they any charity schools for education of poor children; their numbers and regulations. What endeavours are used for propagating Christianity in the Dutch Plantations, especially in the East Indies, where they have so great dominions.

Send me as distinct an account of the Lutheran worship as may be, and what reason they give for being covered in time of singing psalms; their manner of baptism, dispensing the Supper, of the images in their churches, what discipline they have; the nature of their superintendents; by whom appointed; if their ordinary ministers have any share of their choice; their power in judicatories. What judicatories they have in the Lutheran churches; if Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods, and General Synods; if they have any printed liturgies or body of discipline, or rules for proceeding in their judicatories; if there be any printed acts of their General Synods.

I would have all you can send me, with relation to the state of religion in Sweden, and Denmark, and Norway, where Lutheranism is established, and the state of the Calvinists there; the hardships they are under, especially as to marriages; the nature of their bishops; their powers [of] election, and share in ordination and Church judicatories; the difference 'twixt bishops in the northern kingdoms, and superintendents in Germany, where Lutheranism prevails. What share either of them have in civil affairs and judicatories.

If there be much real religion among the Lutherans, and any numbers of devout people. All you can send me as to the union 'twixt them and the Calvinists. What attempts have been made in Prussia or Germany for this reconciliation, and the state of that affair, either as endeavoured by princes or divines. Let me know if Arminianism be so general as some tell me among the Lutheran divines, and they so persecuting and bitter in their temper as some charge them with. I would know the state of learning likewise among them; and what sorts of it they generally apply themselves

unto.

Let me have all you can get upon the present state of the Cal

vinists in Germany, their worship, discipline, and government; their famed ministers and professors, with the state of learning and piety among them. What numbers of ministers there are in Hesse, Brunswick, Hanover, Prussia; of their judicatories. I am told, in Hesse they have annual meetings of ministers as large as our Assemblies. If there be any printed account of their public acts there, or in Switzerland, or the imperial cities, where Calvinism prevails.

I would have an account of the present state of Geneva, of the famed professors and ministers there, of real piety and learning, of the attempts made to spread the English Liturgy and ceremonies. there at Neuchatel and other places in Germany; of the intercourse 'twixt their divines and the dignitaries of the Church of England; and whether the Dissenters are any way counterworking them. I would know the state of doctrine among the professors at Geneva, and other Calvinist places in Germany. Arminianism is crept in among them, or the opinions of the new Methodists. I have heard suspicions that Turretine, Osterwald, and some others, are venting new schemes of doctrine, and discover themselves favourable to the hierarchy, and are quitting many of Calvin's tenets.

How far

I know nothing almo st anent the state of the Protestant churches in Silesia; their constitution in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, state of learning, &c. Some years ago it was said they were re-established by the King of Sweden's interest with the emperor; they were then called 900 churches. Every thing about them will be acceptable; as likewise on the condition of the Protestants in the Palatinate; are they entirely ruined, or what are their circumstances? How stand matters in Savoy and the Valleys, where we hear of new steps of persecution since their duke turned king? Let me have their numbers that remain, with all you can learn as to their judicatories or worship, or their declining or growth in their persecuted state.

Sometimes there are Polanders at Leyden, and from them you'll have some notices of the state of matters in Poland; what number

of Protestants remain there; of their persecuted state; if they have any public meetings at all in a kingdom wherein once there were three thousand Protestant churches. How Socinianism stands there, and the endeavours to propagate it through Europe; of the state of learning and religion in Poland, under all the confusions they have undergone.

You will be likewise in case to get particular accounts from the Bohemian, Hungarian, and Transylvanian students, of the condition of the Protestant churches there. I need not be particular as to queries, for, indeed, I know nothing as to the number of Protestants, ministers, judicatories, state of religion, or learning there. What influences are the successes of the imperial arms like to have upon the churches there. Prince Eugene was looked on to have a warm side to learning and liberty, and consequently religion, and not to be priest and Jesuit-ridden. If the Pope be any way concerned in the Italian league, will the emperor no way resent it upon these bigotted Papists?

Before I leave the reformed churches, I must beg you'll be particular in your account of our brethren in France; what numbers may be yet in the galleys; what shall we think of those meetings we hear of in the fields up and down France; have the poor people who meet for singing and reading no ministers among them? Are there such numbers of Protestants, of real Protestants, under covert in France, as some speak of, upwards of fifty thousand in Paris itself, and vast numbers in the south of France, besides multitudes among the new converts who go to mass now and then?

Let me have the opinion of sensible persons upon the present division of the clergy in France. Will it turn to a politick? Arc there any real desires and designs after a reformation among the bishops and inferior clergy? Have the libraries of the Protestants, seized 1685, and carried to the convents, had any real influence to open the eyes of the Popish clergy? Let me have the state of Jansenism, and if it hath spread among the nobility or persons of influence, and as distinct accounts as you can how matters stand among the protesting bishops and the rest. Is there a general read

VOL. II.

U

ing of the Scripture in French getting in among the common people? How stands the regent affected to the Protestants and the Jansenists? What weight may be laid on Jurieu's account of singing in the air, 1685 and 1686? What are the sentiments of sensible people of the French prophets, their enduring the fire, &c., is all imposture ?

Send me as particular accounts as you can of the school or University of Halle, under Dr Frankius; the number of students, manner of teaching, and the common interests of religion endeavoured to be advanced by them, printing Bibles in the Sclavonic, modern Greek, &c. The opinion of your Dutch Professors of Dr Frankius, who seems to have been wonderfully owned by Providence.

Let me have the state of the French Protestants in Holland; if they exercise discipline, keep judicatories among themselves, or join with the Established churches; their state in Prussia and other countries, where they have retired. If their ministers be generally Calvinist; if they be desirous to be restored to their privileges in France; if the States and other Protestant Princes are out of a politick against the restoration of the edict of Nantz. Are there any processes in Holland for witchcraft?

I long to know the present state of the Christians in Muscovy; does their gross ignorance continue? Is learning established among them under their active Prince? Hath he received no impressions in favour of the Reformation, when so long in Holland? Does it hold he hath consented to the Pope's sending Missionaries to Muscovy? and what will be the event? Have no Protestant Divines any correspondence with Muscovy?

Let me have all you can as to the Danish Missionaries in the East Indies. What are the thoughts of your Dutch Divines as to the vast success they are said to have among the natives there? Send what you can get anent the present state of Mahometanism; the divisions of the Persians and Turks as to the religion of Mahomet; the predictions spoken of by Knolls and Ricaut of a change of that religion; of the present state of the Jews through the world.

I had some Syriac letters, two or three years ago, published by

your Professor of Oriental Tongues at Leyden, from the Bishop of Antioch. Let me hear what is become of that correspondence 'twixt these ancient Syrian Churches and Leyden.

Send all you can about Bourignianism and the Quietists, and some Protestants in Germany that seem to incline this way.

I have directed these inquiries to my brother, and Mr John Erskine and you. I hope you will write frequently. I am sure you have field enough. So, wishing you a safe voyage, comfortable stay, and useful return, I am, yours most sincerely.

LETTER XCV.

CHURCH MANUSCRIPTS.-SUGGESTIONS.

George Ridpath to Wodrow.'

REV. AND WORTHY SIR,-I wrote to you some time ago my opinion about your History, which, I doubt not, Colonel Erskine has, according to promise, sent forward. I shall not repeat what was hinted there, but wish you had commenced from the Reformation, for that necessary part of our History has never been well done. Buchanan, Knox, and Calderwood, are very brief and lame on that subject. Petrie gives some good hints, but still imperfect. I have many original papers that set it in a clearer light; such as letters from Queen Mary and her Ministers, besides some things in print that are very scarce. These, with the MSS., Calderwood's, and what other helps might be had by your industry, would make the thing as complete as can be expected at this distance of time. I have a MS. of Spotswood [History] that was the Duke of Lauderdale's, and differs much from the printed; the interlineations are in the Bishop's own hand. I have also an authentic copy of the Acts of

Letters to Wodrow, vol. xxi. No. 2.