prepare end of the world, but that its effects day," words which confound and in the world will be greatly enlarged astonish human understanding, yet and increased, is signified very ex- strictly and metaphysically true. pressly in the second chapter of the "Now the economy which appears Epistle to the Hebrews. The Apostle to be destined for the human creation, in this passage applies to our Lord a I mean for that part of it which shall quotation from the Psalms: "Thou be reserved to future happiness, is, hast put all things in subjection under that they shall live in a state of local his feet:"-and then draws from it a society with one another, and under strict inference: "for in that he put Jesus Christ as their head; experiall things in subjection under him, encing a sensible connection amongst he left nothing that he did not put themselves, as well as the operation under him." And then he remarks of his authority, as their Lord and as a fact," but now we see not yet governor. I think it likely that our all things put under him:" that com- Saviour bad this state of things in plete entire subjection which is here view, when in his final discourse with promised, hath not yet taken place. his Apostles, he tells them, "I go to The promise must, therefore, refer to a place for you. a still future order of things. This and prepare a place for you, I will And if I go doctrine of a progressive increase and come again and receive you unto final completeness of our Lord's king myself: that where I am, there ye dom, is also virtually laid down in the may be also."-John xiv. 2, 3. And passage from the Corinthians already again, in the same discourse, and cited. He must reign till he hath referring to the same economy--" Faput all things under his feet." For ther," says he, "I will that they that this subjugation of his several also whom thou hast given me, be enemies will be successive, one after with me where I am, that they may another, is strongly intimated by the behold my glory which thou hast expression," the last enemy that given me:' for that this was spoken, shall be destroyed, is death." not merely of the twelve who were Now to apprehend the probability then sitting with Jesus, and to whom of these things coming to pass, or his discourse was addressed, but of rather to remove any opinion of their his disciples in future ages of the world, improbability, we ought constantly is fairly collected from his words to bear in our mind, this momentous (xvii. 20.)-" Neither pray I for truth, that in the hands of the Deity these alone, but for them also which time is nothing; that he has eternity shall believe on me through their to act in. The Christian dispensa- word." tion, nay, the world itself, may be in its infancy. A more perfect" display of the power of Christ and his religion may be in reserve, and the ages, which it may endure, after the obstacles and impediments to its reception are removed, may be, beyond comparison longer than those which we have seen, in which it has been struggling with great difficulties, most especially with ignorance and prejudice. We ought not to be moved Here leaving Dr. Paley and the any more than the Apostles were illiterate pretenders who differ with moved with the reflection which was him, I may, with your permission, cast upon their mission," that since in future, notice other branches of the fathers fell asleep, all things con- fabulous theology, maintained by tinue as they were." We ought to some erudite writers upon these return the answer which one of them subjects. returned that what we call tardiness in the Deity is not so; that with him "a thousand years are as one The Doctor after referring again to this "future dispensation," and the various allusions to it in the New Testament, concludes thus:-" We may be assured that these expressions mean something real; refer to something real; though it be something which is to take place in the future dispensation of which we have been speaking." ANTI MERCATOK. W SIX ORIGINAL LETTERS from Mr. GENTLEMAN to WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE, translator of the LUSIAD. THAT my good friend Mr. Mickle, alive! in London! and kind enough to remember me! to remember one who has been for three years endeavouring to forget himself! but a truce with admiration. Dear Sir, let me congratulate you and myself, that a larger field of practical speculation, as I may call it, has opened upon such faculties as you are happily possessed of; why did I not know of your being in London sooner? I sent several fruitless enquiries to Edinburgh, and can hardly think, rusticated as I have been, how you traced me out. If ever I doubt of your favourite principle, and let me call it mine, it is when I consider myself in a state of separation from a sensible, sincere, and therefore, valuable acquaintance; however, I hope that next winter will convey me to the much desired society of one, than whom no man living more commands my esteem-Politics! the very word must be sickening to a feeling mind after the intolerable load of nonsense, ribaldry, and, what is worst of all, na tional reflections, with which the in jured press has groaned. I thank God and reflection for placing me in a moderate medium of opinion, equally distant from the uncharitable extremes, to call them no worse, of either side. Your encounter with the military gentlemen, comes upon me with double force, as many instances of such forward ignorance in that sphere of life have come within my own particular knowledge. The infectious breath of party reached us here, but without any other effect than occasioning some bets of six to four, two to one, &c. that being the logic of this county, in support of the different opinions. To avoid such irrational jargon I have employed most of my time in gratifying the Cacocthes Scritendi, which nature has planted in my disposition; in consequence of which I have let slip a volume, of which I shall earnestly request your opinion; it is called “à Trip to the Moon," published by Crowder in Paternoster-Row, and several others; but I believe from what I have heard much neglected as to advertising and other necessary points of care in publication; I shall be obliged if you can collect any opinions that may either encourage me to carry on the design or drop it as useless to the world and unprofitable to myself. I know you have impartiality enough not to be biassed by particular or even general judgment; therefore I may venture to let you know that though some have made slight objections, I have had letters from three clergymen of allowed abilities, and as many more from persons of much reputed taste, paying me, what I think, too extensive compliments. Sensible I am that real merit is not 'the shortest road to popularity; but pray let me have your sentiments, not as an acquaintance but a critic. Pray is Mr. Boswell in London, and what part of it? will you be kind enough to enquire either at the Bedford Coffee-House, CoventGarden, or, the Smyrna, in Pall Mail, if one Mr. Derrick be in town; and you will much oblige me. I have for some time had a strong bent of inclination towards London; which by the knowledge of your being there, I may say without compliment, is much increased. I only wait for the settlement of some family affairs, and then I hope in person to assure you, with what very unfeigned regard, I am, Dear Sir, most faithfully Malion, Yorkshire, poetical epistle called "Characters," And sincerely your's, FRANCIS GENTLEMAN. Please to let me know your London address. If you dont write in about ten days, as I shall be from hence, after that a week, you need not write before the latter end of current month. To me, at Malton, Yorkshire, is sufficient. DEAR SIR, the epistolary way; however, I am in hopes, that this may still go time enough to find you at the seat of the Muses. You say you are not versed in ceremony, no more am I: and as I am myself not a little eccentric, I càn more easily forgive the retrograde motions of a friend; though at the same time his silence occasions regret. As the miller of Mansfield, says, Do courtiers think their dependants can eat promises?" Well, you are not the only one that has been promise crammed; may all such rascally patrons feel at one time or other, just punishment in public contempt or domestic disquiet. How aptly, how feelingly, have you introduced Phadrus's stag. The nine figures are, in this money-loving age, worth nine hundred muses, and you are happy in being acquainted with them; as for my part, I have wished a thousand times that my too tender father had bred me a mechanic of any sort, and kept my ideas down to such a sphere; EXCLUSIVE of that friendly regard however, there were views which which makes me wish to hear often justified him in giving me a genteel, from you; the diffidence, not vanity though not a very learned, education, of an author, has created desire of a which threw me in the bewitching letter for some posts, by post, to inway of Dryden and Pope; who, with form me whether the southern clime some others, joined forces and con- affords as favourable influence to the verted me from prudence to poctry. general as our northern one; I give Yet I must do myself the justice to you the pleasure to hear that many say, that, had reason presented herself persons of competent and independ at any time in a profitable shape, ent taste have been liberal of praise; thyme should have been immediately as to advantage, that is not likely to sacrificed to her; but, acquainted be so considerable as might have been with no sphere of business, disap-. expected, from the unlucky absence pointed in several favourable views, of two persons, whose influence at cajoled by hope, and imposed on by Scarbro' would have been highly kraves; I have often had recourse to serviceable, but disappointment sits my Pen, as a relief from more labori- easy upon me; besides, I wrote the ous thought. You mention my Fables; piece from real feelings, and so far am they have indeed been honourably re- gratified, I have it whispered, in a ceived at court and very favourably letter from London, that Churchill by all the critics who have yet taken will infallibly retort, has he done it notice of them; several have been in his TIMES just published? And transcribed into the papers, magazines, pray what do the miraculous re&c. and several eminent judges have viewers say? Am I not triflingly sent me most flattering approbation; troublesome? Certainly, yes, but I Lady Charlotte Finch,also, the Prince's should be curiously glad to make sigoverness, honoured me with a letter milar enquiries about any production of thanks from her own hand; for the of your's, and therefore flatter myself mention made of her, and the great en- you wont consider me as an absolute tertainment, as she was pleased to phrase intruder; pray has the copy passed it, the Fables in general had given through your hands to Mr. Derrick at her-thus far honour. As to profit, Tunbridge? Winter comes forward that may be known hereafter. I pub- apace: may your patron be to you. lished about a month before them a returning spring, or rather hope's ripened harvest; I have myself been so perplexed by expectation, though not in regard of great men, that by sympathy, as well as friendship, I am strongly impelled to feel for your suspensive situation: but the optimist maxim, my constant recourse, and a thorough confidence of providential protection spreads a calm that mere philosophy could never bestow; not a stoical apathy, but a lively acquiescence with the events of life, nay, even an approbation of them, however cross. Encouraged by your kind and sincere approbation more than by that of many others, I have prepared a second volume, though frequently in terrupted by inatters of different concern, which indeed have thrown some damp both upon this and the preceding one; if they can fight their way, I am in hopes that the remainder of the plan will be much more general, and therefore more entertaining. I fear I shall not get to London any thing like so soon as I expected, a most sensible disappointment, as I proposed to myself great satisfaction from personal intercourse with my friend. Well, as Shakspeare says, "Patience and time run through the roughest day." Nothing can give me more singular pleasure than to hear, per return of post, that you are well and in spirits. Prythee, why dont you commit some of your ingenious and useful speculations to print? You are certainly too modest or too idle were I at hand, I would, pro bono publico, rouse you up. What rhapsodical stuff do I tax both your pocket and patience with; but you'll forgive, and believe I am never any thing more than, Dear Sir, Your very affectionate friend Malton, Tuesday, DEAR SIR, ABSENCE from this place for above a fortnight, after your last most obliging favour reached it, has occasioned iny delay in acknowledging the pleasure I received therefrom; a pleasure you cannot be more willing to communicate than I am to receive and erjoy. your's line by line, and endeavour to say something upon each. As to that charge of deferring my opinion to another time, in regard of somewhat you particularly wish to know, be so, indulgent as to assist my treacherous memory; treacherous I call it, because it has scarce any degree of retention except my unalterable regard for those persons whom I have met in life, who, according to my poor opi nion, deserve esteem: a light, my good friend, Mr. Mickle must always stand in, while, as Shakspeare has it, memory holds any seat in this distracted frame. Do remind me of what my opinion is wanted on: your humane mention of a certain LITTLE great man argues a mest philosophical disposition; nay, savours strongly even of stoicism. I would not, with all my warmth and resentment about me, wish any man very severe temporal, much less spiritual, chastisement; yet, such fellows as your voluntary sneaking patron, I would have them feel the stings of self-conviction. I am heartily glad, however, to hear that he is not the person on whose patronage you depended for an establishment in some public office; and am highly pleased that you have proof of his rascally evasion under his own hand; as sense teaches us to despise, so I think does humanity allow us to detest such animals; for I am perfectly of that opinion, which says, He who feels not a wrong, will not feel a favour. So far with regard to a literary transaction of yours; now for some very, very kind remarks you have made upon my Fables. By the by, I wish you had seen the whole collection, and then your criticisms having more latitude, would have been more acceptable and more useful to me. Fable, both as to invention and execution, is certainly difficult; to be obvious and entertaining, fanciful and familiar, are circumstances not easily hit off; nor do I think that climax you seem to wish for, which indeed every reader must allow desirable, can be always maintained; in the same subjects incidents of the most striking * See a letter from Lord Ln to Mr. Mickle, in Sim's Life of To be methodical, I shall trace Mickle, p. xxx Your most assured friend nature will rise first. This I myself friendly remarks, and insist upon a discovered to be particularly the case continuation of them, as your friendof my fable of the Fine Lady, &c. yet ship wishes me to improve. You demust own I had not the address to sire a long letter. I don't know how avoid it, nor the penetration to disco- to consider this: as to the matter, that ver a method of avoiding it. You you must determine; as to the writwould be amazed how many different ing, it is small enough, close enough, opinions, most of them truly sensible, and bad enough to tire a very resohave reached me; the only fable lute forbearauce: yet I make no apomarked by any two as the best, is the logy, being assured that, were it noPhilosopher and Rattle; all others thing but trifle from beginning to end, chose differently, and my favourite, your brow would distend from conthe Angel and Hermit, has hitherto traction into smiles at coming to the been undistinguished. To pass from name of, dear Sir, this production to some others: you must know I have been urged to publish a play of mine, and several other poetical pieces, by subscription. Proposals have got abroad, and above one bundred names are already in the list, above fifty of them people of consequence; the prospect of powerful support is rationally fair. You remember I proposed a subscription at Glasgow; cross incidents prevented that from taking place: as some few paid towards that, I shall advertise in Edinburgh and Glasgow, that former subscribers shall have books of this delivered to their order. Your name I bave put down, and shall order you a copy when ready. Malton, Oct. 12, 1766. DEAR SIR, NOTWITHSTANDING apologies are in my mind excrescences, both of conversation and correspondence, yet it unfortunately happens that I am obliged to lean that way as your last favour has been near a month unanswered; three weeks of the time I was at York, and some indispensible How much am I pleased with your attention to my subscription volume account of Oxford, which, like a strict has totally engrossed every moment likeness in painting, proves its vera- since. As to the chief point of your's, city by the strong lines, the striking which kindly requires my advice in symmetry, and irresistible colouring. regard of an intended publication, I To a man of your speculation there shall say every thing I can suggest, must be an odd tragi-comic mixture of It was but two posts before your's sensations, occasioned by the motley reached Malton; I sent a letter to my contrasts of collegiate importance and friend, Mr. Cowper, for Mr. Beckett, urbanic servility; your censure and wherein I expatiated warmly and commiseration must, I know, operate largely on the defects in publication alternately in a powerful manner, with regard to country booksellers; though, to say truth, I think they are most of whom are such dolts, that they both feelings of too serious a nature never venture to send for a book unfor any man to encourage in the gene- less ordered; now, as not one-half of ral farce of life; once I thought other- the readers ever see a London paper, wice experience now Las taught me, and new pieces are seldom advertised that to take honest care of our own in the country ones, how should an interests, to do what good and as little author have fair play. As an instance, barm as we cau, is all the care we I gave Mr. Beckett notice, that by should feel admit; to grieve at vices and fol ́s is as unprofitable as to languish for enjoyments beyond all possible expectation. You blame me for sermonizing in fable: why should I do it in letter? By the bye, dont think the word blame is here captiousły mentioned. I rejoice in your UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. XIII. mere accident I had heard from three such capital places, as Newcastle, Chester, and Manchester, where not one copy of my Fables had been seen four months after they were published, and a master of a large grammar school at the last place was obliged to order some before he could see them. E |