stay-tape, that is to say, of bombast and sophistry. But the abuse of the English Clergy in general, for their subscription, is beyond measure impudent. The author of "The Lives of the Popes" is described as one of the best writers of the age, and a kind of public blessing. That work, and his money-transactions with the Jesuits, make me regard him as a scribbler and an impostor. But if any man will shew me one unknown fact discovered, or one new argument invented against the usurpations of the Roman See; or but one good reason why he should choose to lay out his all on an annuity for life, of that Order of Men who were seeking his death, and who, we know, seldom miss when they aim at a man's throat:-if, I say, any man will shew me these things, I will readily confess him to be a Genius and a Saint; and that he may in time become a Martyr.

As I am well assured that nothing but a generous abhorrence of iniquity induced you to concern yourself in this matter, I am not displeased that the insolence and prevarication of this paper are likely to get it canvassed to the bottom; for, if the man be guilty of a criminal correspondence, it is fit he should be thoroughly detected; and if he appear to you to be innocent, I am confident you will be amongst the first to proclaim it to the world.

I am, dear Sir, with much esteem, your very faithful humble servant, W. WARBURTON.

DEAR SIR, Prior Park, April 12, 1758. The inclosed is from a very worthy Remonstrant Minister of the Church at Haerlem in Holland. I need not explain it to you. Some of their inveterate

* Archibald Bower.

enemies

enemies of the Established Church have published a Translation of a book of that foul-mouthed fellow, Owen, against them. What they want to know is, whether it be a Translation of a real Book of Owen's? and, if so, what answer it had, at that time, from our Remonstrants.

As I know no one who so well understands our Literary History, and no one is so communicative and ready to oblige your friends as yourself; I take the liberty to request this favour of you, that you would let us know what there is in this matter; and where the books enquired after may be found, that I may get them, and send them to my Correspondent: for it is a public quarrel; and both the Gods and Cato, I suppose, would here take the same side. I am, dear Sir, with the truest esteem, your most affectionate and faithful humble servant,

W. WARBURTON. P. S. Be so good, if you can convey word to Mr. Heathcote, to tell him I do not come to town this Term. All here are much

yours.

To the Rev. Dr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR,

We are

Grosvenor-square, Friday morning, Feb. 1, 1760. Last night I had the pleasure of reading your very excellent Dedication, with Mr. Solicitor *. agreed that it does both you and your Royal Patron great honour. We think too it will be very acceptable at that Court, as the curious History+ it precedes will be to the publick in general. This morning I received from you this very valuable present, for which I hold myself greatly indebted to your friendship. I am, dear Sir, with the truest affection, your very faithful and obedient humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

+ Mr. Charles Yorke. + "The Life of Henry Prince of Wales, eldest son of James I."

LETTER

LETTER XLIX.

To the Rev. Dr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR, Grosvenor-square, Dec. 5, 1760. Last night I had an opportunity to see Dr. Brown, and told him all the Bp. of Durham* had said to me. He confessed it was true, that he was in a sort of negotiation for an exchange of Newcastle; and that the reason of his keeping it a secret from me was a point of delicacy, least I should be supposed to have been one of his advisers. I said, he had carried his declared resignation of Horkesley too far to retract; and that he would dishonour himself by such a proceeding. After having disputed this point, he concluded by assuring me he would do nothing finally but to the entire satisfaction of all the parties concerned. What he means by this I will not undertake to say. Thus far I went, for the sake of his honour, and your service; and am, dear Sir, your very faithful and affectionate humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

LETTER L.

To the Lord Bishop of CARLISLE †.

MY LORD,

London, Norfolkstreet, Dec. 6, 1760.

The importance of the subject of this Letter with regard to myself, together with a just suspicion that your Lordship has not been thoroughly informed by Dr. Brown of the fact, and my Lord Royston's desire that I should state it at large, will, I hope, be a sufficient apology for the trouble which I now give your Lordship.

* Hon. Dr. Richard Trevor.

+ Dr. Richard Osbaldeston, afterwards Bp. of London.

In August last, a considerable time after the va cancy of the Vicarage of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the offer of it by your Lordship to Dr. Brown had been inserted in several of the public papers, he wrote to my Lord Royston, to give that early notice, as he styled it, of his resolution to accept of that living, and to vacate the Rectory of Great Horkesley in Essex; but that it would not be convenient to him to do so till October. He wrote to the same purpose to the Solicitor-General. His Lordship, on the 1st of July, upon the prospect of the vacancy of Horkesley, at the known declarations of Dr. Brown of his intentions to quit it for Newcastle, of which he made no secret, had been so good to me, as to offer me the disposal of that Rectory, in order for an exchange for some living compatible with mine in the City*. But his Lordship, as well as myself, was surprized by another Letter from the Doctor, dated Sept. 17, acquainting him that "a circumstance had arisen, which had rendered it doubtful whether he should be put in possession of Newcastle :" but that, "whenever he had formed such resolutions, as might certainly lead to that event, he would not fail to acquaint his Lordship with them." Accordingly, on the 4th of October, he wrote again to Lord Royston, and to Mr. Solicitor-General, to inform them, that he should accept the Vicarage of Newcastle, and consequently vacate Horkesley, in November. His Letter to his Lordship is not at present at hand, but was to the same effect, and nearly in the same words, as that to the Solicitor-General; of which the following is an exact copy:

"SIR,

Oct. 4, 1760.

"I have now the pleasure to acquaint you, that the circumstance which occasioned my late hesita

* Dr. Birch effected an exchange of Horkesley, in Essex, with Dr. John Cock, for the Rectory of Depden in the same County. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. V. p. 285.

tion concerning the Vicarage of Newcastle is now no more; and that I regard it as an event as certain as any futurity can be, that I shall be instituted to that living as soon as the Bishop of Durham comes to London, which will probably be about the middle of November. I inform Lord Royston of this by the same post; and am, with all true regard, Sir, Your very obliged and obedient servant, J. BROWN."

My Lord Royston, upon the receipt of Dr. Brown's Letter to himself of that date, wrote to me from Wimpole, on the 9th of October, that the Doctor had at last notified, that he should receive institution into Newcastle about the middle of November. His Lordship therefore hoped that I would immediately set to work upon the negotiation for an exchange of Horkesley, about which I had before received several proposals, and one so advantageous, that I was resolved to accept it as soon as it should be in my power.

On Wednesday, November 12, Dr. Brown called' upon me at my house, and informed me, that he had lodged his presentation to the Vicarage of Newcastle with the Bishop of Durham; that his instruments for institution into it were preparing: that he was going the next day, I think, to Horkesley, for his Letters of Orders: and that he should take institution into Newcastle on the Tuesday following. He expressed his satisfaction in the advantage which I was to receive from his quitting Horkesley, and desired me to recommend him to his successor there for the disposal of some goods of his in the rectoryhouse.

I discovered afterwards that he had not taken institution on the Tuesday following, which had likewise been appointed for that purpose; but that, as the Living was to lapse on that day sevennight, he had desired some farther time of the Bishop of Durham. This gave me and my friends a suspicion,

that