he properly applied to the service of religion. He was polite in his conversation, and elegant in his writings. He was also very earnest and diligent in his endeavours to save the souls of men. His constitution was weak, and he laboured beyond his power, which helped to shorten his days. He had, in many things, a good discernment and judgment; in others these valuable abilities failed him; and he has been unhappy in his choice of systems.

He struck in early with the Methodists at Oxford, on account of their piety. They were then a small sect, devoted only to piety and charity, and were commendable in the exercise of both. Systems arose afterwards. Good Mr. Hervey unhappily engaged in them also; and thereby manifestly hurt his judgment.

1783, Feb.

J. J.

XXII. Anecdotes relative to Dr. SAMUEL CLARKE,

MR. URBAN,

FROM your speedy insertion of my last, I am persuaded that what I now send will not be disagreeable. The present communication consists of various detached anecdotes relative to the great Dr. Clarke; and to shew that they were not collected at random, I shall prefix an original letter, requesting information from the gentleman who of all others was best able to give it.

"SIR,

Yours, &c.

"To Samuel Clarke, Esq.

EUGENIO.

Welwyn, April 22, 1764.

"I have so great an esteem for the memory of the late excellent Dr. Clarke, your father, that I would willingly have every thing valuable relating to him preserved.

"Concerning his MS. Notes on our Public Liturgy, and the safe preservation of them in the British Museum, I have expressed to you my thoughts and wishes in some former letters; and do still hope you will be pleased to befriend the public, by securing them in the best manner you can for the benefit of posterity.

"Give me leave, Sir, to suggest to you another respectful intimation. I could wish you to minute down, at intervals of leisure, whatever you, or your friends who well knew the Doctor, can readily recollect, that tends to the honour of that great nian, in regard to his temper and dispositions, and the course of his conduct in human life.

"I must and do own to you freely, that I myself take pleasure in entering such minutes in my private papers, whenever I am so happy as to receive them from good hands. You can do a great deal more, and to far greater advantage than I can; who am, Sir, your obliged, affectionate, and faithful servant,

"J. JONES.

"P. S. It was usual with the late celebrated Master of the Charter-House, Dr. Thomas Burnet, when he did not chuse to permit some writings of his to go to the press for publication in his life-time, to cause a small number of copies to be privately printed at his own expence, and for his own use, and that of a few trusty and judicious friends. I have been credibly informed, that, amongst his more private writings, he left some strictures or emendations upon our book of Common Prayer. Into what hands they are since gotten, and whether preserved or destroyed, where they were said to be lately, is to me hitherto unknown. Time will perhaps shew; and this is intimated only for a caution."

Dr. Samuel Clarke.

Or a very humane and tender disposition. When his young children amused themselves with tormenting and killing flies upon the windows, he would calmly reason with them, and gently forbid such practices. Do you not know that these are the creatures of Almighty God? Do you know for what uses he intended them? These, and all other little animals, are designed by Providence for their several uses. Do not, my dear children, do not you destroy any living creature that God hath made, unless they prove really hurtful to you, and you can no other ways prevent their doing you mischief. Would you like that any man, stronger than yourselves, should destroy you, in the manner that you now destroy these poor harmless little creatures, &c.?" [This from Mrs. Sykes, 1756.]

He was very ready and condescending in answering ap plications touching Scruples. Numberless instances of this. myself have experienced his goodness herein.

T. Sh. Esq. having an interview with the Doctor, at the Bishop of Winton's [Doctor Willis], and afterwards in St. James's Park, observed him, he said, to be very clear in his notions, and very ready in his answers, upon certain disputable points [in theology], wherein this gentleman desired the Doctor's solution. A man of a clearer head, and of more perspicuity in his manner of expression, he added, he never met with.

"He was extraordinarily cautious of losing the least minute of time, always carrying some book about him, which he would read even while riding in a coach, or walking in the fields, or had any leisure minute free from company or his other studies, or even in company where he could take that liberty; always making it his rule to employ his time in some useful manner; and never idle, never indolent, &c." [This I had from his son.]

The late Mr. Archdeacon Payne told me, that he well remembered him when he was a young student in the university, and that he even then excelled in all his public exercises, and other marks of uncommon proficiency in learning, being much noted in the university, and commonly spoken of by the young scholars, as The Lad of Caius," &c.

Dr. Henry Yarborough (prebendary of York, and rector of Tewin, Herts), who was a member of the university when Dr. Clarke kept his famous act, and was present at it, tells me, that he never heard any act equal to it, or any thing like it, in all the time that he continued in the university (which was, I suppose, at least till the year 1727, when he came to Tewin), nor any one of equal length, or more admired, more talked of, &c. He said, Clarke was extremely ready and clever, very clear and strong in all his arguments and expressions, and also very modest in his address to the Professor, &c.

Dr. Yarborough told me, another time, that as old as he is now (1764), being, I think, about 77, or more, he would gladly take a ride to Cambridge to hear such another act as that which Dr. Clarke then kept. He said, he never was so delighted in his life with any academical exercise of

that kind.

It was, as I am informed, a current opinion and report, that when, some time after the said act, Dr. Clarke published his treatise upon the Scripture Doctrine, &c. he was the more convinced of the truth of the Thesis which he maintained before the university, by the strong arguments which his opponents, and above all the acute professor Dr. James,

then urged and inforced against that Thesis. This account seems probable enough. [I had it from the Rev. Mr. L. M. who was, about ten years after, fellow of a college in that university, and had carefully perused, and then approved of the said treatise.]

Extract from a letter (MS.) of the late Dr. S. Clarke to Mr. Jackson, dated June 4, 1715.

"Whether the Convocation will continue so (viz. perfectly silent) or not, depends upon matters wherein you and I have no concern. When some old men are worn off, I am persuaded the Tò xalxo, the great remaining impediment, will be the growth of Total Infidelity, which prevails very much." The original shewn me by Dr. Z. Grey, 1752.

I have heard that ancient clergyman, his intimate friend, Mr. Pyle of Lynn, say, that Dr. Clarke had a very strong memory; and that he had heard him declare, that he never forgot any thing that he had once thoroughly apprehended and understood; that he was ready in every part of Scripture, both of the Old and New Testament, and could immediately point out the particular places, &c.

The noted Mr. Say, of Ely-House, Holborn, secretary for many years to bishops of Ely successively, had once a friend, who calling to see him, expressed a great desire to see and converse with Dr. Clarke, with whom Mr. Say was well acquainted. Presently after Dr. Clarke came into the room unexpectedly, and seeing Mr. Say (but not seeing the visitor) at the farther end of it, ran alertly to him, and embraced, being so intimate and dear a friend. Discerning the stranger that moment, he sat down, and though, in all probability, he had many things, as usual, to say to his friend, he forbore, and said nothing; only entered, but spoke cautiously, upon ordinary topics. We may judge from hence of his great freedom naturally, where he well knew he could be free; and of his just circumspection, where he could not be sure that he might with prudence be so. I do not now remember from whom I had this latter little story; but I had it, I can be pretty confident, from some person upon whom I could well depend.

Dr. Sykes told me, that Dr. Clarke had accurately revised our whole Liturgy, struck out (in a private MS.) all the exceptionable passages, and made the whole agreeable to the Scriptures. This MS. Dr. S. had perused with pleasure; and it is now, he said, in the hands of his son. The late Lord Townshend (secretary of state) had formerly that MS.

to consider; and returned it. Dr. Clarke himself communicated it to his Lordship.

Mrs. Sykes, wife of Dr. Sykes, told me a few years ago, that Dr. Clarke, being intimately acquainted with her husband, would often make him a visit; and when he came, his usual way was to sit with him upon a couch, and, reclining upon his bosom to discourse in the most free, easy, and familiar manner, upon subjects agreeable to the taste and judgment of both.

The late Sir John Germaine (whose character is pretty well known) lying upon his death-bed at Westminster, and being in great confusion of thought, relating to his departure out of the present world, sent to Dr. Clarke, desiring some conversation with him. When the Doctor came, Sir John, in great anxiety, asked him, what he must do? "Oh! What shall I do, Doctor, what shall I do? I am in great distress of mind; what shall I do? Shall I receive the sacrament, and do you think it will do me good to receive it? Tell me, I pray you, tell me what I must do in my present sad condition." The judicious and honest Divine, well knowing what life he had led, and what his thoughts and pursuits had been chiefly bent on in the time of his health and prosperity, told him very sedately, "that he could not advise him to take the sacrament, as likely to be of any avail to him with respect to his final welfare ; and so, commending him to the mercy of God, did not administer it." [This I had from the Rev. Mr. Bunbury, rector of Catworth.]

I heard Mr. Harrison, of Balls, (M. P. for Hertford) say, that dining at a great man's house on the day that the late Archbishop Wake had been to kiss the king's hand on his being promoted to Canterbury, and mentioning his having seen him coming from court upon that occasion, Dr. Clarke, who was one of the company, after other observations made by others, said, We have now an Archbishop who is Priest enough.

Dr. Clarke, speaking to Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Doddridge concerning the best writers on the side of Christian Revelation, told him, that Mr. [Rd.] Baxter's treatise*, &c. was, in his opinion, one of the most masterly performances on that subject of any in the English language.

The Rev. Dr. Young assured me, upon my asking him whether Dr. Clarke (with whom he had sometimes conversed) was of a free open disposition in discourse, "That no man was more so. He was, he said, civil, obliging, and

* Reasons of the Christian Religion.