs us that your ship is to set sail in a few days. I therefore think myself obliged, in civility and gratitude, to pay my respects to you before you leave England, and could not find a more convenient opportunity of doing it than the present. You may

assure yourself, dear sir, that the knowledge which I have of your character, and my obligations to many of your family, concur to engage me to interest myself in your concerns, and to accompany you in your intended voyage with my hearty prayers and good wishes. And I hope you will impute it entirely to my affectionate friendship that I presume to hint at some plain things, which it may be of service for you to be reminded of, and which, I question not, your own good sense will enlarge upon and improve to more advantage.

You know, sir, and I pray God we may both always seriously consider, that as we are the creatures of God, we should have an entire and uninterrupted dependance upon him: whether we travel by sea or by land, it is his hand that must lead us; his power that must defend us; his bounty that must supply us; and his blessing that must succeed us, if ever we be safe, comfortable, and prosperous. Nothing, therefore, can be more important than to secure to ourselves an interest in his favour; nothing in particular can be more proper for you, sir, when you have so great an affair before you, than to fix your dependance upon him, and commit your life and fortune to him. This, sir, is the proper season for reviewing the arguments for a religious life, as reason will suggest them to you, and as education, pious sermons, and devotional treatises have laid them before you, and inculcated them upon you. In the strength of these, sir, deliberately determine to devote yourself to the service of God: solemnly profess