takes in supposing Gregory meant that this destruction happened at a different time from the fire which destroyed the workmen in the foundations. It is certainly a perplexed passage. And I agree with you, if one could make lightning out of it (which is an ingenious thought) we should have what we want, a contemporary evidence for the lightning. So is the other, in the conclusion, τὸ θαῦμα &c. I supposed παρ saur meant upon their bodies, in opposition to v τοῖς ἐσθήμασι. Tois sonμari. It is certain neither Socrates, Sozomene, nor Theodoret mention any on their body. But might not this be the reason? Those on their cloaths endured a long time, the heat of their bodies soon wore out the other; and it was natural to think that which lasted the longest would strike the general observation most. As to the third passage, xai ariseίTw, I was surprized to see it was er unde, which undoubtedly requires your sense. I had not the book by me, so was forced to translate from transcripts of the Greek texts which I got from my friends; where, instead of ετι μηδε, it was ει δε μη, or ει μηδε, I forget which. shall look into Gregory when I go to town; and, if it be eri unde, I shall re-print the leaf, for there is no doubt of your sense. I believe Dr. Hodges* was the man the Dean of Christ Church once mentioned to me on a certain occasion, and spoke of him as a man of great candour, to whom I was obliged. But I may be mistaken in the head. But poor Job!-how are his persecutions increased since his three Comforters left him? We next find him bound hand and foot in a strong Catena of Greek Fathers, and delivered * Walter Hodges, of Oriel College, Oxford: M. A. 1717; Prebendary of Rochester 17..; Provost of Oriel 1727; B. and D. D. 1728; and Vice-chancellor in 1742 and 1743. He died Jan. 14, 1757, and was buried at Rochester. † John Conybeare, D. D.; Dean of Christ Church 1732; Bp. of Bristol 1752; died Feb. 13, 1755. down down in this condition to the Tormentors, Pineda, Caryl, Wesley, Garnet*, &c. But, you will say, I am to answer for the last. Perhaps so. However, pray do not reckon me among Job's Hangmen. At worst, I only acted the part of his wife, and was for making short work with him. But he seems to be reserved for endless punishment; and, with a fate not unlike that of Prometheus, to be chained down to his dunghill, and to have his brains sucked out by Owls †. You will act unfriendly by me, if you suffer any business to be interrupted by writing to me. The notice friends give one another of their health and their good-will is, and should be, always reserved for an idle hour. It is sufficient we are assured our friends think of us; and we should never suspect that they forget us because we do not hear from them. Have you seen the little Tully of Glasgow? It is very elegant, possibly it may be correct. There is one foolish singularity in it, some notes to the "De Oratore," and to no other. I do not know whether this was done in compliment to Pearce, or to break a lance with him. The Milton in which the Bishop has so large a share is, you see, published. I will not tell you what I think of it, not because my name is seen there (for what goes along with it is too trifling and too little to make any alteration in the character of the edition, whether it be good of bad), but because it is of no moment what I think. I heartily wish you all the good this season brings with it to any one; and am, dear Sir, your faithful and affectionate humble servant, W. WARBURTON. * "A Dissertation on the Book of Job, by J. Garnet. 1749." + Bp. Warburton was in the frequent habit, when any thing remarkable occurred to his imagination, to write the same thing to various Correspondents. This paragraph, for instance, occurs, nearly in the same words, in a Letter to Mr. Hurd, Dec. 23, 1749. Published by Robert and Andrew Foulis. § Dr. Zachary Pearce, Bp. of Rochester. Dr. Pearce published an edition of " Cicero de Oratore." || Dr. Newton's Edition of the "Paradise Lost," with Notes of various Authors, LETTER LETTER IX. To the Rev. Mr. FORSTER. DEAR SIR, Bedford-Row, Feb. 5, 1749-50. My remove, and my constant dissipations, prevented, till now, my acknowledging the favour of your last. You have seen this strange phænomenon, Middleton's book * against the Bishop of London. Inter nos, it appears to me to be the weakest as well as warmest book he ever wrote. It is not on this account that I think to re-print the first sheet of Julian, and leave out most of the introduction concerning Middleton's book; but because some considerable persons, whose judgment is unquestionable, and who are enough prejudiced in favour of Middleton, yet think that it is better omitted, both on account of offence, and because it looks like an apprehension of Middleton's pen. You will give me your opinion. Though I have not got much more from the press, yet I am in hopes of having it out in March, and am now going on in good earnest, I wish I could tell you any news worth a reasonable man to hear, or a good man's rejoicing at. But what must we think of the times, when the only interesting affair on the carpet is the scrutiny of Vanderput and Trentham's poll; who, if they had been born two wrestlers or boxers on a country green, would have had neither courage nor dexterity enough to prevent their being hissed out of the circle! and yet there is an assembly which waits one of them, and could find work for both. Dear Sir, believe me to be, with the most unalterable esteem and regard, your very affectionate and faithful friend, W. WARBURTON. "Free Inquiry into the Miraculous Powers," &c. see p. 176. LETTER LETTER X. To the Rev. Dr. FORSTER. DEAR SIR, Prior Park, April 3, 1750. The newspapers remind me to congratulate with you on the conclusion of your noble labours on the Hebrew Bible. You must congratulate too with me on a much less occasion, the finishing what I have to say at present of Julian. I say at present; for, you will see, this volume promises another. For I can promise like a young courtier, and perform like an old one. I hope it will be finished in a few days. I have ordered one to be sent to you; and as for the sheets you have, pray either burn them, or send them to me, which will be most convenient. You see how Middleton is paid off for meddling with the Bishop of London. Every week launches two or three thunderbolts at his head. This cannot astonish him more than the late Earthquakes have done the City of London. They seem to suspect that a third shock of an Earthquake will be as fatal and as certain as the third fit of an Apoplexy. However, if it does but contribute to put some stop to this torrent of vice and impiety, ready to overwhelm all things, it will be well. Pray God it may! The greatest mischief these Earthquakes have done hitherto is widening the crack in old Will Whiston's noddle, who is now grown as mad as Oliver's Porter with his breeches full of Bibles. I always except the fall of the Pinnacles at Westminster. Where was the genius loci of the School, when this disaster happened? Perhaps in the office of Diana when her Temple was on fire, midwifing to some Minerva of the brain, which is to inform an immortal epigram at the next election of scholars. Dear Sir, believe me to be your most affectionate and faithful humble servant, W. WARBURTON. * "Biblia Hebraica, sine Punctis, accurante Nath. Forster, S.T.P. Oxon. 1750." Το To the Rev. Mr. THOMAS BALGUY. DEAR SIR, Prior Park, June 21, 1752. You have heard of the death of the poor Bishop of Durham*. The Church could have spared some other Prelates much better; and, in its present condition, could but ill spare him; for his morals and serious sense of Religion (to say nothing of his intellectual endowments) did honour to his station. His death is particularly unhappy for his Chaplain, Dr. Forster. He is my friend, whom I much value, as one of great worth, and whose ill luck I much lament. He has not only seen his hopes drop through, when he was every thing but in the very possession of them; but has lost a Patron who deserves the name of Friend; which goes much harder in the separation than the other. W. WARBURTON. * Dr. Joseph Butler; of whom, contrasting him with another eminent Prelate, he elsewhere thus speaks : "Dr. Secker's chief merit (and surely it was a very great one) lay in explaining clearly and popularly, in his Sermons, the principles delivered by his friend Bp. Butler in his famous Book of The Analogy, and in shewing the important use of them to Religion." Warburton's Works, 8vo. vol. I. p. 69. "Poor Forster (whom I have just received a Letter from) is overwhelmed with desolation for the loss of his master [Bp. Butler]. I quoted his case to our friend Balguy for his consolation. But you say, I will have no master; which, I confess, is the best consolation of all. Reckon upon it, that Durham goes to some Noble Ecclesiastic*. It is a morsel only for them. Our Grandees have at last found their way back into the Church. I only wonder they have been so long about it. But be assured that nothing but a new religious revolution, to sweep away the fragments that Harry the Eighth left, after banqueting his Courtiers, will drive them out again. The Church has been of old the cradle and the throne of the younger Nobility. And this Nursing Mother will, I hope, once more vie with old imperious Berecynthia: Læta Deûm partu, centum complexa Nepotes, Omnes Coelicolas, omnes supera alta tenentes." Letter to Mr. Hurd, July 5, 1752.` This conjecture was nearly right. The successors in the See of Durham have been Trevor, Egerton, Thurlow, and Barrington. Dr. |