Ireland, I suppose you will have no invasion this year. The French do not seem to have seriously intended it. I hope this will find you returned, in health, from the north, and that Mrs. Lindsey will have a prospect of being something better. We have had an uncommonly dry summer, but now snow falls, and I dread the winter.* DEAR MADAM, To MRS. BARBAULD. Northumberland, Dec. 23, 1798. THIS will, I hope, be delivered, as it will be conveyed, by my son. How happy should I think myself to wait on you and Mr. Barbauld in person! Should there be a peace, I do promise myself that pleasure; but at present this great blessing seems to be at a great distance. When I compare the perturbed state of Europe with the quiet of this place, I wish all my friends were here, provided they could find sufficient employment to be happy; but, if they be like myself, they must be content to be idle, except so far as they can make themselves employment in their closets. My library and laboratory sufficiently occupy me, and of common society I have as much as I want. A few more rational Christians, to form a society, would make this place a paradise to me, and this would be wanting in many parts of England. You have obliged me very much by the exquisite little poem you sent me. I hope you will add to the obligation by the communication of the fragment on the game of Chess, or any other little pieces you may think proper to send me. You had no copy of your first poem to my wife,† or I should value that above any other; and also the little poem you wrote on the birth of Joseph. I shall always be very happy to hear from you and Mr. Barbauld.+ * Orig. MS. + See supra, p. 364. Orig. MS. in the possession of Mr. C. R. Aikin. TO REV. T. LINDSEY.* DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, Dec. 23, 1798. I SEND you, by my son, a picture of myself, in return for yours, which always hangs directly opposite to me as I sit, and which I frequently look at with peculiar satisfaction, and, I may say, improvement. The picture of Dr. Price is also in view, and that of our old friend Mr. Lee,† and the fine countenance of Professor Hutchinson, from Hollis's Memoirs. Though dead, they seem to speak, and tend to inspire good sentiments. We expect a warm session of Congress. The State of Kentucky has rejected the late acts of Congress respecting sedition and aliens, and sent to all the other state-legislatures for their concurrence. Their declaration on the subject is, for forcible composition, equal to any thing I have ever read. We suppose it to be drawn up by our friend Mr. Toulmin, the secretary of state. A great majority of the people in these parts, and, I believe, through this state, disapprove of the late measures; but this will only appear in new elections for members of Congress, &c., though party-spirit runs very high, and individuals are much exasperated against each other. On this account, as well as others, I do not go to Philadelphia this winter. I am anxious about Mrs. Lindsey's health: but as she is younger than you, I hope you will hold out together, and have some years of comfort yet. DEAR SIR, TO REV. DR. TOULMIN.§ Northumberland, Jan. 9, 1799. IF I have not written to you so often as you wished, it has not been owing to any want of respect, but because I had nothing to inform you of that you would not, of course, hear from Mr. Lindsey or Mr. Belsham, with whom I correspond; *Essex Street. Orig. MS. + See supra, pp. 359, (ad fin.,) 381. and really I live here so retired, and pass my time in so uniform a manner, that I have nothing worth writing to you about. I have here abundant leisure, but no object beyond my library or laboratory; and though desirous of exertion other ways, I have no field for it. Two winters I went to Philadelphia, and delivered two sets of discourses on the Evidences of Revelation, which were well attended to, at first, but, when the novelty went off, my audience was so inconsiderable, that I thought it would answer no good end to do any thing more in that way, and I have no encouragement to go, any more. The state of politics has, I believe, contributed something to this. I am considered as a citizen of France, and the rage against every thing relating to France and French principles, as they say, is not to be described. It is even more violent than with you. This is a change that I was far from expecting when I came hither. I have nothing to do with their politics, and have taken no part whatever; but this does not exempt me from the most rancorous abuse. There is, however, another party in the country, and I believe the great majority of the farmers in this part of the country are of it. In Kentucky, where your son is Secretary of State, they are almost universally of it. They are so much opposed to the measures of the general government, that I begin to fear a division of the country, and perhaps a civil war will be the consequence. In my opinion, an amicable separation will be desirable, as the southern states in general are disaffected. In this state of Pennsylvania, the majority, I believe, are so too, though those who are so say little. The true state of the case will appear at the next election of a Governor, which will be the next autumn. This circumstance, and it is the only topic of general conversation, makes the country unpleasant to me; but I am so fixed that I cannot well leave it, though I had some time ago thoughts of going to France. Should there be a peace, I still promise myself the pleasure of seeing my friends in Europe once more; but according to our latest accounts, that desirable event is yet at a great distance. I very much like your edition of Neale, as indeed all your publications, but I have only the first three volumes. I hope you are far advanced in what you have promised." DEAR SIR, To MR. RUSSELL.† Northumberland, Feb. 8, 1799. THERE being no appearance of peace, I cannot go either to France or England, and I am very thankful for the asylum I find here. I have no concern but about my daughter, and her conduct is such as really makes me proud of her. She will, I doubt not, get through her difficulties in time, and be better in every respect for them; and if I never see her in this world, which I have almost ceased to expect, I shall hope to meet her in a better. A visit from you and Mr. Skey, and any other of your family, would make me very happy; but I do not now expect it.t TO REV. T. LINDSEY.§ DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, Feb. 14, 1799. THE books you have sent me lately are singularly useful, especially Jablonski's Pantheon. I have read it with particular satisfaction, and shall give a short analysis of it in my Comparison. I have also read that strange but curious book, Apuleius's Metamorphoses. Vandale's works and H. Reland's are excellent; and with Commentators on the Scriptures I am well supplied. And yet, if I could see any of your sale-catalogues, I dare say I should long to purchase many articles. As every thing of this kind must come from England, I cannot give more than a faint idea of my feelings when I open a fresh package of books or instruments, or hear that they are safely arrived at Philadelphia. I am much concerned for the fate of Mr. Johnson. He certainly did not deserve this harsh treatment; but we are following you here in the same steps as fast as we can. I shall be anxious to know the whole of his destiny, and also that of Mr. Wakefield, whose honest boldness is worthy of better times; but he could not expect to escape in these. Though I am much affected at this part of your letter, I rejoice at the recovery of Dr. Aikin,† and especially that of Mrs. Lindsey. I have thought of her and of you much upon that account. I hope we shall all meet in a better state than this, though we have much to be thankful for here, and I am very thankful, when I feel the most. When I consider how the patience of the excellent characters in the Old Testament (to which I now give particular attention) was tried, I think my trials nothing at all. Still more do they vanish when I consider the fate of M. Marolles, and thousands of the martyrs, especially those who were long imprisoned in loathsome dungeons. As to a public violent death, the idea of that does not affect me near so much. But God is the best judge of our lot, and, no doubt, orders every thing for the best, for us all.§ DEAR FRIEND, TO THE SAME. Northumberland, March 21, 1799. I CANNOT express what I feel when I receive and read your letters. I generally shed many tears over them, but by no means from sorrow or any unpleasant feeling. I am truly thankful for such a friend, and shall endeavour to deserve it. Having sold a small house which I purchased for my residence till this was built, I am able to put to the press my Comparison, &c. I shall prefix an Address to the Jews respecting the present state of things, and in a separate section, an account of their devotions and customs, at present. With all their superstitions, they are infinitely superior to the Hindoos or any heathen nations. I have made great use of Jablonski. It is an excellent work, and is written in so good and easy Latin, that it reads like a book in English or French, * In his reply to Bishop Watson. + See supra, p. 405. § Orig. MS. |