The private life of Doddridge, during his pastoral novitiate, is fully unveiled to the world in his published correspondence; and we not only follow him from one rural lodging to another-from the substantial farmers' house at Stretton, three miles from Kibworth, to Burton Overy with its chalybeate springs, and back again to his former abode—we not only see him preaching in his meeting-house, or rambling in his garden, or hard at work in his study-we have not only an account of his most trivial affairs and adventures, but his youthful thoughts are all divulged. No heart, throbbing with early affections, without wisdom at the time to repress or guide their boisterous gushes, was ever so laid bare to the broad gaze of all posterity. The result, in some quarters, has been what an enemy would desire. "Some of his letters," says Croker, "have been recently published, with no great advantage to his fame." Macaulay observes of Warren Hastings, that the splendour of his fame would bear many spots. Without subscribing to the doctrine that virtue can afford to be inconsistent, we may remark of Philip Doddridge, that the blemishes of the bud may well

be forgotten as we look at the beauty of the opened flower. Still there are few, we apprehend, who, regarding simply the interests of literature and religion, will attempt to justify the printing indiscriminately of a whole mass of boyish letters, many written in strict confidence to friends of his own age. Some of these letters exhibit him as a rather gallant young man, according to the fashion of that period-addressing certain favourites among the fair under romantic names, sometimes with professions of regard far too ardent to be deemed platonic, yet evidently not meant to express that passion which the author does not name, but presumes his readers know. Other letters discover an enthusiasm of feeling not to be mistaken. The whole indicate that our young friend was sometimes indiscreet, but always frank. There must have been in him some lack of prudence, or he never would have carefully preserved copies of such trifling correspondence, and left them to his descendants as an heirloom; though, indeed, the most suspicious of mankind could hardly have imagined that any one would ever shoot large bundles of such productions into the press, to be set up

in type for ever. However, here the letters are. An excuse for the formal style of many of them may be found in the manners of the early part of the Georgian era, well symbolized by broad hoops and powdered wigs; and so, also, some palliation of the freedom of address which appears in others, may be found in that less restricted intercourse of the sexes, which then prevailed from the court downwards. Certain of them exhibit the blossoming of affections, which, after the gay and garish leaves were shed, set in beautiful and mellow fruit. But with these qualifications we cannot but deeply regret that Doddridge's warm and cheerful heart should have betrayed him into some imprudences; far less, perhaps, than those of many men, who, through jealousy of their own reputation, or forbearance on the part of friends, have had their juvenile failings prudently covered up and concealed. In his letters and diary, at a subsequent date, he laments his early errors. It is very interesting, in connection with this part of his life, to read the following extract from a letter, written after his decease by Mrs. Doddridge to Job Orton:

"We were neither of us strangers to the

natural gaiety of his temper, which sometimes cast a shade over his otherwise excellent qualities; and these things may, perhaps, be yet remembered by some, when those may be overlooked and forgot. But mingled, as I fear you will find his early diaries and other papers, with things of this kind, I doubt not but you will also there find those seeds of piety, which, by his indefatigable care, under the blessing of Heaven, were growing up and gradually improved, till they shone out with such bright and distinguishing rays; and amidst his gayest scenes in early life, will here be found the foundations, early laid, for those important and extensive schemes of his future usefulness, many of which, by the Divine favour, he lived to execute, and others (and still more, perhaps) were broken of."*

It should be added, in reference to the collection of his early letters, that there are many of them which indicate the highest excellence. Some are written with exquisite propriety and beauty, especially one to a Miss Horseman, on an accident she had met with, and another to a young lady on going abroad. A few of the

MS. letters in the possession of Charles Reed, Esq.

earliest indicate habits of theological thinking, eminently vigorous and clear.

It is apparent, from Doddridge's correspondence, that he was not at first in perfect sympathy with what was called the orthodox party among Dissenters. The Arian controversy was at that time hotly waged. The contentions at Exeter about Mr. Pearce, and the debates at Salters' Hall about subscriptions, excited deep interest far and near; and, in some quarters, kindled "the wrath of man, which worketh not the righteousness of God." Reports of a violent spirit and harsh proceedings, found occasionally on the orthodox side, might prejudice a man like Doddridge against the party, though he admitted in the main their distinctive principles. Moreover, there might be theories entertained about the mode of the Divine existence; and representations made of scripture facts, together with the use of certain current and fondly-cherished phrases, which, without much wonder, would be counted exceptionable by a thoughtful young scholar, encouraged by his associates to indulge in free inquiry. In a letter quoted by Orton, Doddridge refers to those who were charged

F