of allegiance and supremacy, and also the oaths of abjuration, subscribing our names as the act directs of all this we received certificates from J. Day, the clerk of the peace but," adds Mr. Robinson," had I seen things in the light I now do, (1774) I might have thanked Dr. Ewen for his advice, but would have run all hazards rather than have qualified thus. Blessed be God for an high priest who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way." *The above subscription expressed a belief of the doctrinal articles of the established church. By a subsequent act of parliament this imposition, so far as it respects dissenters, is abolished. LETTERS. To the Rev. Mr. Toulmin. REV. SIR, Chesterton, Dec. 20, 1783. A few days ago I received a copy of a letter of yours to Mr. Lepard from him, by which I find, and am extremely sorry to find, that you have not had the 4th volume, which has been published this year and a half. I supposed you had been supplied from Bristol, otherwise they would have been sent. I have no connections with Lepard now, and I shall send you ten volumes, either by a neighbour, who will be at Taunton in a few days in a single horse chaise, or by the Taunton waggon. Whenever you receive the money for them, I should wish it to be paid to Mr. Staley, at Mr. Keene's, St. Mary Overs stairs, Southwark. I am busy in translating a fifth volume of Saurin, which is sold to Lepard, and which he will print with a second edition of the four, the copy-right of which is also sold him, only I am to take 100 sets of this new edition, which I hope to dispose of among my friends. I have had all but a law suit with Lepard. The matter was referred to arbitration, and I was obliged to attend inLondon almost a fortnight about it; but the arbitrators have awarded me all my money, which was U a hundred pounds, an opportunity of getting 251. more by the sale of a hundred sets, and what was better than all, they acquitted me of all blame, and approved my integrity in the whole dispute. It is not worth troubling you about. I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Job David in London, and by him that of hearing of you. May God shower every blessing on you. I have lately lost a most intimate and worthy friend of your religious sentiments, a clergyman, and a fellow of Queen's college, who with a virtue that does honour to humanity has left all, and is retired for conscience sake to a Unitarian society at Montrose. Another fellow of the same college, an intimate friend too of us both, brought me a sweet letter from him two days ago. I do not know whether Mr. Hammond, that is the name of the last-mentioned gentleman, will not be obliged to follow his colleague Palmer. For my part, I go for a heretic because such as these do me the honour of an intimacy, and attend at our place of worship. May my church, like heaven, hold all nations, tongues, and kindred! Do you think, my dear Mr. Toulmin, that we shall do much good to truth and virtue, while we preach inscrutabilia? Says a grave brother, friend, I never heard you preach on the Trinity. I replied, Q, I intend to do so as soon as ever I understand it! My wife sits by and will have her compliments put in. Be it so. I am, dear Sir, your obliged |