Mr. Whiston preaches Boyle's lectures; he has lately put out a comment upon the Revelations*, from whence he proves that the Turks shall never make war with the empe ror, or any other Christian prince, or at least, if they do, must meet with a terrible defeat; and that the pope (the whore of B.) must tumble down in a few years. I wish, Sir, you would write a letter to Mr. Brown, to make him warm and vigorous in my interest. I do not in the least question his friendship, but I believe a letter from you would be of great force with him; or if you could procure a letter from Mr. Nelsont to Mr. Roper, it would be a great kindness: but whether I succeed or no, you may certainly expect me (setting aside accidents which I cannot arm against) immediately after the election.

MR. SMITH, one of our fellows, a camp chaplain, lately sent to our master an account of a letter from the master of Malta to the French King, which is as follows: "We, the great master of St. John's of Jerusalem, and great Duke of Anciterre, have received information from our ambassadors at Babylon, that in that kingdom, at a village called Fusboyn, there was brought-to-bed a woman of extraordinary beauty (the father not known) of a son more inclined to black than white, his neck short, his head sharp, long teeth, his nose flat, he spoke distinctly, and walked when he was but eight days old: he said he was the Messias, the son of God, in whom alone we must believe; our ambassadors have both heard and seen him with a great deal of wonder: at the day of his birth were seen most amazing signs in the skies, a vast eclipse of the sun at noon,a dragon carrying in his mouth a lance of fire, 2 griffins tearing to pieces an old man, an eagle carrying a child upon his wings, and a great

Essay on the Revelation of St. John.
The celebrated Robert Nelson, Esq.
Fellow of St. John's.

Dr. Jenkin.

many other frightful sights; the rivers overflowing, the house where he was born seemed all on fire, and then disappeared and this child, being asked the reason of these prodigies by our ambassadors, answered, it was to warn the world of the traverses and eternal torments that would fall upon all that would not believe in him.' On the day he was born was found an earthen statue, with this inscription, 'You may here see the day of his birth.' "This child has raised the dead in the presence of our ambassadors, has given sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk, and cures all sorts of diseases. The people of that country adore him, the wise men believe in him, all that refuse are massacred without mercy; there was heard, 300 leagues round, the voice of angels, who sung these words, prepare to receive that son who was promised you.' All doctors and reasonable people in this country certainly believe him to be the real Antichrist, and prove it to be so by the New Testament; he understands all sorts of languages, and disappears very often, and raises himself in the air quite out of sight. Before we would believe the strange news, we had a convocation of our clan, and by their advice we wrote to our ambassadors at Babylon, who confirmed all that was writ to be true, and added several things not here inserted."

This story meets with very little credit among us; and some are of opinion that it is forged by Jesuits, on purpose to remove Antichrist from Rome to Babylon.

The Oxonians have received a letter from the Geneva divines, in which they complain of a great many unchristian calumnies and black aspersions thrown upon their church by the English: they little expected (they say) such severe usage from our church, of which their two great founders, Calvin and Beza, had so venerable an esteem, and whose constitution they think is pure, primitive, and apostolical: it is not their choice, but their misfortune, that their ecclesiastical constitution is not the same with ours; but, if ever their circumstances will permit a reformation, it shall be after the model of the English church: they lament that they have no bishops in their church, and despair of ever having any, because a monarchy in church would naturally introduce one in state, which will never agree with the republic of Geneva: they are ashamed that our dissenters should take shelter under them, and draw an argument from the example of the church of Geneva, to vindicate their sepa ration from the church of England: they account our dis, senters black schismatics; and for that reason, when any

from Geneva come to England, they always communicate with our established church, and never with the separate congregations.

This letter we expect will be printed very shortly, with

an answer to it.

There has been a quarrel at Caius college, between the master, Sir John Ellis, and the fellows, about the power of the master in elections; he challenged a negative voice from a dubious clause in one of their statutes, which is this: "The seniors shall elect a fellow with the consent of the master:" but at last he confirmed the election the seniors had made, and so the breach was made up.

We hear Sir W. Dawes is to be Bishop of Chester. I have but little hopes of a fellowship, for there are so many candidates, my seniors, that nothing will do but a singular interest and very meritorious qualifications.

I am your very humble servant,

R. TURNER.

Mr. Naylor had the character of a downright, honest, good-natured man, and a good scholar. He drank a glass of claret pretty frequently, yet I believe very rarely to excess.

LETTER V.

Mr. Hughes to Mr. Bonwicke.

DEAR SIR,

Jesus College, Aug. 14, 1707.

I HAVE been a long while in your debt; so long, that I am afraid by this time you imagine I have quite forgot you. Indeed you had heard from me sooner, but that I have all along entertained thoughts of making a step to London; and then I fully intended to wait upon my good friends at Headly. But since I find that my affairs will not permit me to come to London this summer, I immediately thought of writing to you. Mr. Bennet was in Cambridge last week, and I had the happiness to enjoy a large share of his conversation. His book about set forms of prayer, will come out about Michaelmas. He there asserts, that not only the primitive church constantly used set pre-composed forms of prayers, but that even our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles never joined in any public prayers but such as were pre-composed. This is more than any patron of set forms has ever ventured to assert, and which many worthy persons and

great friends to a liturgy are amazed at. You very well know that it has been ever granted by the greatest of our disputants, that in the primitive church there were Xapioμara pos (gifts of prayer,) which are now no more to be exa pected than the power of working miracles. It is very remarkable that St. Chrysostom is the first author that mentions this Χάρισμα προσευχής, and which later writers have blindly borrowed from him without examining into the reasons of the thing. I have frequently talked with Mr. B. upon this subject, and have seen some of the sheets; and I am verily persuaded that he will be able to establish his point, against all opposition" of the priesthood.”—I have been at last prevailed upon to undertake an edition of St. Chrysostom epi iepwovens ;* and I would beg the favour of you to send me your octavo edition. I want a small volume to lay by me, and the Latin version may be of some service to me, if I correct the interpretation of Fronto Ducæus. I will take particular care of your book, and return it with interest.— Bishop Wake is in a very ill state of health, and is come to Cambridge to his sister's for the better convenience of having the doctors about himt. I saw Mr. Archbold about a fortnight ago, who was then very well.

This is all the little news that Cambridge affords at present, and therefore I am obliged to be shorter than otherwise I would, for want of materials. I question not but this letter, as short as it is, will find a kind reception, when you consider that it comes from one who is, with the utmost sincerity,

Dear Sir,

your very much obliged,
and humble Servant,

LETTER VI.

J. HUGHES.

Mr. Bonwicke to his wife.

MY DEAREST,

You were thinking, quickly after dear Ambrose's death, that an account of his life might be of some benefit to the

* A second edition of this was published at Cambridge in Greek and Latin, with notes, and a preliminary dissertation against the pretended Rights of the Church, &c, in 1712. A good English translation of St. Chrysostom, on the Priesthood, was published by the Rev. John Bunce, M. A. in 1760.

+He lived, however, to be Archbishop of Canterbury, and till the year 1737.

world. I have here drawn it up as well as I could: if any thing material be omitted, dear Jemmy*, by your direction, will be able to supply it. He, therefore, must be let into the secret; and I depend upon you two, that it shall for ever be a secret to all the world beside, who was the author. He must therefore take the trouble of transcribing it as soon as he comes hither after my death, for which I bequeath him the two inclosed guineas: and if my dear friend Mr. Roper be living, I would have that copy be shewed him by Jemmy as of his own motion, and wholly submitted to his judgment, to be altered as he shall think fit. I would have my good friend Mr. Browne's consent likewise procured (if it may be) for the publishing his letter in this account. And if Mr. Jacksont and Mr. Newton are willing to make any alterations in their verses, pray let it be done before they are published.

I hope, my dearest, you will be at the charge of printing it handsomely; and if your bookseller be faithful, it is possible that charge may be made up to you again in a little time. You will, I know, think it proper that the master of the college, Mr. Roper, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Verdon, dear Ambrose's special benefactors, should be presented with these better bound than ordinary; and that Jemmy should give his tutor one handsomely bound, and distribute about a score among the lads where he thinks they may do most good. I am sorry I must bequeath you both this trouble; but if by this means one soul be gained, your reward will be great. However, I hope our good God will graciously accept the honest intention of us all, through the merits of our blessed Saviour Jesus, Amen.

1778, Dec. and Suppl.

XXIII. Letters from Lord Carteret to the Earl of Oxford.

MR. URBAN,

THE names subscribed to the four letters I now transcribe for you, exclusive of the anecdotes they contain, are a sufficient apology for the trouble now given you by

EUGENIO.

Another of his sons.

+ Laurence Jackson, A. B. These were printed.

Mr. Newton's verses are still in MS.