c. 1739-40

6. Philip Doddridge, Northampton,to an unknown correspondent [Thomas Scott, Sr, of Norwich], undated, and missing the first page, but clearly c. 1739-40.¹

. . . End of their Course but there are 2 persons who have occurd to my Thoughts on this occasion. The one M^r Copplestone [paper torn] Ramsay where there is hardly Bread for a Minister to y^e Shame of the People He is an ingenious serious good natured Man [paper torn] pretty far advanced in years. His principles are sound his Compositions judicious & elegant & on y^e whole I can [paper torn] considering y^e State of our Intrest that so worthy ^& considerable^ a Man at this Time of Life should be so poorly provided for. [paper torn] in a much better place in Hampshire whence he was cruelly driven away by the violence of a mad [paper torn] Faction. The other person I have thought of is M^r Robinson once my pupil eminently pious thoroughly [paper torn] 2 Characters are I think seldom separated (at least w[here] y^e form is to be found) & tho he has a little a very little of [paper torn] in y^e main an acceptable preacher. He refused a Living of 200£ a year in Scotland chusing a little w^h [paper torn] has than all that abundance in y^e Fire of Contention for y^e Business of Patronage had been eagerly disputed [paper torn] offerd to him. He is now Assistant to M^r Dowley at Lutterworth & I believe is moveable. A better tem[? paper torn] ever knew. If y^e good people at Harlston [paper torn] either of them will be long disengaged.

I heartily thank you, my dear & much honoured Friend for [the encouragement] given to my Family Expositor by your Means on w^h account also I owe my thanks to my dear [paper torn] son at Ipswich (when I tenderly love & in whose known Reputation & usefulness I greatly rejoice. The [paper torn] is now come out. I shall direct M^r Hett to send 21 to your order hoping that considerations [paper torn] is now open to a Guinea on acct of y^e Book being half as big again as was promised you will find [paper torn] in disposing of y^e 18^th at 16^s on w^h you become regularly intituled to a g^d seventh Book. I [paper torn] any of your Friends before y^e Second volume if you please to favour me w^h them

I bless God I can conclude w^h news you will hear w^h pleasure Increase of real Religion amongst y^e Dissenters flourishes greatly in these Parts. The Congregation of my ever [paper torn] the dear Excellent M^r Some at whose Name my Heart melts w^h a mixture of horrors & of pleasures [paper torn] supplied by 2 excellent Youths bred under my Care M^r Wilkinson & M^r Aikin as Kettering is by another of [paper torn] also [?] to y^e latter. M^r Pierce who after a years Trial was unanimously invited to settle [paper torn] few Days ago. Both these Congregations are numerous as ever & experienced Christians in both assure [paper torn] me they find food for their Souls under the preaching ^of these pious & ingenious Youths^. Welford is yet vacant, & Newport not yet [paper torn] tho there is w^h them a most learned & ingenious youth educated in Scotland. To my great delight I see by far y^e greater part of y^e Pupils I have sent out judicious evangelicals & very [active] preachers many of them settled w^h universal Satisfaction in large Congregations of w^h Birmingham Banbury & Taunton are further Instances & I have no less 14 or 16 now under my Care (& among the rest 2 grandsons of M^r Henry) who if I forsee aright are like to be burning & shining for God is teaching me by my disappointments in some few that Success w^h the rest is to be assented to himself. Let me Dear Sir intreat your prayers for me that I may be kept ever humble & dependent & may in all approve my Self to him to whom I desire above all to refer y^e w[paper torn] ness of my Labours.

I hope Sir your goodness will excuse the broken Manner in which I write amidst very many Interruptions. My Wife joins w^h me in humble Service to your self & Lady Miss & both the young Gentlemen your Sons. It is my hearty Prayer that your valuable Health may be confirmed & prolonged for eminent usefulness. & ^that God^ may give you growing Satisfaction in every Circumstance & Relation in publick & private Life

I am

with the utmost Respect

Rev^d & Hon^d Sir

Your most affectionate tho unworthy Brother

& most obedient

& obliged hum[ble] Servant

P Doddridge

I shall be very glad to hear from you again & to know how the State of our Interest stands your way

¹ The letter mentions the Family Expositor (Volume 1 appeared in 1739 and Volume 2 in 1740, both by Richard Hett) and Coplestone once again (see previous letter), who was still with Doddridge at Northampton in 1739-40. References within the fragment point to Thomas Scott, especially the "7th set" of the Expositor that would soon be sent by Hett, for Scott had indeed subscribed to 7 sets in 1739. MS. from the Simon Gratz Collection 250B, Box 86, Folder 12, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. MS not previously known; letter not cited in Geoffrey F. Nuttall, Calendar of the Correspondence of Philip Doddridge (1979) nor in his Philip Doddridge: Additional Letters (2001).