In honefly, good principles, moderation, and true Chriftianity; which are now fet at nought and at defiance by the far greater part and numbers of that body of clergy called the church of England; who no more efteem themselves a Proteftant church, or in union with thofe of Proteftant communion; though they pretend to the name of Chriftian, and would have us judge of the fpirit of Christianity from theirs: which God prevent! left good men fhould in time forfake Chrifanity through their means.

As for my part of kindness and friendhip to you, I shall be fufficiently recompenfed, if you prove (as you have ever promifed) a virtuous, pious, fober, and ftudious man, as becomes the folemn charge belonging to you. But you have been brought into the world, and come into orders, in the worst time for infofence, riot, pride, and prefumption of clergymen that I ever knew, or have read of; though I have fearched far into the characters of high church-men from the first centuries, in which they grew to be dignified with crowns and purple, to the late times of our reformation, and to our prefent age.

The thorough knowledge you have had of me, and the direction of all my ftudies and life to the promotion of religion, virtae, and the good of mankind, will. (I hope) be of fome good example to you: at least it will be a hinderance to your being feduced by infamies and calumnies; fuch as are thrown upon the men called moderate, and in their ftyle indifferent in religion, heterodox, and heretical.

I pray God to bless you in your new function with all the true virtue, humility, moderation, and meeknefs, which becomes it. I am your hearty friend.

LETTER LXXIX.

to fend me word, and appoint me a time,
when he came.
But I fhould have pre-
vented him, had it been my weather for
town-vifits. But having owed the re-
covery of my health to the method I
have taken of avoiding the town-fmoke,
I am kept at a distance, and like to be
removed even from hence in a little
while though I have a project of staying
longer here than my ufual time, by re-
moving now and then crofs the water,
to my friend Sir John Cropley's in Sur-
rey, where my riding and airing recruits.
me. I am highly rejoiced, as you may
believe, that I can find myself able to do
a little more, public fervice, than what
of late years I have been confined to,
in my country: and I own the circum-
ftances of a court were never fo inviting
to me, as they have been fince a late
view I have had of the best part of our
ministry. It may perhaps have added'
more of confidence and forwardness in
my way of courtship, to be fo incapaci-
tated as I am from taking any thing
there for myfelf. But I hope I may con-
vince fome perfons, that it is poffible to
ferve difintereftedly; and that obligations
already received (though on the account
of others) are able to bind as ftrongly
as the ties of felf-intereft.

I had refolved to stay till I had one conference more with our Lord + before I writ to you: but a letter, which I have this moment received from Mr. Micklethwayt, on his having waited on you in the country, has made me refolve to write thus haftily (without miffing tonight's poft) to acknowledge, in the friendlieft and freeft manner, the kind and friendly part you have taken in my private interefls. If I have ever endured any thing for the public, or facrificed any of my youth, or pleafures, or intereits to it, I find it is made up to me in the good opinion of fome few: and per

Lord Shaftesbury to Robert Molesworth, Ef. haps one fuch friendship as yours, may

Dear Sir, Chelsea, Sept. 30, 1708, reafons have made me delay anfivering yours. I was in hopes of feeing our great Lord, and I depended on Mr. Micklethwayt's prefenting you with my fervices, and informing you of all matters public and private. The Queen is but just come to Kenfington, and my Lord to town. He promifed

The Earl of Godolphin, then Lord Treasurer.

counterbalance all the malice of my worst enemies. It is true, what I once

told you I had determined with my fell, never to think of the continuance of a family, or altering the condition of life that was moft agreeable to me, whilst I had (as I thought) a juft excufe: but that of late I had yielded to my friends, and allowed them to difpofe of me, if

The fame.

I

words with one who has the honour to be your relation would refolve me in this affair. I cannot ftir in it till then, and fhould be more afraid of my good fortune than my bad, if it should happen to me to prevail with a father for whom the lady has fo true a duty, that, even against her inclination, fhe would comply with any thing he required. I am afraid it will be impoffible for you to read, or make fenfe of, what I write thus halily: but I fancy with myfelf, I make you the greater confidence, in trufting to my hu mour and first thought, without staying till I have fo much as formed a reflection. I am fure there is hardly any one befides you, I fhould lay myfelf thus open to: but I am fecure in your friendship, which I rely on (for advice) in this affair. I beg to hear from you in anfwer by the firft poft, being, with great fincerity, your faithful friend and humble fervant,

LETTER LXXX.

Efq.

they thought that by this means I could add any thing to the power or intereft I I had to ferve them or my country. was afraid, however, that I fhould be fo heavy and unactive in this affair, that my friends would hardly take me to be in earnest. But though it be fo lately that I have taken my refolution, and that you were one of the first who knew it, I have on a fudden fuch an affair thrown across me, that I am confident I have zeal enough raised in me to hinder you from doubting whether I fincerely intend what I profefs. There is a lady, whom chance has thrown into my neighbourhood, and whom I never faw till the Sunday before laft, who is in every respect that very perfon I had ever framed a picture of from my imagination, when I wifhed the beft for my own happiness in fuch a circumftance. I had heard her character before; and her education, and every circumftance befides, fuited exactly, all but her fortune. Had the but a ten thousand pounds, my modefty would allow me to apply without referve, where Lord Shaftesbury to Robert Molefworth, El. it was proper. And I would it were in my power, without injury to the lady, to have her upon thofe terms, or lower. I flatter myfelf too, by all appearance, that the father has long had, and yet retains, fome regard for me; and that the difappointments he has had in fome higher friendships, may make him look as low as on me, and imagine me not wholly unworthy of his relation. But, if by any interest I had, or could poffibly make with the father, I should induce him to bestow his daughter, perhaps with much less fortune (fince I would gladly accept her fo) than what in other places he would have beftowed, I fhall draw a double misfortune on the lady; unless the has goodnefs enough to think, that one who feeks her for what he counts better than a fortune, may poffibly by his worth or virtue make her fufficient amends. And were I but encouraged to hope or fancy this, I would begin my offers tomorrow; and should have greater hopes, that my difintereftedness would be of fome fervice to me in this place, as matters ftand.

You fee my fcruple, and being used to me, and knowing my odd temper (for I well know you believe it no affectation), you may be able to relieve me, and have the means in your hands for a few

12

:

Dear Sir,

FR

Beachworth in Surrey,
O&. 12, 1708.

ROM the hour I had writ you that hay letter from Chelfea, I was in pain till I had heard from you; and could not but often wish I had not writ in that hurry and confufion. But fince I have received yours in answer, I have all the fatisfaction imaginable. I fee fo fincere a return of friendship, that it cannot any more concern me to have laid myfelf to open.

I would have a friend fee me at the worft; and it is a fatisfaction to find, that if one's failures or weaknesses were greater than really they are, one should till be cherished, and be fupplied even with good fentiments and difcretion, when they were wanting. One thing only! beg you would take notice of, that I had never any thoughts of applying to the young lady before I applied to the father. My morals are a little too frict to let me have taken fuch an advantage, had it been ever fo fairly offered. But my drift was, to learn whether there had been an inclination to any one before me; for many offers had been, and fome I know very great, within thefe few months. And though the duty of the daughter might have acquiefced in the

dilike

Pray let me hear in your next, what time you think of coming up. I fhall be glad to hear foon from you again, wishing you delight and good fuccels in your country affairs, and all happinefs and profperity to your family. I remain, dear Sir, your obliged friend and faithful humble fervant.

Sir John Cropley, with whom I am here, prefents his humble fervice to you.

LETTER LXXXI.

you an occafion of speaking of me as to that part which few befides can know fo well, I mean my heart: which, if the be fuch as really all people allow, will not difpleafe her to hear fo well of, as perhaps in friendship and from old acquaintance you may reprefent. If the perfon talked of be really my rival, and in favour with the father, I muft own my cafe is next to defperate; not only because I truly think him, as the world likely gces, enough to make a good (at least a civil) husband; but becaufe as my aim is not fortune, and his is, he being an old friend too, I fhould unwillingly stand be

Lord Shaftesbury to Robert Molesworth, Eq. tween him and an eftate; which his libe

you gueffed right as to the winds, which γου are ftill easterly, and keep me here in winter quarters, from all public and private affairs. I have neither feen Lord Treafurer, nor been at Chelsea + to profecute my own affair: though as for this latter, as great as my zeal is, I am forced to a ftand. I was before-hand told, that as to the Lord, he was in fome measure engaged; and the return I had from him, on my application, feemed to imply as much. On the other fide I have had reafon to hope, that the lady, who had before bemoaned herself for being deftined to greatness without virtue, had yet her choice to make; and, after her efcapes, fought for nothing fo much as fobriety and a strict virtuous character. How much more fill this adds to my zeal you may believe: and by all hands I have received the highest character of your relation, who feems to have infpired her with thefe and other good fentiments, fo rare in her fex and degree. My miffortune is, I have no friend in the world by whom I can in the leaft engage, or have accefs to your relation, but only by yourself and I have no hopes of feeing you foon, or of your having any opportunity to speak of me to her. If a letter could be proper, I fhould fancy it more fo at this time than any other provided you would found it on the common report which is abroad, of my being in treaty for that lady. This might give

:

rality has hitherto hindered him from gaining, as great as his advantages have Been hitherto in the government. By what I have faid, I believe you may gucfs who my fuppofed rival is : or if you want a farther hint, it is one of the chicf of the Junto, an old friend of yours and mine, whom we long fat with in the Houfe of Commons (not often voted with), but who was afterwards taken up to a higher houfe; and is as much noted for wit and gallantry, and magnificence, as for his eloquence and courtier's character.

But whether this be fo fuited to this meek

good lady's happiness, I know not. Fear
of partiality and felf-love makes me not
dare determine, but rather mistrust my-
felf, and turn the balance against me.
Pray keep this fecret, for I got it by
chance; and if there be any thing in it,
it is a great fecret between the two Lords
themfelves. But fometimes I fancy t
is a nail which will hardly go, though
I am pretty certain it has been aimed
at by this old acquaintance of ours, ever
fince a difappointment happened from a
great Lord beyond fea, who was to
had the lady.

have

Nothing but the fincere friendship you fhow for me, could make me to continue thus to impart my privateft affairs: and in reality, though they feem wholly private and felfifh, I will not be ashamed to own the honefty of my heart to you; profeffing that the public has much the greatest part in all this buttle I am engaging in. You have lately made re believe, and even proved too by expe rience, that I had fome intereft in the world; and there, where I leaft dreamt

Charles Montague, late Earl of Hallifaz.

in I had of it, with great men power. always fomething of an intereft in my country, and with the plain honeft people: and fometimes I have experienced both here at home, and abroad, where I have long lived, and made acquaintance (in Holland especially), that with a plain character of honesty and difinterestedness, I have on fome occafions, and in dangerous urgent times of the public, been able to do fome good. If the increase of my fortune be the leaft motive in this affair before me (as fincerely I do not find), I will venture to fay, it can only be in respect of the increase of my interest, which I may have in my country, in order to ferve it.

One who has little notion of magnificence, and lefs of pleasure and luxury, has not that need of riches which others have. And one who prefers tranquillity, and a little study, and a few friends, to all other advantages of life, and all the flatteries of ambition and fame, is not like to be naturally fo very fond of engaging in the circumstances of marriage: I do not go fwimmingly to it, I affure you; nor is the great fortune a great bait. Sorry I am, that no body with a lefs fortune, or more daughters, has had the wit to order fuch an education. A very moderate fortune had ferved my turn; or perhaps quality alone, to have a little juftified me, and kept me in countenance, had I chofe fo humbly. But now that which is rich ore, and would have been the most eftimable had it been bestowed on me, will be mere drofs, and flung away on others; who will pity and defpife thofe very advantages, which I prize fo much. But this is one of the common places of exclamation, against the diftribution of things in this world: and, upon my word, whoever brought up the proverb, it is no advantageous one for a Providence to fay, "Matches are made " in Heaven." I believe rather in favour of Providence; that there is nothing which is fo merely fortune, and more committed to the power of blind chance. So I must be contented, and repine the lefs at my lot, if I am difappointed in fuch an affair. If I fatisfy my friends that I am not wanting to myself, it is fuficient. I am fure you know it, by the found experience of all this trouble I have given and am ftill like to give you. Though I confefs myself, yet even

in this too I do but answer friendship, as being to fincerely and affectionately your moft faithful friend and humble fervant.

I

LETTER LXXXII.

From the fame to the fame.

Dear Sir, Beachworth, Nov. 4, 1708.
WAS at Chelsea when I received yours

with the inclofed, and was fo bufied
in the employment you had given me, by
your encouragement and kind affiftance
in a certain affair, that I have let pafs
two posts without returning you thanks,
for the greatest marks of your friendship,
that any one can poffibly receive. Indeed
I might well be ashamed to receive them
in one fenfe; fince the character you
have given of me, is fo far beyond what
I dare think fuitable: though in these
cafes, one may better perhaps give way
to vanity than in any other. But though
friendship has made you over favourable,
there is one truth however, which your
letter plainly carries with it, and must do
me fervice. It fhews that I have a real
and paffionate friend in you: and to have
deferved fuch a friendship, must be be-
lieved fome fort of merit. I do not fay
this as aiming at a fine fpeech: but in
reality, where one fees fo little friendship,
and of fo fhort continuance, as com-
monly in mankind, it must be, one would
think, even in the fex's eye, a pledge of
conftancy, fidelity, and other merit, to
have been able to engage and preferve fo
lafting and firm a friendship with a man
of worth. So that you fee, I can find
a way to reconcile myself to all you have
faid in favour of me, allowing it to have
been spoken in paffion; and in this re-
fpect the more engaging with the fex;
who are as good or better judges than
we ourselves, of the fincerity of affection.

But in the midst of my courtship came an eaft wind, and with the town fmoke did my business, or at least would have done it effectually, had I not fled hither with what breath I had left. Indeed I could have almoft laughed at my own misfortune: there is fomething fo odd in my fortune and conftitution. You may think me melancholy, if you will. I