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Is our notice of the preceding volumes of this work we abstained from all attempts at an analysis of the character of Doddridge , because so much new light was thrown upon it by the exhibition of his early correspondence as to authorize the belief that adequate materials for such an analysis had never
yet been furnished . The appearance of the third volume of letters has confirmed our conviction . We find in them a development of new qualities of the understanding , and of affections which the circumstances of his previous life had not called into exercise . His experience of the domestic charities not only fixed bis roving affections on a few permanent objects , but stilled the tremblings of his sensitive spirit , and made the exercise of moral courage as natural to him as it had before been difficult .
A prosecution in the Ecclesiastical Court for teaching without a licence must have been a substantial cause of trouble to a mind whose predominant desire was to be at peace , though the terms of ridicule and opprobrium in which it was , in this instance , announced , were such as to rouse the spirit of any man . There is , however , as little of exasperation as of servility in the following dignified and graceful letter to the Earl of Halifax , which was written before any assurances of countenance and support had been received from the advocates of the Dissenting interests .
" I am determined to make no unnecessary submission , nor to pay any compliment to these reverend gentlemen from which I may be legally excused , lest they should consider it as an encouragement to pursue further attacks upon my brethren . What the law of England requires I will submit to , as far as I can with a safe conscience ; but if there be any thing which it is a matter of duty to contest , it seems very proper , my Lord , that it should be determined . We may then know on . what ground we stand ; for I am
sure that if we are to depend upon the sovereign pleasure of a bishop to license schoolmasters , or even tutors , we shall owe our best privileges , as British subjects , to convenience and caprice , rather than to the law of the realm , and , what I never imagined , shall be more obliged to the lenity of our ecclesiastical , than to the equity of our civil , governors . Be it as it will , I cannot persuade myself to bear any unnecessary burthen under the present
administration ; nor could I ever liave been attacked at a time when I should have been more sanguine of meeting with just protection . The kindest things imaginable have been lately said of the Dissenters , by public writers who are apparently under the direction of the ministry ; and I believe the government , as it is now happily settled and administered , will find the Dissenters as firm and warm in its support as they have ever been . I am sure , my Lord , I am here labouring to the utmost to engage all within my influence to be
good subjects ; and indeed things appear much more favourable than they did when I had the honour of writing to your Lordship last . In the mean time , it would be both weak and ungrateful for us to question the readiness of the Court to do us , not only justice , but favour ; for to leave us a prey to our enemies would be to add force to its own . When I write this , my Lord , it is not to screen myself from any thing the law requires , but only to make way for ray first petition to your Lordship , which is , that you would please to inform me , as soon as you conveniently can , whether , as things at present stand , it be necessary for me to ask a licence , and if so , on what terms I may demand it . I bless God I have nothing to fear as to my ministerial character , and I hope I shall endeavour to preserve it , by a steadiness and decency of conduct in this affair .
• The Correspondence of Philip Doddridge , D . D . Edited by J . D . Humphreys , Esq . Vol . III . pp . 560 . Col burn and Bcutlcy , 1830 .
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CORRESPONDENCE OF DR . DODDRIDGB . *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1830, page 385, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2585/page/25/
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