that without any charge to you. Let us hear from time to time how the affair proceeds, if it proceeds at all; for I cannot but suspect, after all, that the chancellor's scheme is only to drop the matter as genteelly as he can, for I am well assured that the court know of it, and possibly he may know that they do so.

I am, dear Sir,

most sincerely yours,

D. JENNINGS.

P.S. My wife joins with me in hearty service to Mrs. Doddridge.

TO THE REV. MR. CHANDLER.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Dec. 5, 1733.

I HEARTILY thank you for the assurance you give me of your readiness to assist me under the prosecution which is commencing against me in the Ecclesiastical Court, and will readily comply with your request, by giving you more particular information as to its cir

cumstances.

The prosecution in itself is not very remarkable, for I have been told that near twenty such attempts have been made within less than so many years, upon dissenting schoolmasters in this diocess, which have given the instigators no other satisfaction than what

they have found in giving such testimony of their candour and moderation, and putting some poor families, for such have been chiefly concerned, to the expense of a prohibition, in which they have always ended. It is therefore, I think, no wonder that an Academy in the town where this dread tribunal sits should be looked upon as an offence not to be quietly endured.

What is most worthy of particular notice in the present case is a proposal which the chancellor has been pleased to make me in private, and which he desired me to communicate to my friends in town, and to which he expects an answer within a few days. It is this, if the bishop or others, with whom he may think proper to consult, judge that he may safely do it, he will grant me a license, on resubscribing the articles which I have already subscribed, as a qualification for preaching; and taking the usual oaths to the government, being satisfied of my character and abilities to teach, by what he has already heard and known of me; yet still asserting his right to examine my learning and dexterity in the art of instructing, if he thought it necessary, and waving it only as a matter of personal complaisance.

These proposals Dr. Reynolds looks upon as a favour; but all my brethren whom I have yet consulted apprehend it to be a snare. They think some of the most essential and important of our liberties would stand on a very precarious foundation, if it lay in the breast of the chancellor of a diocess to break up any of our schools, or even our Academies, on the pretence

of not being satisfied with the qualifications of the teacher. If these terms be refused, we must expect that we shall be represented, either as heretical, disloyal, ignorant, or obstinate; and the doctor has assured me again and again, that to suppose a judge will not be governed by precedent is contrary both to law and to reason. To me it is not altogether so evident; and if you, good Sir, contrary to all the friends I have already consulted, should advise me to submit, I must beg the favour of you to give me your reasons at large. I should rather choose to refer the matter to the decision of a civil court; though, if it be there determined in our favour, I am persuaded that the chancellor will give me the vexation which some dissenters in these parts, as he tells me, have formerly found, of a renewal of the presentment every court day for some years together. I know this is what some of the tory clergymen hope; and they have already insulted some of my people by speaking as if my Academy were already demolished at a blow. But I conclude that is only owing to the dishonourable and foolish opinion they have imbibed of the equity and the wisdom of the present government. The wiser and higher rank, both among the clergy and the laity, are surprised at so unreasonable, and so unaccountable a step, and advise me to stand it out to the last, if the chancellor does not drop the prosecution, as they think he will, notwithstanding the solemn parade with which he has begun the attack.

Thus, Sir, you see the affair in its true light; your

general concern for the cause of liberty, as well as

you

the personal friendship with which you are pleased to honour me, encourages me to hope that will give it a due consideration, and will, as soon as you conveniently can, send me your sentiments upon it, as well as the judgment of any of our friends, with whom you may think proper to consult about it; which, I hope, will always meet with due regard from,

Reverend Sir,

Your most respectful humble Servant,

PHILIP DODDridge.

DEAR SIR,

FROM THE REV. JOHN BARKER.

Hackney, Dec. 18, 1733. MR. CHANDLER wrote you the solicitor's opinion as to your prosecution. Mr. Jacob has shown your letter to Sir Robert Walpole, who is very much pleased with it, and says, that the chancellor and bishop of your diocess (so I understood him) were broke loose from him; and so he leaves us to try the cause, if we think it will be of any service to us: he added, that there was one man who had an interest in the chancellor, whom he would speak to, and try if he were disposed to drop it; but for my own part, as things now stand, I wish it may be brought to a trial. Mr. Jacob sends his service to you, and orders me to acquaint you, that it shall not be tried at your

expense; our scheme is to put it into the hands of Mr. Sewell, an able lawyer, and one of the committee of gentlemen still subsisting, who are to manage the civil affairs of our interest. For this purpose he took your letter back again last night, in order to consult with Mr. Holden and some gentlemen of the committee. I give you the first notice of this design, that you may not take any steps to prevent or hinder it. After you have declined the license, I hope the chancellor will proceed, and that you will write to me for advice. I commend you to the care of Providence, and with services as due, I remain,

I AM very much obliged to you for your kind letter of the 22nd instant. I am entirely of your opinion that such poor artifices as the mayor has lately practised, will be rather a disservice to his friend than otherwise. I am pleased to hear from all hands that

It will be observed, that in this letter the Earl alludes to the local proceedings which were instituted in consequence of the riotous attack which had been made upon the Doctor's house by a few jacobite partisans.