them. I told him, I believed those had not the best repelling quality, and acquainted him fairly with their effects, as you have described them to me. On this he is greatly disposed to use them; but he wants to know whether it would not be proper first to use them in the intervals of a fit, or after a fit, to strengthen the joint; whether any gentle aperient is to be taken at the time of the application; but, above all, your real opinion and direction on the whole. As he knows of our intimacy, he desired I would inform myself of you, as from myself, and let him know. I should be much obliged to you, therefore, for a letter concerning the particulars, wrote in such a manner as I may send it to him. You need not decline taking notice that I tell you who the advice is for, for he did not desire that should be a secret.

Shaw advised him against the oils, and pretended they had had ill or fatal effects. But he grounds more on your opinion.

I am, dearest Sir, yours most affectionately,
W. WARBURTON.

LETTER XXX.

To the Rev. Dr. STUKELEY, at Samuel Gale's, Esq. Bedford-row, Holborn.

DEAR DOCTOR,

26 June, 1739. I was extremely glad to hear from you, but am sorry the noisy Bar should call you from your Hermitage. As unfit as I am for Heaven, I had rather hear the last trumpet than a citation from the Court of Chancery. If ever you have seen Michael Angelo's Last Judgment, you have these in the figure of the Devil, who is pulling and lugging at a poor sinner, the true representation of a Chancery Lawyer who has catched hold of your purse.

E 2

When

When I got home from you in my return from my Cambridge journey, I found my affairs in strange disorder; my single favourite cow, which you used to reverence under the name of Iris, was desperately ill in the hands of a doctor. A robbery was sworn to be committed in this Hundred, and I am to bear my share of the loss; and letters from Oxford acquainted me that Mr. William Romaine, of Christ Church, had called out aloud upon the secular arm. to make an example of me*. Thus trebly distressed, I found my only cow in the hands of a quack, my money at the mercy of an attorney, and my reputation worried by the vilest of all Theologasters.

You are in the right: this is the scoundrel I wrote to from your house. But the poor Devil has done his own business. His talents shew him by nature designed for a blunderbuss in Church Controversy; but his attack upon me being a proof-charge, and heavy loaded, he burst in the going off; and what will become of him let those who made use of him consider.

I beg you would be so kind to buy me one ticket in the Bridge Lottery. I suppose the blanks will sell as usual; and when you send me word of it, I shall send the money by Newbal's waggon to you to Stamford.

I am, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, W. WARBURTON.

LETTER

XXXI.

To the Rev. Dr. STUKELEY, at Stamford.

MOST DEAR SIR,

January 1, 1739-40. I received the favour of yours with a great deal of pleasure; and, as deeply as I am immerged in Moses, your company would be a very agreeable interruption. But what you tell of Mr. Allen frights me in good

* Of this circumstance see more hereafter.

earnest ;

earnest; and next to the pleasure of seeing you, the greatest pleasure you can do me is keeping that gentleman from me. I must therefore beg of you to let him know, that I am so taken up with my own studies, that I have not an hour to spare to look upon any other man's; and that besides, his work, according to all the accounts I have heard of it, is quite out of my way, who am a declared enemy to all systems and hypotheses in Divinity but what arise immediately from the word of God.

In short, between you and me, I have heard so much of this gentleman's turn, and from the best hands too, that to him we may say, Danda est hellebori multo pars maxima. It is only you then that can serve him; and you, but in your physical capacity.

But I come to a more agreeable subject. I am greatly pleased you will let us have Stonehenge at last*. I think you need not doubt the success of it, if you confine yourself closely to the subject. But you know how dangerous new roads in Theology are, by the clamour of the bigots against me. I take it for granted (by the weather I view from my study window) you have laid aside the thoughts of your Grantham journey. Otherwise, had the weather permitted, I should have gone near to have met you. However, I hope you will be so kind, when you next go to your Living in that quarter, you will remember there is such a place as Broughton.

Some time ago I sent Weaver (who told me he was to come and see you this Christmas) my Vindication of Mr. Pope for you; but do not find by your letter you have received it. The Infidels and Libertines prided themselves in thinking Mr. Pope of their party. I thought it of use to Religion to shew so noble a Genius was not; and I can have the plea

* Dr. Stukeley soon after published "Stonehenge, a Temple referred to the British Drnids;" of which a copious Abstract was given in "The History of the Works of the Learned" for May 1740.

sure

sure of telling you (and have Mr. Pope's own authority for it) that he is not.

The compliments of the season in my heartiest wishes attend you and your family.

Dear Sir, your most affectionate friend and humble servant, W. WARBURTON.

LETTER XXXII.

Dec. 20, 1744.

To the Rev. Dr. STUKELEY. DEAR SIR, I had the pleasure of yours of the 10th instant, the night I got to Broughton after a long absence from home. I take your complaint as a compliment, where you tell me your friendships were always made on good foundations; for I will not do myself so much injury as not to claim the right of being one of those good foundations on which you erected your friendship with me. I was never forgetful, nor shall be, of the regard you shew me: and if I have not been so happy to see you so often of late as I could have wished, I hope you will be so candid to impute it to the true cause, a great variety of very troublesome and ungrateful business, et aliena nego

tia centum.

I have taken the liberty (the very first opportunity that offered) of sending you my last pamphlet. I desire my best respects to Mrs. Stukeley and the young ladies; and am, dear Sir, your very affectionate humble servant, W. WARBURTON.

Saturday morning, 10 March, 1759.

Dr. Warburton's compliments to Dr. Stukeley. He will wait on him to-morrow morning, at the time appointed; but some business has happened,

that

that I must needs be at home by two o'clock, so cannot have the pleasure of dining with him.

***« 1760. When my Friend Warburton was made a Bishop, there were two Expectants of his Deanery of Bristol: Mr. Tucker, of Bristol, had done many things in regard to Trade, for which he was caressed by the people of Bristol. Dr. Squire was the other, who got the Deanery.-Warburton said, "One of them made Trade his Religion; the other, Religion his Trade." W. STUKELEY."

LETTER XXXIV.

For the Rev. Dr. STUKELEY.

MY DEAR FRIEND, Prior Park, 10 Oct. 1762. I have your favour of the 8th instant. With regard to the young gentleman you mention, I shall always honour your recommendation with my best attention. But, you know, before I can have any pretence to lay hands upon him, he must have a title to a cure in my diocese: and this must be given and accepted bond fide; and the time between his being ordained Deacon and Priest (before which last ordination, you know, he can receive no benefice) will be sufficient to discharge this engagement: so that, if he can procure a title in my diocese between this and the next public ordination, when I come to town, and, on examination, he will justify my acceptance of him, I will give him Letters Dimissory to some friend who ordains at that season.

I thank you for the curiosity you was so kind to inclose to me; and am, dear Sir, your very affectionate and faithful humble servant, W. GLOUCEster.

P.S. Lord Chancellor, who has been on a visit with us for a fortnight or three weeks, has just left us. He spoke of you with great kindness, and be-

* Dr. Josiah Tucker, afterwards Dean of Gloucester.

+ Sir Robert Henley, Lord Keeper in 1757, was created Lord Henley in 1760. He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1761; and created Earl of Northington in 1764.