months. I wish much to see Mr. Morgan's pamphlet,* of which we have had an extract in our papers. Other accounts, which my son has from England, represent every thing in a state of perfect security, with every appearance of plenty and prosperity. Surely, having all the power of France to contend with alone, must create some alarm in the most confident.

Here, our prospects seem more favourable than they did some time ago, as I hope we are in a fair way of accommodating matters with France and Spain, though nothing is fully settled as yet. The yellow fever, which is not less infectious or fatal than the plague, has been severe at Philadelphia this autumn, as well as at Baltimore, and some other places; but it has never yet reached the interior part of the country.

Our situation at Northumberland is in the way of being improved by the opening of the Susquehannah, the navigation of which has been much impeded by rocks. This, it is supposed, will be accomplished in two years. We have also a line of stage-coaches from this place to Philadelphia, and several more bridges will be built over creeks that are sometimes impassable.

We have had some very cold weather, and expect a severe winter; but at present we have what is here called the Indian summer, the weather uncommonly hazy, but such as the sun shines through, warm, and very pleasant, but with frosty nights. This sometimes continues several weeks, and then come the winter's snow and frost.

Your last mentioned Mrs. Lindsey's illness, but with hopes of her recovery. I am anxious to know the result. May you be long spared to each other! The loss of near friends, and the society to which we have been long accustomed, weans us from the world. I have hardly a wish to stay behind, already. When a few more of my friends are gone, I shall wish to go too; and I think of our meeting in another state much more than ever. What an unspeakable blessing is the knowledge of Christianity! What a pearl of great price do unbelievers

"Appeal to the People of Great Britain on the present Alarming State of the Public Finances, and of Public Credit." N. A. Reg. XVIII. [226.]

reject! I have now very little real satisfaction in any studies that are foreign to this. I think I should even drop my philosophical pursuits, but that I consider them as that study of the works of the great Creator, which I shall resume with more advantage hereafter.

I wrote to the Duke and Mrs. Rayner, letters which I hope they have received. How great are my obligations, and all through you and Mrs. Lindsey, but ultimately to the Author of all good!*

DEAR FRIEND,

TO THE SAME.

Northumberland, Nov. 16, 1797. WHEN there is more regularity in the intercourse between the two countries I shall gladly send you my portrait,† if I do not bring it myself, for I will not give up the idea of seeing you once more in this world, though, in this state of separation, I lay less stress on this, than I did, and think more on our meeting in a better state. This is now almost constantly on my mind. Indeed, I have now but little real satisfaction, except in Christian studies, and the society and correspondence of Christian friends; and as to such society, I have here very little, but I am thankful that I am not altogether without it. But even most Christians are but little so, and the difference between their general conversation and that of others is not great. Indeed, except in times of persecution, or when something more particularly directs our views to other objects, those we see every day will chiefly occupy men's thoughts, and of course engross their conversation; and in the present extraordinary situation of things in the political world, the universal topic of all conversation is of course politics, though less in this remote part of the country than in cities.

This state of things makes me look more and more into the Scriptures, in reading which I have more satisfaction than ever, though I am less satisfied with respect to some of the prophecies, especially some in Daniel, notwithstanding I have no doubt at all of its genuineness. I am persuaded, however, * Orig. MS. + See supra, p. 381.

that our principal difficulty arises from the uncertainty of the reading, and the difficulty of translating. If we knew what Daniel really wrote, I am persuaded we should now understand him better than he did himself. You need not fear my publishing any thing upon this subject before I get more light than I yet have. Of late I have read and thought a good deal about the prophecy of the seventy weeks, and do not like any thing that I have found, or that I wrote in the Dissertation prefixed to my Harmony.*

I have completed and transcribed for the press the whole of my Church History, brought down to the present time. I am now collecting materials for my Comparison of the Institutions of Moses with those of Hindostan, and with this view am perusing the Institutes of Hindu Law, by Sir W. Jones. As to the Helvian Letters,† I find, as you do, that the work is too large; and rather than abridge it, I shall endeavour to strike out something of a similar nature, and make use of the materials that it will supply; but whether I shall be able to do this to any purpose, I cannot tell. There will be great difficulty in it, and I fear I have written too much on the subject. I have a pretty large section on the progress of infidelity, in the last period of my Church History. I am very thankful indeed that I have the capacity and the means of doing any thing to promote the greatest and best of causes.

P. S. I rejoice to hear that Mrs. Lindsey is recovered from her illness; I was long anxious about it.‡

TO THE SAME.

DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, Nov. 30, 1797. I HAVE just received your No. 12, but not 11, any more than 7, 8, or 9, so that I fear our correspondence, which is one of my greatest consolations, will suffer much interruption. I feel little or no interest in any thing that passes here. Indeed, the great scenes that are open in Europe engross every body's whole attention.

We have just seen the declaration of the French Directory,

• W. XX. 28-36.

‡ See supra, p. 379.

Orig. MS.

preparatory to the renewal of hostilities, and have some faint hopes that it may prevent them. I have a new thought with respect to the prophecy of the seventy weeks, as it is commonly called, about which I shall write to you or Mr. Belsham, when my ideas are a little clearer.

I wish much to see Mr. Belsham's answer to Mr. Wilberforce; also Mr. Frend's Algebra. I am sorry that Mr. Ferguson's New Rotula, which I refer to, p. 35 of the Dissertations* prefixed to my Harmony, could not be got when I left England. Mr. Jones, of Holborn, had a copy in MS. which he offered me, but I was unwilling to take it, hoping he would get it engraved. Please to apply to him to get a copy taken of it.

I thank you for all the articles of news that you send me. Every thing you write interests me more than you can well imagine. I am particularly pleased with the account of the society† at Paris, and wish to know which of the Directory‡ belongs to it.§

DEAR FRIEND,

TO THE SAME.

Northumberland, Jan. 1, 1798. I have nearly finished the first short-hand copy of a Comparison of the Institutions of the Hindoos and other Ancient Nations with those of Moses. I feel myself much interested in this work, and could I have it read, it must, I think, make same impression on candid unbelievers. I have made many hundreds of extracts from various writings, especially the Institutions of Menu, and the Code of Gentoo Laws, and have introduced them, or the substance of them, into my work.

I

This peace, so long looked for, must surely come soon. wish the victory at sea, on the coast of Holland, of which we have just heard, may lead to it; but I rather fear it may put it farther off. But, should this desirable event take place, I fear I shall not be able to realize my great wish to see you

* See W. XX. 45, note ↑.

↑ Des Théanthrophiles. See infra, p. 395; W. X. 475, ad fin.

Revellière Lepaux.

§ Orig. MS.

|| Oct. 11, 1797. See N. A. Reg. XVIII. (149)—(161).

once more. Such a voyage at my age is a very serious thing, and the expenses attending it would be very great. Else I would bring this work and my Church History and print them both with you; for, if I was in England, means, I trust, would be found to do it.

Having now much leisure, I am recomposing what was lost of my Exposition of the New Testament at the riots. This is heavy work, but I am determined to do it. In about a year I shall hope to bring it to a conclusion. On reconsidering the work, I have given up all thoughts of the translation or abridgment of the Helvian Letters, though I wish some person would undertake it.

We are entering on another year, which seems to be big with great events. May they be happy ones! But I cannot help fearing great calamity, as the prophecies announcing such, I think are about to be accomplished, or rather are accomplishing.

Three complete years I have now passed in this country, and each of them has been attended with a great trial to me. I hope, however, I feel solid consolation from my full persuasion that every thing is ordered in the best manner; and, though not now, I shall, one day, see how it is so. I cannot, however, but, in consequence of these events, sit much looser to this state than I ever did, and think more of another. Without this resource, I do not know what I should do, from despair of any good. With it, I am far from being unhappy.

Since I wrote the above, I have received your No. 8, also Mr. Belsham's. He objects to a note in my Letters to M. Volney*, which I believe had a good effect here. I cannot express what I feel on receiving your letters, and those of Mr. Belsham. They set my thoughts afloat, so that I can do nothing but ruminate a long time; but it is a most pleasing melancholy. I am interested in every thing you write, whereas I have nothing to write in return, but about myself and my pursuits.†

*

Probably note 1, W. XVII. 127.

+ Orig. MS.