CHAPTER VII.

Mr. Stillingfleet takes up his principal abode at Foxley, the seat of his friend Mr. Price-Declines the office of Tutor to the Son of Mr. Dodd-Letters written to Mr. Aldworth Neville on that subject-Exertions in favour of Mr. Williamson.

IN 1746, Mr. Price married the Honourable Anne Barrington, sister of Lord Barrington; and fixed his residence at the family-seat of Foxley * in Herefordshire. Mr. Stillingfleet was too sincerely attached to

* Foxley came into the possession of the family by the marriage of Robert Price, esq. grandfather of Mr. Stillingfleet's 'friend, with one of the three co-heiresses, in consequence of which he purchased the shares of the other two sisters, and settled in the mansion. To the short notice given of this illustrious patriot in the second part, p. 161, we may add, that he was descended from a distinguished family in Wales, and born at Giler, in the parish of Cerrig y Druidion, Denbighshire. He died in 1733, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas.

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the most beloved of his friends, not to rejoice at so happy an union; and in his correspondence he dwells on their congeniality of disposition, describes the amiable and domestic qualities of the bride, and prognosticates their subsequent felicity. The newmarried couple, both uniting in similar esteem for Mr. Stillingfleet, pressed him to become an inmate of their domestic retreat. As he had no fixed abode, he accepted the offer, as far as his connections with the Windham family andhis other friends would permit, and passed great part of his time at Foxley. Still, however, punctilious even in his friendships, he refused to render himself what he called a constant intruder, but took up his residence in a neighbouring cottage, where he was perfectly master of his time and pursuits, and passed his leisure hours with the family.

Delighted with the pleasures of this domestic circle, and happy in blending his studious pursuits with rural occupations, he calmly resigned himself to the current of life, and made no effort for improving his circumstances, nor any attempt to embrace a profession which might change his fortune. From these causes, no less than from a weak state of health, and a dislike of dependence, he declined several advantageous offers to travel with the sons of persons of distinguished families. Among others, Mr. Aldworth Neville, who had been ever most solicitous for his interest, procured him the offer of an

advantageous appointment as tutor to the son of John Dodd, esq. * of Swallowfield in the county of Berks. His reasons for declining this offer are detailed in two letters, which equally display his own character and motives, and his affection for Mr. Williamson, whom he recommended for the situation.

* John Dodd, esq. grandson of Lord Chief Baron Dodd, was born in 1717, and educated at Eton, where he formed a friendship with Mr. Aldworth. He resided at Swallowfield near Reading, and represented that town in several Parliaments. He was born on the same day as Horace Walpole, afterwards third Earl of Orford, with whom he was on terms of intimate friendship, though differing from him in every circumstance of character. This contrast is celebrated in an elegant copy of Verses by Sneyd Davies, inserted in Dodsley's Collection, vol. V. p. 105, "On Two Friends born the same Day." Mr. Dodd was extremely attached to the pleasures of the chace, and probably unmerciful to more timid sportsmen, if we may judge from a ludicrous copy of Verses by the same Author, intituled, "A Scene after Hunting at Swallowfield in Berks." The subject is, his compelling Mr. Whaley, one of his companions, to fast for flinching. It is inserted in Nichols's Collection, vol. VI. p. 114. In the same volume also, p. 59, is an encomium on the character of Dr. Dodd by Mr. Whaley himself.

The young man intended as the pupil of Mr. Stillingfleet was born in 1740; and dying in 1782, Swallowfield was afterwards sold.

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Mr. Stillingfleet to Richard Neville Aldworth, Esq. at Stanlake near Twyford, Berks.

DEAR FRIEND,

Sept. 1, 1747.

"You still continue to make me quite miserable with temptations, which I am obliged to resist, at the hazard of appearing both obstinate and imprudent; but the truth of the case is, that I could not accept of the very generous offer you make me from Dodd, with a safe conscience. My health is really much more delicate than you can imagine. I left my usual way of living but for about a fortnight, when I went down to Heatly, and I have scarcely yet recovered myself. Besides, I cannot on any conditions think of engaging myself for sixteen years, which is the least I ought to think of, and the very thought would kill me; especially when I add to it, that I could not in honour refuse to go abroad, which nothing would tempt me to do, and which I refused to do lately on my own terms with one of very great family. See how you force me to brag! If I might be allowed to judge, a much properer person than myself might be procured on much easier terms; and I should think Dr. Dampier could procure such an

one.

"I sincerely wish Dodd the success he deserves for acting the father in so noble a manner; and I

hope my refusal will create no dislike to me either in you or him. It would hang very heavy on me, who glory in nothing but my friends, if that should be the consequence ;*though I cannot see why my friends should be angry with me for being so whimsical as even to prefer living in my own way in a thatched house on twenty pounds a year, to being governor to the greatest Prince in Christendom, with the greatest salary.

"You know not what it is, my dear friend, to have ill health, and therefore I will tell you it is a certain specific for some passions; you know not what it is to be disappointed in every aim in life, which I must tell you is another specific for other passions; and I must tell you besides, when these passions are gone, there is but very little difference between a Prince and a Beggar; not enough, I will assure you, to make one sacrifice the least degree of indolence to a great deal of grandeur. This is one of the mysteries into which we must all be initiated one day or other, as certainly as we come into the world. Mine only is come a little before its usual time; and, if I be found worthy of so early an initiation, I shall take it as a favour from Heaven; if not, I must look on it as a punishment for my sins. Continue to love me, my dearest friend, as I do you; that is most cordially, and with a readiness to overlook