of them men of eminent wisdom and, piety. Sir HENRY ASHURST Wrote the life of Mr. NATHANIEL HEYWOOD, an ejected minifter in LancaShire; fo fond was he of him. Your advice to me to eat my own book, is very good.. But I daily ftand corrected by my own publications, as it is easier to give advice than to take it. The hot weather hurts me; and now this cool damp air hurts me again. So fubject am I to fkyey influences, and the sport of every paltry atom.* But be the weather fair or foul, the ship is ftill under fail, near the port; and may it be the haven where I would be! Your's affectionately, P. S. November 29, 1777. The day of the month my good father died, R 2 *The Afcarides. died, thirty-fix years ago; who had a good report of all men, and of the truth itself (iii John 12.) I wish I were more like him.* His grandfather and father, who were grocers at Shrewsbury, of confiderable property, were juftly held in eftimation for their piety, their good fenfe, their generofity, their usefulhefs, and their chriftian virtues in general. His father died Nov. 18, 1741.' Dr. KIPPIS'S Account. LETTER LETTER XXV. DEAR SIR, March, 1778. THOUG HOUGH there is nothing in your last letter which requires an immediate anfwer, yet I am willing to write to fo punctual a correfpondent. I have been looking over SALLUST'S Hiftory of Cataline's Confpiracy; in which I think you will find fome things fuitable to your purpofe, particularly in his fpeech to the confpirators; which you will meet with towards the beginning of the hiftory:. where he pleads liberty, as a ground for his undertaking; but mentions honour, power, wealth, &c. as alfo in their plan; and throws out fome bitter reflections against the minifters and placemen R. 3 placemen of thofe days. Quin igitur expergifcimini? En illa, illa, quam Sæpe optafiis, Libertas; præterea divitiæ, decus, gloria in oculis fita funt, &c. In my edition, is the following note on the word Libertas. Tacitus vere (lib. 9. Annal.) falfo libertatis vocabulum obtendi ab iis, qui privatim degeneres, in publicum exitiofi, nihil fpei, nifi per difcordias, habeant. Grafw. one of the variorum authors. There is a great deal to the fame purpose in Cataline's fpeech, and in other parts of the hiftory; but it is near forty years ago fince I laft read it, which was with the pupils at Northampton, in 1739. I have long thought there are many paffages in the account of that confpiracy, very parallel to the prefent cafe of our nation, between loyal men, and those who are called patriots, and who choose by a figure of speech, to call themselves whigs, whigs, just as they call me a tory.* Many are angry with me, because I discountenance their difloyalty: but I defpife their anger, as much as I diflike their principles and conduct. I would willingly be doing fome good while I am here; and to promote loyalty, fubjection, and peace, is doing good. I think I have already softened some sharp fpirits amongst us, at least brought them to hold their tongues, or to be lefs confident. The KING, I fear, hath an unfavourable opinion of the diffenters; for which we have foolishly given too much reafon. - I fhall be forry to find that your neighbour Mr. **, expofes himself and his ministry by his politicks. An ancient bishop fays, "What hath an ecclefi R 4 • In moderation placing all my glory, aftick While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs a Tory. POPE. |