"A Defence of Freethinking in Mathematics," 1785; which drew from Philalethes a second work,"The Minute Mathematician; or, the Freethinker no Jแst Thinker." Here this controversy ended, in which it is clear the bishop had the worst. Mathematical science is, however, highly obliged to him, as the dispute called into action the talents of Maclaurin, whose treatise on fuxions explains the doctrine with more fulness and precision, than ever it was before, or perhaps ever might have been, if no attack had been made upon it. The interest which he felt in all that concerned the happiness of mankind, kept his mind in his retirement engaged on the events occurring in the world, and induced him to publish, in 1735, the "Querist," and in 1786, A Discourse addressed to Magistrates," occasioned by the enormous licentiousness of the times; as also various smaller tracts.
In 1745, during the time of the rebellion in Scotland, he published a letter to the Roman catholics of his diocese; and, in 1749, another to the clergy of that persuasion in Ireland; which letter, from its candour, moderation, and good sense, had so striking an effect on the gentlemen to whom it was addressed, that they returned him their public thanks for the same in terms of the highest admiration of his christian charity, discernment, and patriotism.
The disinterested spirit of Bishop Berkeley would not allow him to look forward to any farther promotion in the church, after he was appointed to the diocese of Cloyne. He declared to Mrs. Berkeley, that his intention was never to change his see, because, as he afterwards confessed to the Archbishop of Tuam, and the late Earl of Shannon, he had very early in life got the world under his feet, and he hoped to trample on it to his last moments. He was much pressed by his friends to think of a translation; but he thought such a step wrong in a bishop: and it afforded
