TO THE REV. SAMUEL WOOD, D. D.

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,

August 25, 1750. WHEN I quitted you with so much tender regret, after having received so many engaging favours, and spent so many delightful hours with you, I retained a secret hope, that I should long ere this have renewed the converse in such an imperfect manner as pen and paper would allow ; but the continued hurry of every day and hour, that I spent in and about London, gave me no opportunity of doing it in a manner that would have been in any degree satisfactory.

I was desirous, when I did write, to give you some little intelligence as to the state in which I found things in London, and the probable success of the schemes which you knew I was forming. Now here in the general, I have to tell you, that (according to your repeated prayers, when I was with you, and I doubt not since I was separated from you) the hand of my God hath been upon me for good, and that withersoever I have gone I have prospered. You may remember that there were three affairs of a public nature which were the objects of my particular solicitude. The procuring a third tutor for my academy, the providing for lads, not yet fit for academical education, and the doing something for the service of New Jersey, in the propagation of Christianity abroad. Providence has accomplished the first of these schemes by the unexpected success of the second; and has opened some promising hopes concerning the third, beyond what had entered into my mind when I parted with you. The want of ministers and students is so seen and felt, and the necessity of the scheme for educating lads not yet ripe for academical studies is grown so apparent, that between three and fourscore pounds per annum have been, by well disposed persons, without any pressing solicitations from me, sub

scribed for that purpose in and about London; and out of that, it has been determined, that besides Mr. Clark, who, with a salary of forty pounds per annum and his board, is to be tutor of philosophy, another tutor is to be maintained with a salary of thirty pounds, besides his board, who is to teach the languages; and as his salary chiefly arises from this scheme, he is also to superintend the education of these lads in their grammatical studies; who are, in devotional exercises, to attend with my pupils, and to be under my inspection, though not under my personal instruction. As for the scheme of the New Jerseys, Mr. Allen, who came over on purpose to negociate it, was unhappily smitten by that fatal infection at the Old Bailey, and is dead; but I have had large conversation with Colonel Williams, who was the second man in the expedition to Cape Breton, and by whom, indeed, it was chiefly projected; and he encourages me to hope that Mr. Pemberton, the minister at New York, on my favouring the scheme, as I certainly shall, will come to Britain, and make a tour over its northern and southern parts, carrying along with him two converted and civilized Indians, as a specimen of what has been already done. He proposes to attempt a collection in the chief congregations which he may visit on this journey; after which he may very properly write such a letter in his own name to the dissenting ministers in England, as I expressed my thoughts of writing; and may, with yet more propriety, recommend and enforce the advice laid down in my preface to my Sermon at Kettering. As for the affair of Breslaw, the good Archbishop of Canterbury did all he could to procure a brief for them, or a contribution some other way.

You will, perhaps, be surprised to hear that application has been made to me from a son of Lord William Manners, brother to the Duke of Rutland, to desire admission among my pupils, though intended for a clergyman in the Estab

lished Church; and if he be willing to acquiesce in the terms and orders of my family I shall not refuse it.*

I wonder at Mr. —'s purpose of removing his son from me: I fear it is either on some misrepresentation or foolish behaviour of the young gentleman, for I have always treated him with the fidelity of a real friend, and with the tenderness of a parent; and I am well satisfied that, especially on the improvement which, by means of a third tutor, will be made in our course, there is no place of education in England where, if a youth would do himself justice, greater advantages might be found.

But you see how I have run on. Were I to begin a second sheet, I should fill it before I had emptied half my heart. Let me conclude, with the most affectionate and grateful services to all my good friends at Norwich, and those at Yarmouth, when you see them. My wife joins with me in these salutations, of which you and your charming lady claim a very distinguished share. Oh, that we could see you here, and give you both, as a poor

* This circumstance, with many other facts of a similar nature, might be appealed to as a proof of the high character for catholic Christianity which Dr. Doddridge possessed, and of the perfect confidence in his theological impartiality which it inspired. The reader will also observe, that it confirms the account I have given of the former Nonconformist Academies, in which it is said that they were 'far from being the sectarian schools of an exclusive and peculiar denomination.' It was this high-minded liberality and contempt of party distinctions which rendered Dr. Doddridge an object of dislike to the pharisaical zealots of his day; and it is the exposure of these circumstances which has rendered these volumes an object of alarm to their successors.

On looking over a list of the pupils educated by Dr. Doddridge, I observe that there were mingled with the theological students, besides the Earl of Dunmore, twelve gentlemen of fortune, not intended for the liberal professions; and of those who were, it appears that five afterwards held commissions in the army, four became physicians, and two entered the law. Three others were elected members of parliament. Of the theological pupils, six conformed to the Episcopal Church, while the great body remained liberal and conscientious Nonconformists. Of these, many were distinguished for their piety and learning; and among others, the names of Akin, Ashworth, and Kippis, of Darracott, Taylor, and Fawcett, will naturally present themselves to the mind of the reader.

grateful child expressed it, "all your care again." Mr. Neal and Mr. Barker are particular in their salutations to you. I am, with more affection than can be expressed, My dear Friend, yours, blessed be God, for ever,

P. DODDRIDGE.

TO THE REV. BENJAMIN FAWCETT.

Northampton, Sept. 13, 1750.

MY SINGULARLY DEAR AND GOOD FRIEND,

PERHAPS I should not have written to you so soon, if it had not been that I am just now in a crisis that needs your prayers; and to whom should I go when I want prayer but to you, and some of my friends with you, for in that you are mighty men.-You have a tender heart towards your friend on earth, and a great interest in the Great Friend above, and it is in an affair relating to His cause that I am now to desire your interposition.

I have then to tell you, that the hand of God has been upon me for good in my late journey in a very extraordinary manner. Never did I observe such a coincidence of events to make my way pleasant and prosperous; never did I perceive all my councils more under a divine direction; so that events occurred I know not how, which I should have been glad to have contrived, and must then have adjusted with great pains and application, that they might have been in the state in which I found them. Among other things some of my friends, unknown to me, had raised a subscription for maintaining a third tutor in my Academy; who, while I am employed in theological studies, and Mr. Clark in philosophical, might teach the languages, not only to my academical pupils, but also to some lads who are forming their first acquaintance with them, or who, though they may have made some progress, are not yet of an age, standing, or attainments fit to be

ranked with any of our classes. This marvellously secured, as you see, two important objects at once, that of improving our academical course of education, and of providing for the scheme of the youths, which lay so near my heart. And it has had such an effect already, that whereas at Midsummer we had four vacancies on Mr. Coward's list that we could not fill up; candidates are now offering faster than we can provide for them, both as pupils and as scholars (you will easily understand the distinction), so that whereas we have hitherto been calling for vessels, I am now beginning to fear for the oil. In plain terms, your errand to the throne of grace is this, that a suitable person may be found to set over this important office, and that the hearts of Christians may be opened to establish such a fund for the scholars as may be sufficient for their subsistence.

As to the first of these, my eyes were upon Mr. Rose, private tutor to Mr. Murray, nephew to the Earl of Dunmore; a most ingenious, learned, active, prudent, faithful man; and one for whose fidelity and friendship I could have ventured my life. He is a lover of God and goodness; though I cannot say all I could wish. But Lord Dunmore will not consent to his undertaking the additional charge, though it would have saved twenty pounds per annum, for the benefit of the scholars. I am now therefore at a loss; I have sent every way to inquire, but get no answer; and whereas the plan was to have been executed before Michaelmas, the putting it off as a thing only projected, may, as you will perceive, be attended with hazardous consequences, and so much the more so, as the scheme of a Presbyterian Academy at London (which I think can answer no end but that of keeping up a party) is just now to be determined. They intend three tutors, and nothing could be so effectual to procure at least a delay of it, as if my friends had it to say that there were three already at Northampton. On this account I would most earnestly entreat that God would appear, and make no long tarrying.