me a note of what you have laid out for me, that I may pay you that part of the debt I am able, of what I owe you, and may not have fo much to interrupt the advantages I am to reap from your conversation, when you honour me with your company, as an apology to be made, if I am not out of your debt before we meet.

Doth Mr. LE CLERC's New Tefta ment, make any noise amongst the men of Letters or Divinity in your town? The Divines of Brandenburg or Cleve have got the King of Pruffia to prohibit it in his Dominions; and the Walloon Divines in Holland are folliciting the fame at the Hague, but 'tis thought will not prevail . I have not yet heard what are the exceptions made in particular, either by the one, or the other. If there be need of authentick Interpreters of the Word of God, what is the way to find them out? That is worth your thinking of, unless you would have every one interpret for himself; and what

a

See Mr. BAYLE's Entretiens de Maxime & de Themiste: ou Reponse à ce que Mr. le Clerc a écrit dans fon X. Tome de la Bibliotheque Choifie contre Mr. Bayle, A Rotterdam 1707, in 8vo. pag. 70, & fuiv.

work

work would that make? Betwixt these two, find fomething if you can: for the world is in want of Peace, which is much better than everlasting Billingfgate.

I thought not to have troubled you with hard questions, or any thing that fhould have required a ferious thought, any farther than what day you should pitch on to come hither. But everlasting wrangling, and calling of names, is fo odious a thing, that you will pardon me, if it puts me out of temper a little. But I think of you, and fome few fuch as you in the world, and that reconciles me to it; or else it would not be worth staying in an hour. I am, &c.

A LET

A

LETTER

TO THЕ

LADY CALVERLEY

In Yorkshire.

MADAM,

W

Hatever reason you have to look on me, as one of the flow men of London, you have this time given me an excuse for being fo: for you cannot expect a quick answer to a Letter, which took me up a good deal of time, to get to the beginning of it. I turn'd, and turn'd it, on every fide; look'd it again, and again, at the top of every page: but could not get into the sense and secret of it, till I apply'd my felf to the middle.

You,

You, Madam, who are acquainted with all the skill and methods of the Ancients, have not, I fuppofe, taken up with this hieroglyphical way of writing, for nothing and fince you were going to put into your Letter things that might be the reward of the highest merit, you would by this mystical intimation, put me into the way of virtue, to deserve them.

But whatever your Ladyfhip intended, this is certain, that in the best words in the world, you gave me the greatest humiliation imaginable. Had I as much vanity as a pert Citizen, that sets up for a Wit in his parish; you have faid enough in your Letter to content me and if I could be fwoln that way, you have taken a great deal of pains to blow me up, and make me the finest gaudy bubble in the world, as I am painted by your colours. I know the Emperors of the East fuffer not strangers to appear before them, till they are drefs'd up out of their own wardrobes: is it fo too in the empire of wit? and must you coyer me with your own embroidery, that I may be a fit object for your thoughts and converfation? This, Madam, may fuit your

your greatnefs, but doth not at all fatisfy my ambition. He, who has once flatter'd himself with the hopes of your friendship, knows not the true value of things, if he can content himself with thefe fplendid

ornaments.

As foon as I had read your Letter, I look'd in my glass, felt my pulse, and figh'd: for I found in neither of those, the promises of thirty years to come. For at the rate I have hitherto advanc'd, and at the distance, I fee by this complemental way of treatment, I ftill am; I fhall not have time enough in this world, to get to you. I do not mean to the place, where you now fee the pole elevated, as you fay, 64 degrees. A poft-horse, or a coach, would quickly carry me thither. But when fhall we be acquainted at this rate? Is that happiness referv'd to be compleated by the goffipping bowl, at your grand-daughter's lying in

If I were fure, that when you leave this dirty place, I should meet you in the fame star, where you are to fhine next, and that you would then admit me to your conversation; I might perhaps have a little more patience.

But,