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pound, were you twenty times as rich; and therefore you may in this sense bestow as much. Q. E. D.

Perhaps I have been a little too abstruse in my reasoning upon this head, but I think there is some meaning at the bottom, and my assertion is confirmed by my own experience; for I have found as exquisite a pleasure in receiving some little services from my friends, when attended with circumstances of generosity and endearment, as I ever did in any of greater importance. And it seems to be the thought of Solomon, when he says, "The desire of a man is his kindness."

After what I have said with relation to your loss, I must tell you, that I am heartily glad, you are more successful in the far nobler pursuits of learning and virtue. I have much to say as to other particulars, but you see, that I have but just left myself room to add that I am

Your most affectionate

TO MR. WRIGHT.

HORTENSIUS.

REVEREND SIR,

Nov. 13, 1726.

I KNOW the value of your time too well to spend a great many words merely in acknowledging your favours. It would, indeed, be a most ungrateful return to rob you of that precious treasure merely because you have proved yourself one of the best

of

my friends; and therefore, sir, I will endeavour to conquer my strong propensity, to speak out of the abundance of my heart; and only beg that you will always believe I esteem and love you as any other person of common sense and gratitude would.

I would beg the favour of you to send me a few more books, which I will direct Mr. Chantry to call for. You were pleased to indulge me in a liberty I took of soliciting you upon the account of some of my friends. I therefore take this opportunity of telling you that Mr. Davison of Hinckley gives his service to you, and desires that you will send him a parcel, which Mr. Chantry will call for when he comes for mine. I perceive he has not the happiness of being acquainted with you, and has been but little at London. If you knew him, I am sure I need not say any thing to recommend him to your esteem; he is allowed to be by far the most considerable scholar amongst the dissenting ministers in these parts, and has therefore been very much urged to undertake the care of an academy. He has the most happy address both in the pulpit and in conversation, and is very remarkable for prudence, candour, generosity, and a great many other amiable qualities; so that we rejoice in his settlement amongst us. I know, sir, you will take a peculiar pleasure in obliging a person of such a character. His own circumstances are sufficiently plentiful, but he has a great many poor people in his congregation, which increases considerably under his care, so that I

apprehend a donation from the charity will be very seasonable among them.

I continue to board with Mrs. Jennings, and think myself exceedingly happy in such a companion and friend. Her daily conversation is one of the most delightful entertainments of my life. In her I see a most amiable and instructive example of all the branches of the Christian temper which can be visible to the eyes of our fellow creatures, and combined with these are uncommon sprightliness and wit, solidity of judgment and delicacy of taste. Her circumstances are but narrow, for she has only fifty pounds a year to maintain herself, four children, and a servant; but she manages with a great deal of decency and frugality, and seems perfectly content with what she has, and cheerful in the assurance of the Divine care. I am every day so much indebted to her generosity and goodness, that all the service I can possibly do her is most justly at her command. In my present circumstances I can but just make shift to maintain myself, and can only serve some of my friends, by recommending them to others. You, sir, have peculiarly obliged me by your favour to my sister, in what you gave to my brother-in-law; and I do earnestly beg, that if you have any share in the distribution of charities left to the widows or orphans of dissenting ministers, good Mrs. Jennings and her family may be remembered.

I do not expect many letters from you, but should be glad of a few words in answer to this; and desire

that you would then inform me what Lexicon you find most useful for the Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament: at present I have only Passel and Buxtorf. I have the satisfaction of hearing of you very often when ministers and other friends pass through Harborough, in their return to London; and it is with a great deal of pleasure that I find persons of very different characters and sentiments agree in speaking respectfully of Mr. Wright. Not, sir, that I imagine that you, who are "filled with self-possessing joys," can feel any great regard to the applause or censure of others; but as I apprehend the heart may find its own happiness in the esteem of a person of your character, who can tell but there may be some secret self-interest in this which I am so ready to take for a concern for the public; since it so apparently reflects an honour on me, that such a person will allow me to call him my friend! Let me entreat you to express this friendship, by praying for me, and then I hope that I shall daily become more worthy to enjoy it.

I

am,

Reverend Sir,

Your most obliged and most humble Servant,

PHILIP DODDridge.

REVEREND SIR,

TO MR. TONG.

Nov. 15, 1726.

THE last time I had the happiness of seeing you in town you gave me a great many obliging and condescending assurances of your friendship. I have now an occasion of applying to you, which did not then recur to my thoughts.

Mr. Wilson, of Bethnal Green, meeting me one day at the Amsterdam coffee-house, after many civilities, which seemed very surprising from a stranger as he then was to me, gave himself the trouble of inquiring into my circumstances at Kibworth; and wondering that we had no exhibition from the Presbyterian fund, though we had five pounds a year from the Independent, he promised to make a motion at the next meeting that some allowance might be granted us from the former. I should not have presumed to propose this myself, not being in pressing necessity, but certainly should be very glad if the point should be carried, and should think myself very much obliged to you, sir, in particular, if you would please to second the motion, if upon the whole you think it convenient. Our subscription alone cannot amount to above twenty-six pounds a year, and though a single man may subsist tolerably well upon that, if he manage with prudence and frugality, yet you must be aware, sir, that he can afford to lay out but little in books, or in the relief of the poor of the congregation, among whom he might probably be more useful if he could supply them in their necessities. I might further add, that as the present support of the minister

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