DEAR FRIEND,

TO THE SAME.

Birmingham, Nov. 29, 1789. I AM glad that you liked my sermon, in which I wished to say nothing violent, such as some people would expect from me. In my animadversions on the Letters to the Dissenters at Devizes, I shall say some stronger things; but in this my name will not appear. Dr. Aikin's piece and mine will probably make our second number.

I will send you and Mr. Belsham copies of the Letters to Horsley. A good deal is added since you saw them; but as every thing is in the same spirit, I hope you will not disapprove them. I have made the longest additions to the Letters to Mr. Hawkins; and those, I am pretty confident, you will not dislike.

Mr. Morgan has an idea of something much more than I want, which was nothing more than an opinion in one or two sentences, such as I could justify, if it should be necessary. However, that part is now printed, and I have said so little, that I fancy I am in no danger of having said too much.

I am obliged to Mr. Lloft for his good opinion; but there is no hero among us besides yourself. We only talk and write, which is a very easy business, compared with what you have done. Does he intend to say any thing more to Dr. Knowles?*

In less than a month I hope to send you the remainder of my History, the index to which is now in hand. My philosophical work† will, I hope, be finished before my usual time of visiting the metropolis.

You said you would write to Mr. Cappe about our translation of the Scriptures. If you did, what answer did he give? Will he do any thing? As I believe he is a pretty good Hebrician, perhaps he would undertake some part of the Old Testament; but if we wait another year, we are enow. I have made a beginning of the Psalms. There is rather more to do than I expected, but this will only make me labour the more at it.

*See supra, p. 37.

+ See supra, p. 36.

Mr. Bretland says that Mr. Reynell, at Hackney College, has papers of his great uncle's, that may be of use in our translation. If you see Mr. Belsham, tell him I will write to him when I send him the Letters to Bishop Horsley, towards the end of this week. There is an awkward erratum in my sermon, "advocates," for adversaries. This will be noticed in the copies that are not yet sent out.

I long much to see Dr. Price's sermon, I hear so much of it from all quarters. I hope it will come soon. I rejoice that the cause of liberty seems to go on so well in Brabant and Flanders. I hope the Emperor will let them alone, and pursue his advantage against the Turks, in which I rejoice also.*

TO REV. T. BELSHAM.t

DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, Dec. 4, 1789. I REJOICE exceedingly in the very promising state of things in the College, and doubt not but that it will improve more and more. To you, who contribute so essentially to it, it will be an abundant reward. I hope that your reading the New Testament along with the senior class is with the knowledge and approbation of Dr. Rees, as every possible cause of offence should be avoided.

I had an account of the answers to my History of Corruptions, in Holland, at the time,‡ and was promised a more particular account when they should be published; but my correspondent is since dead. What Mr. Vaneffens proposes will certainly be very agreeable to me. It might perhaps answer very well to publish translations of all the pieces. This is what I should wish most of all; and if you have any communication with Mr. Vaneffen, I should be glad if you would inform him of my wishes in this respect.

I thank you for the account of the Charge of the Bishop of Peterborough, (who is he?) and shall notice it in the preface • Orig. MS. + New College, Hackney.

See supra, p. 24; "Remarks on the Prize Dissertations against Dr. Priestley, particularly on the Dissertation of Professor C. Segaar. By Paulus Samosatenus." Analyt. Rev. (1790,) VI. 557.

§ A Dutch gentleman, then residing in Hackney.

Dr. Hinchcliffe,

to my Defences,* part of which, relating to Bishop Horsley, I send you. As I wish to be well guarded in what I say to this antagonist, I wish for your keenest eye over it. The rest will be printed, if all be well, before Christmas. In about a fortnight I hope to send you the remainder of my Ecclesiastical History; and as I shall not publish it till some time after that, I wish you would note any errata, or other mistake that may occur to you in reading it.

I thank you for disposing of the copies of my "History of Early Opinions ;" and hope you will, as you have opportunity, dispose of more sets as well.

I long much to see Dr. Price's sermon. Mr. Lindsey tells me it is translating into French. I inclose a copy of my sermon, with a sad erratum corrected.

As they may amuse you, I inclose the letters of my deceased correspondent.† Return them at your leisure, or keep them till I see you.‡

DEAR FRIEND,

To REV. T. LINDSEY.S

Birmingham, Dec. 4, 1789. I SEND, but with fear and trembling, my Letters to Bishop Horsley, as many things are added since you saw them. However, I have done my best. The mottos you will disapprove; but Mr. Hawkes and Mr. Berington like them; and as this is probably the last, the whole will now in that respect be uniform. Nothing is so vague as taste. If the argumentative part be right, the rest signifies but little. No two men see other things in the same light; and every man's own taste in these things changes. I am sure mine often does, and in a short time.

As to my History, I am sure I attend more to the style than I used to do in my former publications; so that, if it be faulty in this respect, I cannot help it. I never used to read the proofs from the press more than once, now I read them as

* W. XIX. 6.

↑ Orig. MS.

Perhaps Badcock. § Essex Street.

From Buchanani Franciscanus. See W. XIX. 9.

carefully as I can, twice. As to the authorities, I also used my best judgment, and never spared my labour, except where it would have been thrown away, and therefore might be better employed. If I pursue the History, it must be less from original writers, because I neither have them, nor can I possibly get them. But no history of any extent can be written strictly from originals. A man must confine his views to a small compass, indeed, if he do that; and yet there are many useful compilations. One of Church History is particularly wanted.

You raise my curiosity to the highest pitch about Dr. Price's

sermon.

Mr. Croft's printed letter is not controversial, but complimentary, and, on that account, not politic. It requires no notice at all. We are printing Mr. Heywood's tract. I have corrected one sheet, the same form, &c., with my Defences.

The principal clergyman in this town has been preaching against the repeal of the Test Act, &c. The Committee of the Dissenters will request him to print his sermon.†

DEAR FRIEND,

TO THE SAME.

Birmingham, Dec. 10, 1789. I AM much revived by your letter. I am glad that you do not dislike the additions to the Letters to Bishop Horsley. I have no doubt of your approving the additions to the Letters to Mr. Hawkins.

If you see Mr. Belsham, I wish you would desire him not to shew my History to any body, till the cancelled leaves be reprinted; except Dr. Price should ask for it.

Last night I received and read his sermon. It is, indeed, most excellent. I was moved, even to tears, towards the conclusion. His friends need be under no apprehension. The court will be galled, but they will never hurt him. I hope it will be reprinted in a cheap form, to distribute through the country. If you see him, do mention this to him. It may have as great an effect as his tract on Civil Liberty. Now is the

* See supru, p. 42.

VOL. II.

↑ Orig. MS.

E

See I. 289, 290.

time to speak out without any fear, both on civil and religious subjects, while the advocates for tyranny are overawed.

As you think my shoulders pretty broad, and used to bear a good deal, you load me with every thing. As to mentioning the translation, I dare say I have no more to charge myself with than others. I have only mentioned to a few, whom, with your consent, I wished to engage, except a few particular friends, chiefly here, who promised not to speak of it again, and I do not think that they have. However, I told you it would be impossible to keep it a secret, and I see no inconvenience at all, but an advantage, in all that you say has transpired about it. You see the thing in a different light, but that cannot be helped. When I proposed a year, I did not really expect that it would be dispatched so soon. year will do very well.

DEAR SIR,

TO REV. J. BRETLAND.†

Another

Birmingham, Dec. 19, 1789.

I AM inclined to think that Mr. Watson is not the author of the "Letter to the Bishop of St. David's," but rather the person you allude to, whose name I do not now recollect. Mr. Lindsey thought it best not to send my letter to the Gentleman's Magazine, so that it may not be amiss to send yours. I may write to more advantage some time hence, if it be necessary.

I have no person to recommend to the place you mention. You had better write to Mr. Belsham about it. I have heard nothing farther about the Unitarian street-preachers.‡

TO REV. T. LINDSEY.S

DEAR FRIEND,

Birmingham, Jan. 22, 1790. THERE is no end of the trouble I give you. You would receive by the coach twelve more copies of the Defences, with directions for more presents, I must now desire you to add to them Mr. Jeffries, Mr. S. Palmer, Hackney, and Mr. W. Wil