THE HE following collection of letters, arranged according to their dates, will, it is apprehended, give additional interest to the former part of this volume. Those addressed to Mr. Wakefield are printed from the originals, now in the possession of the editors. A few by himself are from copies, in his own hand-writing, found among his papers.

The originals of those addressed to the Rev. Dr. Gregory, forming the larger part of this collection, were very obligingly communicated by that gentleman to the editors, who were agreeably surprised to find that such a number of Mr. Wakefield's letters had been preserved. They will, doubtless, be found a very acceptable addition to this work; for as Dr. Johnson has well observed, "In a man's letters, his soul lies naked, they are only the mirror of his breast; whatever passes within him is shewn undisguised in its natural process; nothing is inverted; nothing distorted; systems appear in their elements, actions are discovered in their motives."

After the last letter to Dr. Gregory there is a long interruption of the series, which the edi

tors have no means of supplying. They have, however, inserted three letters at the close, which, notwithstanding every allowance for the partiality of friendship, will serve to shew how much Mr.Wakefield was esteemed by those to whom his character was most intimately known.

LETTERS.

LETTERS.

LETTER I.

Mr. WAKEFIELD to the Rev. Mr. STAFFORD.*

REV. SIR,

Richmond, Surry, Sept. 21, 1778.

YOUR unexpected, and unmerited attention to my interest demands my sincerest acknowledgments. Brewood has been for some time the first object of my wishes, nor have they ever aspired beyond the level of such an appointment; but now I begin, not without much anxiety, to suspect that the same obstacle which has unfortunately precluded all hopes of advancement in one track, will also effectually intercept them in this. The temper of the generality of mankind is so contracted, and so very unfavourable, in this particular, that nothing but the demonstration

a

Penkridge, Staffordshire, one of the trustees of Brewood School. See Supra i. 178.

I have had of the goodness and liberality of your disposition, could induce me to mention so delicate a point.

I have been for several years a diligent, and, I trust, impartial searcher of the Scriptures, and must say, that upon mature deliberation, I think the doctrines delivered in that book are improperly and inadequately represented in the articles of our church. The same reasons to which my fellowship will fall a sacrifice in a few months, will certainly prevent any repetition of my subscription, even though this determination be attended with the loss of Brewood: for that at least, I presume, is an indispensable introduction to the mastership. Strange! that a formal subscription to the Articles of the Church of England should have ever been deemed essential to the conveyance of classical instruction! that things so unconnected in their nature should have ever been united!

ες Πηνειον προιει καλιῤῥοον ύδωρ

I suppose there is no probability of any mitigation or indulgence in this matter; and, indeed, it would be presumption to expect it. However, if the practice at Brewood on these occasions should possibly be in my favour, I think I could secure Mr. Mainwaring's recommendation. The dispensing with my personal attendance would be very convenient on several accounts, as it not only admits my engagement for a curacy at Liverpool, which I shall accept if this business fall to the ground; but likewise renders unnecessary an ostentatious declaration of my sentiments, which would appear highly unbecoming in so young a man, and is itself an abomination to me.

d..

I have since found that the bishop was mistaken about the degree. Whatever be the issue of this attempt, no time will ever obliterate a very grateful sense of your extreme kindness and condescension from the memory of

Your much obliged

And

very

humble servant, GILBERT WAKEFIELD.

Fellow of St. John's Coll. Camb.

The late Dr. Law, bishop of Carlisle.