ship's favour: and whenever I come to London, shall with great assurance cross the park to your lordship's house at Westminster, as if it were no more than crossing the street at Chelsea. I talked at this threatening rate so often to you about two years past, that you are not now to forget it.
Pray, my lord, do not let your being made a bishop hinder you from cultivating the politer studies, which your heart was set upon when you went to govern Christ Church. Providence has made you successor to a person, who, though of a much inferiour genius[1], turned all his thoughts that way; and, I have been told, with great success, by his countenance to those who deserved. I envy Dr. Freind[2] that he has you for his inspector; and I envy you for having such a person in your district, and whom you love so well. Shall not I have liberty to be sometimes a third among you, though I am an Irish dean?
"Vervecum in patriâ, crassoque sub aëre natus[3]."
A very disordered head hindered me from writing early to your lordship, when I first heard of your pre-
- ↑ The works of bishop Sprat, besides his few poems, are, "The History of the Royal Society;" "The Life of Cowley;" "The Answer to Sorbiere;" "The History of the Ryehouse Plot;" "The Relation of his own Examination;" and a volume of "Sermons" — Dr. Johnson says, "I have heard it observed, with great justness, 'that every book is of a different kind, and that each has its distinct and characteristical excellence.' In his poems, he considered Cowley as a model; and supposed that, as he was imitated, perfection was approached."
- ↑ Dr. R. Freind, then head master of Westminster school.
- ↑ "———— a land of bogs
With ditches fenc'd, a Heaven fat with fogs."
Juvenal, Sat. X, 75.
