Indies, from whence he frequently sent to his friend Dr. Wilmot various productions of that climate.*

A circumstance related by Dr. Wilmot, concerning Lord Northington, is strongly brought to the recollection of the editor, He had recommended the brother of a servant in his employ, to make some bookcases and shelves in his Lordship's family. This man's name was Middleton, and a cabinet-maker by trade; on beginning his work, his Lordship advanced him a hundred pounds, in order, as he said, " that no rotten "timbers might be found in his house.'

During the Chancellorship of Lord Northington, our author was well known

*This name is mentioned, as it induces a strong presumption that that of Fretly made use of by Junius in his private correspondence with Mr. Woodfall, might mean the same person; and that Junius, with his usual caution, had changed the last syllable to avoid discovery, even by his friends, with whom he daily communicated.

to the Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom he was a great favorite. His relatives and friends accordingly concluded that his elevation to episcopal dignity would certainly soon take place. When congratulated on these prospects, he would goodnaturedly smile at the vivacity of their wishes, and say to them: "As soon as "I am really distinguished by a mitre, I "shall then excuse the partiality you " evince; but until that period, I shall be "obliged by your leaving my fortunes to "the protection of Providence."

One morning, when breakfasting with Mrs. North, the Bishop of Winchester's lady, on his return to the mansion of Lady Plymouth, he was earnestly entreated to write to Lord North, as a bish-' oprick was vacant. To the solicitations of his friends, he answered:

My head

" is a square one, and all the mitres of

Great Britain are round." But indeed

so great was his political aversion to the politics of those days, that even had his wishes tended towards so high a preferment in the Church, he would, on no account, have accepted it from the hands of the men whose administration was the subject of his indignant and patriotic pen.

In the height of his intimate friendship with Lord Plymouth, the living of Solihull Warwickshire became vacant. It was of great value, and was designed by his Lordship and Lord Archer for Dr. Wilmot; but they conceived that he himself should ask for the presentation. The instant the circumstance was mentioned to him, he pretended affairs of consequence, urged his presence at a distance from Ewel, the seat of Lord Plymouth; he therefore proceeded post to Oxford, and from thence to London, where he resided in the house of his sister, until he heard that the living was otherwise disposed of. His friend Lord Plymouth

was much dissatisfied with him, and chagrined that such an intimate and chosen companion should refuse asking for what he conceived of trifling value, inadequate to the sense he entertained of the Doctor's virtues. Although the conduct of our author on this occasion was very sensibly felt by his Lordship, he could not, however, refuse paying him, when he returned to Ewel, that just tribute of applause and admiration which his forbearance so much deserved. Lord Archer regretted to his death that the living had not been bestowed on Dr. Wilmot,

Whenever our author talked of this circumstance, it was always with pleasure and satisfaction. The integrity and independency of mind which he so eminently possessed, were the springs of all his actions, and actuated his conduct on that occasion. Shortly before he died, he told a gentleman of the name of Pickering who visited him,

that one of the greatest satisfactions he experienced as a dying man, arose from his never having solicited a favor for himself in the course of his long life.

His noble patron the Earl of Warwick, unsolicited, conferred on him the living of Aulcester. The Rectory of Barton-on-theHeath he enjoyed from being the senior Fellow of Trinity College; in whose gift

it is.

In the early part of his clerical life our author possessed the friendship and confidence of Dr. Hurd the late Bishop of Worcester, which continued until the decease of the latter. The Bishop while preceptor to the Princes, on all occasions distinguished him by every attention and regard. He was also much noticed by the Duke of Gloucester, who secretly opposed the political plans of his brother the Duke of Cum berland. In all probability much important