moved by the Holy Ghost and contain all things necessary to salvation and are the standing Sealed Rule of Faith and Life yet I believe that every one has some particular Mode of his own by which he steers the Course of his Devotions especially as to what he performs in his Closet But to proceed to my Diary And here I shall first acquaint you how I spend Saturday Saturday is usually a Day of Hurry and Business with the generality of Men and as the same winds up the Week so do People their Affairs But for my own part I confess I never affect multiplicity of Business on that Day but on the contrary have frequently shun'd it tho' I have observ'd it has often fallen to my share upon these Days to have a great deal for last Saturday I was so taken up with Adjusting some Controversies that did arise concerning the Affairs of my Auction that I had hardly leisure to take my Dinner however they were terminated so much the more to my satisfaction by how much all Parties were brought to acquiesce in my determination By this you see Madam I am no Sabbatarian but for those that are I am so far from having any hard Thoughts of them that I both pity and respect them for I can never believe 't is an Error of Wilfulness but of Ignorance only in them and whereas I do understand divers of them at least make a Conscience of keeping both Days because they would be sure to be right I think I have just reason to honour them for it and cannot choose but think much better of them than those who totally deny the Morality of the Sabbath day I confess Madam I do not remember to have read any thing material concerning the Controversie about the said Days and that I am as much at a loss to know certainly when our Christian Sabbath begins when there is such a variation in the Site of Places and Countries and that now we experimentally find where 't is Day in one place 't is Night in another And Madam as I know of no Person living with whom I can so well satisfie my Scruples and inform my Understanding than your self who are so well skill'd both in Polemical and Practical Divinity so I humbly request your Sentiments in this Case promising to make your Practice my own But Madam having told you how I spend Saturday I am next to inform you how I spend the Sabbath For in the Practice of Religion I look upon the Sanctifying of the Lord's Day to be a principal part Judge Hales recommends to his Children a very strict Observation of the Lord's Day and tells 'em That he had always found that his Worldly Affairs thriv'd either more or less the following Week as he had kept the Sabbath And therefore on Sunday I usually took leave of my Bed sooner than on other Days and strive to dismiss as much as I can all Worldly Affairs out of my Thoughts tho I have found 'em I acknowledge like the Flies that spoil the Apothecaries Ointment 〈◊〉 most unseasonably thrusting themselves in The Publick Worship of God being the principal Duty of this Day I made it my Practice to bow my Knees before my Maker in private before I went thither and there beg his Blessing on the Publick Ordinances and previous thereto have us'd to read some Portion of the Holy Scriptures being told therein that every thing is Sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer which is so much the Advantage of a Christian that I always thought never Prayer rightly made was made unheard or heard ungranted And I believe that Prayer is rightly made which is made to God in the Name of Christ in Faith and offer'd up with Humility When I come to the House of God I mean the place of his Worship whether it be a Church or a Meeting-House I always keep my self uncover'd whilst I continue there For as Holiness becomes his House so does a Behaviour mix'd with Reverence and Godly Fear in all that wait upon him And therefore during the Time of Prayer I either Kneel or Stand up believing the humblest Posture to be best when I am invocating the Majesty of Heaven and fixing my Eyes upwards I endeavour to apply every part of God's Worship to my own Conscience and the present State of my own Soul I love those Sermons best that check my Conscience for Sin and cheer it with applying Gods Mercy beginning with the Law and ending with the Gospel searching the Wound first and pouring in the Oyl of Consolation afterwards And those I reckon the worst Preachers that sooth Mâ—n up in their Sins perswading Men they are good Christians when they don't know what 't is to be Born again Yet I don't love to be Pragmatical in censuring of Ministers I endeavour like the Industrious Bee to suck Honey from the Flowers of Devotion and not like the Spider to convert what was intended for Nourishment into Poyson If any thing drops from the Pulpit which I think not so pertinent I cover it with the Mantlâ— of Love and strive to remember that which is better For as the Divine Herbert observes If the Pâ—rson be dull God Preaches to the Hearers a Lecture of Patience In the Singing of Psalms I labour more to have my Soul inflam'd with Love and Zeal than to have my Spirits cheer'd either by the Harmony of Voices or sound of the Organ and cou'd heartily wish that Sternhold and Hopkins's Psalms tho'well enough 150 Years ago were now remov'd and Mr. Tate's Translation put in their place As to the Receiving the Holy Sacrament it has ever been my Opinion that whoever participates of that Solemn Ordinance lest he Eats and Drinks Damnation shouâ—d retire himself from the World for a Day at least 〈◊〉 by a strict recollection of his Actions and serious examination of his own Life attended with Fasting and Prayer endeavour so to prepare himself that he may come as a Worthy Receiver to the Tabâ—e of the Lord that so by the Strength he receives by that Spiritual Viaticum he may be inabled to run with Paâ—ience the Race that is set before him and therein through the Assistance of Divine Grace so to run as to obtain the Prize After the Publick Duties of the Day are over I return to my Chamber and enter into my Closet spending some time therein in Meditating on what I have heard and in reiterated Addresses to the Throne of Grace to follow it with his Blessing Well knowing that tho Paul may Plant and Apollo Water yet it is God that teaches me to profit And if in the Evening as sometimes there does a Friend comes to visit me I spend my time with him in discoursing on Divine things whereby our Hearts are warmed and our Affections stirred up to praise God for his Goodness and hereby find the Benefit of the Communion of Saints which is too much neglected tho' an Article of the Creed Sure I
of spending a few agreeable minutes in this Gentlemans Company which I thought no ordinary Blessing as he was a Person of a truly Humble and Affable carriage As to his Preaching 't is Plain Pure and Edifying and generally without-book The last Sermon I heard in Ireland was Preach'd by the Reverend Mr. Searle upon these Words For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and I thought it the most Practical and awakening Discourse I ever heard in my Life He succeeded Mr. Davis whose death I mention'd before and is no ways inferiour to him either for good Preaching or vertuous Living In a word I have such an Idea of the Piety and Moderation of this eminent Divine that I could dwell on his Character for ever but I must remember Pickancâ— is ready to Sail and I have other Visits to make and so Worthy Sir Adieu For I am now going to take my leave of the Reverend Mr. Rowe a Country Minister a Pious Humble Man and great Encourager of my Book-Adventure I ha'nt the happiness to be known to this Generous Buyâ—r so I 'll take my leave with this short acknowledgment And my next Farewel shall be to the Reverend Mr. Fisher Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Meath this Gentleman was a great Encourager of my Auction by which means I had the happiness of enjoying his Company often we were together that very time when Patrick Campbel refus'd to meet me at the Keys in High street The Satisfaction I receiv'd in Mr. Fishers company obliges me to attempt his Character He is all that 's delightful in Conversation so easy company and so far from all constraint that 't is a real pleasure to talk with him he 's a Person of a sweet natural Temper one that 's never out of Humour and I must say I found his Friendship to be ever equal and the same In a word 't is a Vertue to know him and a glimpse of Heaven to hear him Preach But dear Sir Adieu for the wind is Fair and I must be gone but I leave your Company with as much regret as ever I did any Earthly Blessing Having taken my leave of the Clergy my next Visits must be to the Layety and these must be very short for fear the Ship should Sail before I finish my Letter And here I shall first take my leave of the Honourable Colonel Butler a Member of Parliament He is a great Lover of Books and was a constant and generous Encourager of all my Auctions His Affability Candour and extraordinary Sense but more especially his ingenuity in Painting to the Life is beyond what I ever saw in my whole Life but at his House and in his Person 'T is to this Honourable Gentleman I Dedicate my Dublin Scuffle where and in my Visit to him you have his Character more at large so with a short Farewel to the Noble Colonel I shall next pass on to own my great Obligations to Mr. Lum Gradon Esq Councellor Reading and diverse other Members of the Honourable House of Commons who were great Encouragers of my Undertaking and in this Farewel I return 'em my Humble thanks Neither can I in this place forget the many Favours I received from that Worthy Gentleman Christopher Vsher Esq. a Relation of that Famous Prelate Arch Bishop Vsher He 's a Person of True Piety solid Judgment and Great Estate and God has given him a Heart to do good with it in his Life Time for he is very Eminent for his Great Charity and a Vast Encourager of Learning he laid out several Pounds at my Auction and almost daily honoured me with his Presence at my Sale I could write a Folio in this Gentlemans Praise but he 's as Humble as he 's Rich so I sha'nt inlarge lest I offend his Modesty But this hint is enough to shew how worthy he is of that Great Name he bears and therefore however he may resent this Publick Farewel considering his Great Humility yet I could not think of leaving Ireland without paying my thanks to him not only as he was my Friend but one of my Chief Benefactors I shou'd also before I Embarke pay my Acknowledgements to Sir Henry Tichbourn Robert Stopford Esâ—abque Captain Acghmooty Mr. Recorder of Dublin an Eminent Counsellor Stephen Ludlow Esq one of the Six Clerks to Mr. Iustice Coot of the Kings Bench a Person of great Piety Lives universally Belov'd and justly merits the Honour he enjoys He was pleased to cause several Books to be bought for him at my Sale And here I cannot omit to add to the rest of my Benefactors in this Farewel Mr. Baron Ecling a Person of Great Honour and of a Greatness of Soul beyond most that I ever heard of He is such an Vniversal Lover of Books that very few if any shall escape him whatever they cost He has a very Large and Curious Library yet as inquisitive still after Rarities as if he had none He is a most Noble Encourager of the Book-selling-Trade and whenever he dyes the Stationers of England and Ireland will have a great loss besides what the Publick will sustain thereby I fear if I write on I shall lose my Passage but Gentlemen you see by my unwillingness to leave Ireland how I resent your Generous Treatment But shou'd I tâ—ke my leave of all my Friends of the Laiety that were kind to me and my Auction I should swell this Farewel beyond bounds However tho I Scribble till the Ship is gone I won't forget at parting to give my thanks to my True and Generous Friend Mr. Robert Jey He was one of those that gave me a Farewel Treat in Essex Street and was my True Friend from first to last and the chief Person I advis'd with in Dublin under any Difficulty He is a real lover of Learniâ—â— as appear'd by what he bought at my Auction Extreamly Civil and Obliging in his Conversation and a Man of that Great Integrity and of such quick dispatch in Business that had I a Thousand Causes they should all be intrusted in his hands I wou'd inlarge in his Character but that I shall meet him again in the Account I design to give of my Conversation in Ireland I have also many Thanks to return to Captain Simon Annion Mr. Rath Iones Mr. Sholdham Mr. Cuppage Mr. Iohn Smith Mr. Moss Mr. Williamson Mr. George Osborn Mr. Bonny Mr. Samuel Martin and diverse other Eminent Atornies who were great Encouragers of my Undertaking Neither can I think of leaving Dublin before I have taken my leave of my Three Printers Mr. Brent Mr. Powel and Mr. Brocas for they come into the number of my Benefactors and I 'm told bought several Books in my Auction besides to forget these would be a little unkind not only as they served me once at a Pinch but as they Printed my daily Catalogues and 't was only by their Presses that I could
am all the Members of the Mystical Body of Christ have Fellowship with the Father and Son by one Holy Spirit with Aâ—gels in their Love Care and Ministries with the Saints in Heaven in their Love and Prayers and with one another in the same Faith Hope Word and Sacrament and therefore shou'd often confer about Heavenly things holding the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace The Operations of the Mind being in their own Nature much more fatigueing than the Labours of the Body it 's my usual Custom on Sunday Night to go somewhat sooner to Bed than ordinary However I durst not adventure to go and compose my self to such a rest as so much resembles Death it self and from which many have awaked in Eternity without recommending my self to the Care and Protection of the Almighty and to this I have endeavoured always to have the greater regard since bâ—sides the Divine Authority which plainly injoyns it it 's a Duty so clearly manifested even by the light of Nature that 't is a wonder almost that any should neglect it I hope you do not Madam take this as either Dictating or Reproving when 't is never meant so by me who have justly entertained quite other Conceptions of you and am so far from supposing my self Pattern in any respect for your Imitation that I should think my self in danger of running into the notion of a Perfectionist if I could but come near you This Madam is the Method in which I wou'd spend the Sabbath and is what I have endeavour'd to practise tho' I must own to my shame with so much weakness and so many Infirmitâ—es that it seems rather an Account of what I ought to do than of what I have done For tho' 't is my Duty to watch narrowly over my Heart Affections and Thoughts and all my Outward Actions and in a more particular manner shouâ—d look upon the Sanctifying of the Lord's Day to be a Principal part of Religion yet I must own I have not been so careful as I ought to Sanctifie the Lord in my Heart on that Day or perform some Duties that were incumbent upon me I have not made 〈◊〉 my Fear and my Dread as I ought but have indulg'd my self in Sloth spoken my own Words and thought my own Thoughts contrary to God's Holy Will and Commandment I must also accuse my self of being too negligent 〈◊〉 Preparing my self to attend upon God in his Solemn and Publick Appointments rushing often into his Presence without that due Preparation which he requires Neither have I behav'd my self in his House with that Fear and Reverence as I ought nor heard God's Word with that Attention which so Awful a Message call'd for nor improv'd it to my Spiritual Nourishment as I ought to have done I am also sensible that I have been more ready to â—ind fault with the Minister than to obey the Message he has brought and have not spoken of other Men and their Affairs with that Care Charity and Aâ—â—ection as I should have done but rather have discover'd their Defects I likewise acknowledge That in singing of Psalms I have not sung with that Grace in my Heart which God's Word requires and have had my Ears more tickled with the Harmony of the Musick than my Soul inflam'd with Zeal to sing the Praises of God I do also confess I have not had such Sorrow and Repentance for my Sins past as I ouâ—â—t nor have used such Diligence in the daily Examining of my Conscience and Amendment of my Life as I should have done I have also reason to be humbled that I han't offer'd up my Prayers unto God with alaâ—â—ity and fervour of Spirit as I shou'd have done but have been often Distracted Slothful and Cold in my Devotions I also acknowledge I have been Proud and Vain-glorious in my Words and Actions I have not thought so humbly of my self as I shouâ—d have done nor kept my Senses in the House of God with that care as became a Christian especially my Eyes and my Ears For all which and many more Errors of my Life which through Neglect and Inadvertency may have escap'd my Cognizance I humbly beg Pardon and Forgiveness of the Father of Mercies Thus Madam with the Pelican have I dissected my Heart to shew you where the Defects of Humanity reside I have here as I told you before made the whole World but principally your self my Confessor I will only add as to this Point That if my Tongue and Heart agree not in this Confession my Confession will be of no value he that confesses with his Tongue and wants Confession in his Heart is either a vain Man or an Hypocrite and he that confesâ—es with his Heart and wants it in his Tongue is either Proud or Timorous Madam having given you some Account how I endeavour'd to spend the Sabbath in Dublin I shall 〈◊〉 inform yâ— how I spent my time on the Week-Days I have told you in the Account I gave you of spending Sunday that 't was my Practice to go to Bed sooner on those Nights than at other times I shall further add That I am no sooner lain down on Sunday Night but I compose my self to rest being so far from being terrified with Apparitions Spectrums and the like as I have heard some have been who for that very Reason durst never lie alone that I humbly Adore thâ— Majesty of Heaven for it I fear nothing but God and Sin When I awake I am transported to find my self so sprightly every way which made me often wonder what an excellent thing Sleep was considering it as an inestimable Jewel for an hour of which if a Tyrant laid down his Crown he should not be able to purchase it That it was that Golden Chain which tyed Health and our Bodies together and that while sleeping none complained of Pains Wants Cares or Captivities And that though the Story of Endymion's Nap for Threescore and Fifteen Years and then awaking as lively as if he had slept but six hours be in it self but a meer Fable yet the Moral is good and plainly indicates the Necessity and Usefulness of Rest to our Natures as instituted by the God of Nature Himself But to proceed in my Journal In the Morning as soon as the Cinque-Ports are open I send up some Private Ejaculations to Heaven giving God thanks that my Eyes are open to see the Light of another Day After this I get up and make my most Solemn Addresses to the Divine Majesty remembrinâ— Randolph's Words First Worship God He that forgets to Pray Bids not himself Good Morrow nor Good Day In these sorts of Duties it has been my conâ—â—ant Practice to be rather short and fervent than long and indifferent And as we ought to make use of every Just and Proper Motive to excite us to 〈◊〉 Duty I will humbly say I have been the moâ—â— constant in my practicâ— of this Morning-Duty as principally out of a
Bently whether there was not some Eminence in the City from whence I might survey it He told me there was and that from the top of the Tholsel the whole City might be seen so we went to the Tholsel where we ascended about half a score Stairs from the Street which brought us into a spacious Roâ—m supported by great Pillars and flagg'd as they term it here with free Stone with open Banisters on each side towards the Street its figure is rather an oblong than a square This is the Place they call the Change where the Merchants meet every day as on the Royal Exchange in London In a corner at the South-East part is a Court of Iudicature where they keep their publick Sessions for the City Having view'd the lower part we went up a large pair of Stairs into a publick Room which had a large Balconey looking into Skinner Row and from this Balcony I spoke with my Friend Mr. Geo. Larkin who was then at Mr. Ray 's Printing-house over-against it He no sooner saw me but came over to congratulate my safe arrival expressing himself very joyful to see me and I was as glad as he we having a long time had a kindness for each other and convers'd by Letter even when I was in America Having said so much of him you 'll not wonder Madam if I send ye an Epitomy of his Character intending to do it more largely in my Summer Ramble He is of a midling Stature somewhat gross of a Sanguine Complexion and a hail Constitution both of Body and Mind and which I admire where ever I find it he is of an even Temper not elated when Fortune Smiles nor cast down with her Frowns and though his Stars have not been very propitious to him with respect to his outward Circumstances he having had great Losses yet he has born all with such a presence of Mind as shew'd his Losses to be the effect of his Misfortunes and not his Faults His Conversation is extreamly diverting and what he says is always to the purpose He is a particular Votary of the Muses and I have seen some of his Poems that can't be equall'd But there is one thing more peculiar to him which is That whatever he does is upon the Account Civil I went up with my Friends Madam to the top of the Thâ—lsel and there had a View of the whole City but a Storm that then arose took from us much of the Pleasure of the Prospect But of that and the spacious Chambers over the Change where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen meet and other Curiosities which I saw there as also oâ— the Government of the City by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Assemblies I shall give a more particular Account in my Summer Ramble But this I will say here Madam That of all the Cities in the Kings Dominions Dublin next to London does justly claim the Precedence 'T was at the Tholsel I met Mr. Dell a Person whose Understanding and generous Temper set him above the common Rate of Men and shew him to be every way a Gentleman I could not but love him for these Qualifications but much more as he was an old Acquaintance of my Honoured Mother-in-law and Madam you can't blame me for this as she treats me with that Tenderness that I think her my own Mother Reviv'd and I find shall love her as much Mr. Dell shew'd me a most particular Respect at our first Meeting and continued his Favours to the last Minute I staid in Ireland being one of those that were so obliging as to see me a Ship-board From the Tholsel Mr. Dell Mr. Bently and I were going to the Tavern but Mr. Larkin by the way wou'd have me go into Dick's Coffee-house where I had been advis'd by Mr. Wild to keep my Auctions I readily agreed to his Motion and went up saw it and liked it as proper for my Purpose Dick shewing me all the Civility I could desire And I must say this of Dick notwithstanding our after Quarrel That he is a Witty and Ingenious Man makes the best Coffee in Dublin and is very Civil and Obliging to all his Customers of an open and generous Nature has a peculiar Knack at Bantering and will make Rhymes to any thing He 's of a chearful facetious Temper and generally speaking fair in his Dealing And had not Patrick assaulted him with the Temptation of a double Price he and I shou'd never have quarrel'd and yet for all that I must do him the Justice to say he carry'd it civilly to me to the very last and was so kind as to come with my Friend Mr. Dell to give me a Farewell when I left Ireland thus much for Dick As for his Wife I shall say this She 's an Industrious Woman handâ—om enough one that knows her Duty to her Husband and how to respect her Customers and in a word is what a Wife ought to be and I must own though her Husband and I scuffled she treated me always with much 〈◊〉 From Dicks we went to the Tavern where having â—rank a Bottle or two and related the Fatigues of my Dublin Voyage we parted and went each to our several Lodgings In my way home I was attackt by an impudent 〈◊〉 who desired me to bestow a Glass of Wine upon her I made her no other Answer than that the House of Correction stood not far off at which she scower'd away with all the Heels she could make seeming as much scar'd as if she had been in the most eminent danger of losing her Chastity when perhaps she could scarce remember the time when she had it I hope Madam you do not esteem any thing I have said here to be designed for the magnifying of my own Vertues it 's practicable enough for a man to make his Reputation clear and not sin and assure your self I am not unsensible that self-Praise is a most odious thing in any and I shall ever account it much more so in my self However it be Madam all my Mistakes are entirely submitted to you who are the best Judge of ' em The next day I removed to more convenient Quarters and deliver'd some Letters which I had brought from London This day Mr. Dell gave me a meeting at Dicks from whence we went to the Castle the Place of Residence for the Chief Governors by Mr. Dell's Interest I had here a view of the Lord Galway's Bed-Chamber and other 〈◊〉 Apartments but I wave 'em here designing to speak of 'em in my Summer Ramble however I 'll here attempt his Lordships Character and hope my honest Intention herein will something attone for my great Defects and the rather still as his Lordships Merits are above a Dryden's or a Cowley's Pen. I own 't is a bold Undertaking to offer at the Character of one of the greatest Men which our Age has produc'd especially for one who has not the Honour of being personally known to him however though I
can't perform this Great Task as it ought to be yet I 'll endeavour at something so like him that any one at first glance may say 't was meant for the Earl of Galway one of the present Lords Justices for the Kingdom of Ireland Then to proceed tho' with a trembling Hand to his Lordships Character The first thing then which is remarkable in him is He is a Person of strict Morals and extraordinary Piety His Lordship is advanc'd to the Honours he now enjoys by his great Humility and Personal Merits The Noble Blood that has fill'd his Veins has not swell'd his Heart He is as humble as he is great he seems set by Heaven on such a conspicuous Place as is that of being Lord Justice of Ireland on purpose to guide the People into the Paths of Love and Obedience to their God and King In a word he uses such an obliging meen to all as if he thought the only thing valuable in Greatness is the power it gives to oblige I wou'd go on with his Lordship's Character but as I said before I find my self unable for this Task so that Madam I shall next proceed for his Lordship's Character leads me to it to give some short Account of the present State of the Kingdom according to my best Information though you may wonder that Dunton should trouble his Head with Politicks but since such is the Custom of Travellers Why may not I thrust my self into the Herd The Present Governors are Their Excellencies the Lord Marquess of Winchester the Earl of Galway and the Lord Villers now Earl of Jersey his Lordship has never been here with this Character though he be nâ—med in the Commission and the present Government is so well administer'd by those two Noble Lords that I have not heard one man repine at them since I came to Dublin They have Officers belonging to the Houshold such as Steward and Comptrouler who on Staâ—e-days carry White Rods as the Ensigns of their Office When they go to Church the Streets from the Castle-gate to the Church-door as also the great Isle of the Church to the foot of the Stairs by which they ascend to the Place where they sit are lined with Soldiers they are preceeded by the Pursivants of the Council-Chamber two Maces and on state-State-days by the King and Pursivant at Arms their Chaplains and Gentlemen of the Houshold with Pages and Footmen bare-headed When they alight from their Coach in which commonly the Lord Chancellor and one of the Prime Nobility sit with 'em the Sword of State is deliver'd to some Lord to carry before 'em and in the like manner they return back to the Castle where the several Courses at dinner are usher'd in by Kettle-drums and Trumpets I forgot to tell you Madam that in these Cavalcades the Coach in which they ride is attended by a small Squadron of Horse after which follow a long Train of Coaches that belong to the several Lords and Gentlemen who attend ' em Having given ye this short Account of the Chief Governors I shall next proceed to mention something of the Estate of the Church which in all its Canons are not the same with that of England not that they differ from it in any points of Religion but only in some Circumstances of Government which by a Convocation which has been sometimes held here may be alter'd as the present Exigencies require It consists of two Houses viz. The Upper in which the Bishops and the lower where the Inferior Clergy sit but they have not thought it needful to call one since his present Majesty's Accession to the Crown The most Reverend the Arch-bishops are four viz. Dr. Michael Boyl Lord Arch-bishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland Dr. Narcissus Marsh Lord Arch-bishop of Dublin Primate of Ireland Dr. William Palliser Lord Arch-bishop of Cashell and Dr. Iohn Vesey Lord Arch-bishop of Tuam And the Suffragants are eighteen in Number of this Number Three are of his Majesty's Privy-Council viz. The Bishops of Meath Kildare and Clogher as also the two Primates To give you a short Character of them take this what has been told me by some Judicious Persons of as well Dissenters as others That they are Men of such Learning Moderation and Piety that this â—hurch had never a better Class of Bishops to govern it The Dissenters in Ireland are a very considerable People as well for their Number as Wealth and all unanimous in an hearty Zeal for our present happy Government And indeed since my coming hither I have not heard of any one Iacobite in the whole Kingdom They have several Meeting-houses large and conveniently order'd within and these are supply'd with Sober and Pious Teachers among whom I think the Reverend Mr. Boyse may justly be named as the Chief one whâ— by continual and hard Study every Day fits himself with new Acquisitions towards the happy discharging of his Pastoral Care which he expresses with so much Meekness and force of Perswasion as make him at once mightily belov'd and follow'd And one thing this Kingdom is extreamly happy in That both Perswasions do so well agree towards promoting the common good as more cannot well be desir'd a great Advancer of which Union is Mr. Weld a Person of Sobriety Learning and solid Iudgment and much admir'd and follow'd for his Preaching The Quakers are here in great Numbers also as one might easily perceive that would have consider'd the mighty Throngs of them which crowded about their Great speaker and Champion William Pen when he came hither to hold forth I cannot hear of any Learned Men among them though some of them are very Wealthy and but few of them poor they can make use of the Carnal Sword as well as those who pretend more to it as you will believe by this Story of one among them whose Name I forget who in the late War when the Rapparees came towards Edenderry near the Bogg of Allen in the Kings County he among other of the Militia went forth to engage them and put them all to the run except those who were kill'd in the Action among them lay one whom the Quaker thought he had kill'd and rifled his Pockets but some Months after when a great number of them burnt Colonel Purefoy's House about three Miles from Edenderry these brisk Sparks took the Alarm and making as considerable a body as they could march'd to Purefoys-place where they found many of the Irish who had made themselves drunk with the Colonels strong Beer fast asleep in the Ditches the Quaker who never was backward in such Attempts finds the same Fellow whom he thought he had formerly kill'd half tipsie and in his Arms he call'd him by his Name saying Verily I thought I had of late slain thee but now find my Mistake wherefore I purpose to make sure work and hinder thee from Rising any more and so immediately knockt him down with a Poll-Ax which he used always instead
Dwellings or Cabbiâ—s if I durst have adventured oft'ner into 'em or cou'd have staid in 'em for Lice and Smoak when I was there But to proceed in my Rambles Next Morning early without regarding any Ceremony we made our Visit to a Popish Father who was just up and wiping his Eyes the Weather was very fair and we stay'd at the door which had a little green Field before it until the Room within was swept to receive us the Dew lay in pretty Spangles on the Grass made by refraction of the Sun Beams I had a mind to try the Father's Philosophy and enquired what the Dew was He told me 'T was a Wapor that fell upon the Ground in the Night Sheason and that the Sun drawed it up again in the Day but Climene told him it was an old and vulgar Notion and exploded by the newest Philosophers who were of Opinion it might be either the mâ—isture which the Horses of the Sun shake from off their Mains when they were put into his Chariot rising out of the Sea or that it might be Thetis's Chamber-Maids had emptied Phebus Pot as soon as he was up or lastly and that more probably it was the sweat of the Grass and Herbs condens'd by the cold of the Evening Air. Her Notions made us all laugh and the Priest swore by St. Patrick's Hand she was as Witty as she was Pretty and put some other Complements on her the best of which were much beneath what she truly deserves The House was now ready and the Maid came to call us in where we broke our Fast and prevailed with Father A to accompany us to Kildare where we were going to be Merry his Palfrey was presently sadled and we mounted we soon came to the Curragh so muchâ—noised here It is a very large Plain covered in most Places with Heath it is said to be five and twenty Miles round this is the New-Market of Ireland where the Horse-Races are run and also Hunting Matches made there being here great store of Hares and more game for Hawking all which are carefully preserved They have a Tradition I fancy 't was taken from the Story of Dido's purchasing so much Ground as she could surround with an Ox-hide on which she built Carthage That St. Bridget the great Saint of Kildare begg'd as much Land from one of the Irish Kings for a common Pasture as she could environ with her Frize Mantle the Prince laugh'd at her and bid her take it she cut her Mantle into so many small shreds as when tack'd together by their ends surrounded all this Curragh or Downs Kildare is an ordinary Country-Town not near so good as the Naas though it gives a Name to the County and is an Episcopal see tho' but of small Revenues and is now therefore united to the Deanry of Christ-Church which is the King 's Royal Chappel in Dublin as the Bishoprick of Rochester is to the Deanry of Westminster in England It has in it the Cathedral Church with two or three Inns and those very sorry ones it has two Fairs yearly and a weekly Market and sends two Burgesses to the Parliament yet after all it is but a poor Place not lying in any Road and not having any Trade belonging to it there are some shops with Hops Iron Salt and Tobacco and the Merchant not worth Forty Pound This County gives the Title of Earl to one of the Family of the Fitzgeralds formerly called Geraldines who came over into Ireland among the first Adventurers in Henry the Iâ—'s Reigâ— and is now the First Earl here as Oxford is with you here we din'd on a Dish of large Trouts and with some Bottles of Wine made our selves merry when we took Horse our Landlord told us we must accept of a Dugh-a-Durras from him which is a drink at the door he had a Bottle of Brandy under his Arm and a little wooden Cup with which he presented each of us a Dram from hence we went about two Miles backward towards the Kings Country to view the Earl of Kildare's Chair It is an old Castle built on the side of an Hill which over-looks all the Neighbouring Country I was told it was built by some of the Earls of Kildare as a Watch Tower for which purpose it was very well plac'd From hence we had a lovely Prospect towards the North of a noble Vale part of which was cover'd with Corn and part with Cattle with some Woods among which were seen some Houses of good bulk and shew raising their Heads beyond these were Hills on which stood several great Houses a fine River ran through the Vâ—lley on another side the greatest part of the Curragh lay open to our View which indeed is a noble Plain After we had satisfied our Eyes with staring about we steered our Course towards the Bogg of Allen which tho' it be the greatest in Ireland yet never was so famous as in the last Rebellion where the Rapparees who are a loose undisciplin'd People had their Rendezvous when they design'd any Mischief on the Country to the number of five or six hundred and where they easily hid themselves when pursu'd for as I am inform'd this Bogg is near fifty Miles long with many Woods in it and some Islands of very good and profitable Land as the Island of Allea which they say is worth eight hundred Pounds per Annum Madam His Majesty for Encouragement to breed large and serviceable Horses in this Kingdom has been pleas'd to give an hundred Pounds per Annum out of his Treasury here to buy a Plate which they run for at the Curragh in September the Horses that run are to carry twelve Stone each and therefore there are several fine Horses kept hereabouts for the Race in Stables built on purpose There is another Race yearly ran here in March or April for a Plaâ—e of an hundred Guinea's which are advanced by the Subscription of several Gentlemen and the Course is four measur'd Miles Madam on Thursday the 13 th of September was the day of the Race this Year for the King's-Plate There was a vast concourse of People to see it from all parts of the Kingdom My Lord Galway one of the Lords Iustices was present at the Race and other Persons of great Quality I met on the Curragh where the Race was run with my worthy Friend Mr. Searl whose Character you have in my Dublin Farewel and several others that I knew in Dublin after the Race was over our Company rid to Ballimany at this Village is a little thatch'd House like one of our English Country Houses built by the Earl of Meath After we had seen all the Rooms in this Noble Man's thatcht House which I design to describe in my Summer Ramble we left Ballimany and did'd that day at the Naas and reach'd Dublin about nine in the Evening But Madam if the Predictions of Astrologers be true such Men as I am are very Mercurial Folks
the Schollars Lodgings the length of one of the Quadrangles and contains a great many choice Books of great Value particularly one the largest I ever saw for breadth 't was an Herbal containing the lively Portraictures of all sorts of Trees Plants Herbs and Flowers By this Herbal lay a small Book containing about 64 Pages in a Sheet to make it look like the Giant and the Dwarf There also since I have mentioned a Giant we saw lying on a Table the thigh-bone of a Giant or at least of some monstrous over-grown Man for the Thigh-bone was as long as my Leg and Thigh which is kept there as a convincing Demonstration of the vast bigness which some humane Bodies have in former times arriv'd to We were next shew'd by Mr. Griffith a Master of Art for he it was that shew'd us these Curiosities the Skin of one Ridley a notorious Tory which had been long ago Executed he had been begg'd for an Anatomy and being flea'd his Skin was tann'd and stuff'd with Straw in this passive state he was assaulted by some Mice and Rats not sneakingly behind his Back but boldly before his Face which they so much further Mortified even after Death as to eat it up which loss has since been supply'd by tanning the Face of one Geoghagan a Bopish Priest executed about six years ago for stealing which said Face is put in the place of Ridley's At the East End of this Library on the right hand is a Chamber called the Countess of Baths Library filled with many handsome Folios and other Books in Dutch Binding guilt with the Earls Arms imprest upon them for he had been sometime of this House on the left hand opposite to this Room is another Chamber in which I saw a great many Manuscripts Medals and other Curiosities At the West End of the Library there is a Division made by a kind of wooden-Latice-work containing about thirty pâ—ces full of choice and curious Books which was the Library of that great Man Arch-bishop Vsher Primate of Armagh whose Learning and Exemplary Piety has justly made him the Ornament not only of that College of which he was the first Scholar that ever was enter'd in it and the first who took degrees but of the whole Hibernian Nation At the upper end of this part of the Library hangs at full length the Picture of Dr. Chalonâ—r who was the first Provost of the College and a Person Eminent for Learning and Vertue His Picture is likewise at the Entrance into the Library and his Body lies in a stately Tomb made of Alabaster At the West end of the Chappel Near Dr. Chaloner's Picture if I don't mistake hangs a new Skeleton of a Man made up and given by Dr. Gwither a Physitian of careful and happy Practice of great Integrity Learning and sound Judgment as may be seen by those Treatises of his that are inserted in some late Philosophical Transactions Thus Madam have I given ye a brief Account of the Library which at present is but an ordinary Pile of Building and can't be distinguish'd on the out-side but I hear they design the building of a New Library And I am told the Hoose of Commons in Ireland have voted 3000 l. towards carrying it on After having seen the Library we went to visit Mr. Minshul whose Father I knew in Chester Mr. Minshul has been Student in the College for some time and is a very sober ingenious Youth and I do think is descended from one of the most courteous Men in Europe I mean Mr. Iohn Minshul Bookseller in Chester After a short stay in this Gentleman's Chamber we were led by one Theophilus a good natur'd sensible Fellow to see the New-house now building for the Provost which when finish'd will be very noble and magnificent After this Theophilus shew'd us the Gardens belonging to the College which were very pleasant and entertaining Here was a Sun-Dyal on which might be seen what a Clock it was in most parts of the World This Dyal was plac'd upon the top of a Stone representing a Pile of Books And not far from this was another Sun-Dyal set in Box of a very large compass the Gnomoh of it being very near as big as a Barber's Poll. Leaving this pleasant Garden we ascended several steps which brought us into a curious Walk where we had a Prospect to the West of the City and to the East of the Sea and Harbour On the South we cou'd see the Mountains of Wicklow and on the North the River Liffâ—e which runs by the side of the College Madam having now and at other times throughly survey'd the Colledge I shall here attempt to give your Ladyship a very particular Account of it t is call'd Trinity College and is the sole University of Ireland it consists of three Squares the outward being as large as both the inner one of which of modern building has not Chambers on every side the other has on the South side of which stands the Library the whole length of the Square I shall say nothing of the Library here having already said something of it so I proceed to tell ye Madam thaâ— the Hall and Butteries run the same range with the Library and separates the two inner squares it is an old building as also the Regentâ—house which from a Gallery looks into the Chappel which has been of late years enlarged being before too little for the number of Scholars which are now with the Fellows c. reckoned about 340 they have a Garden for the Fellows and another for thâ— Provost both neatly kept as also a Bowling green and large Parks for the Students to walk and exercise in The Foundation consists of a Provost who at present is the Reverend Dr. Georgâ— Brown a Gentleman bred in this House since a Youth when he was first enter'd and one in whom they all count themselves very happy for he 's an Excellent Governour and a Person of great Piety Learning and Moderation seven Senior Fellows of whom two are Doctors in Divinity eight Iuniors to which one is lately added by and seventy Scholars their publick Commencements are at Shrovetide and the first Tuesday after the eighth of Iuly Their Chancellor is his Grace the Duke of Ormond since the death of the Right Reverend the late Bishop of Meath they have had no Vice-Chancellor only pro re nata The University was founded by Queen Elizabeth and by her and her Successors largely endowed and many munificent Gifts and Legacies since made by several other well-disposed Persons all whose Names together with their Gifts are read publickly in the Chappel every Trinity Sunday in the Afternoon as a grateful acknowledgement to the Memory of their Benefactors and on the 9th of Ianuary 1693. which compleated a Century from the Foundation of the College they celebrated their first secular day when the Provost Dr. Ash now Bishop of Clogher Preach'd and made a notable Entertainment for the Lords Justices
day our Redemption was finish'd by our Saviour's rising from the Dead this change was made in the Apostle's time as appears by their so often meeting on the first day of the Week recorded in the Scripture and that they had our Saviour's Countenance and Authority for it by his appearing so often to 'em in their Assembly on that day I think one need not be so scrupulous about the day but submit to the decision of the Church who probably fetch'd it from the Practice of the Apostles Our Saviour tells us the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath and 't is of more moment to observe the Duties of the day then to be able to answer all Objections and Contentions that ill designing Persons can raise against it That we dedicate a seventh day to God's Service according to his own appointment and upon the first day of the Week in memory of the great Work of our Redemption finish'd upon that day is satisfactory enough to me and if I sincerely perform the Duties of the day I make no question of Gods Acceptance For the resting from bodily Labour so strictly injoyn'd to the Iews I take to be partly abolish'd with the other Ceremonies only retaining so much as is necessary to support the Solemnity of the Day I think none can be too strict in consecrating to God that day as totally as our Frail Natures will permit and tho we can't be all the day besides the publick Service taken up in Prayers and Meditation we may do well to keep our selves out of the way of the World which will soon quench the Flame our Divine Exercises have kindled but there were nothing like the Conversation of Heavenly minded Persons when we can have such and there are Works of Mercy and Compassion very proper for that day which may raise our Minds to Love and Praises to God for making us Instruments in his hand for the good of any body In a word the best Instructor in the Duties of the Lord's Day is Love which will make us do all with diligence and delight by which I may suppose you are animated to what you do or desire to do on that blessed day I agree with you that the Duty of Prayer is manifest even by the Light of Nature That Supream Being that made us can only preserve us and to him we must apply for our well-being but Christians that are dedicated to God in Baptism should take care to sanctify all the Actions of their Lives by Prayer and never do that thing they dare not beg God's blessing upon If we did impute to God the happy success of all our Labours we could not be so wanting to our selves as to neglect that great Favour and Priviledge of a Christian of representing all our Wants and Necessities to God and engaging his Care and Providence in our behalf of beging his holy Spirit which he has promised to those that as it which will lead us into all Truth teaching us to â—â—cuse and condemn our selves for sin and then engage us to the Duty of thankfulness and here I know noâ— where to begin or make an end Innumerable are the Mercies we daily receive and sufficient to imploy all the moments of our Life in the Contemplation of them and were our Hearts truly thankful nothing could be wanting to keep us close to our Duties both to God and our Neighbour whatever different ways and modes we find of expressing it I dare be bold to pronounce That Person a true Child of God that in a deep sence o his own unworthiness looks upon all the mercies he enjoys as the favour and bounty of heaven for which he can never be sufficiently thankful And I do not know a stronger Foundation to build any Persons Conversion upon for if they are born of Christian Parents when they consider that Blessing and Priviledge which Thousands want it must needs engage 'em in his Service who has dealt so Lovingly with 'em But if an Alien from the Church of God should by some great Providence meet with the opportunity of being instructed in the saith how can he chuse but look upon this good Providence as the effect of Gods Merciful kindness to him and work a more kindly Obedience then all the Terrours of Hell I confess the threats of Hell is a way I am little acquainted with yet must own We cannot know Gods Mercy in its full extent without knowing to the full the miseries from which it has redeem'd us But this works naturally upon our Love and turns it into such a fear as works again by Love and makes our obedience chearful and free yet I shall not pretend to censure those that perhaps experience teaches to use harsher methods but I bless God for his more tender dealing with me for I am perswaded those Conflicts and Temptations so many find upon their Death-Beds are the effects of those horrours their teachers infuse into 'em for I may say with thankfulness I never saw any one in that condition of all my Friends that I have Buried And I make no doubt but the subtilty of the Devil is never wanting to make his advantage of our Fears Scruples and Superstitions when he terrifies us with Apparitions and Spectrums It is certainly a great Happiness to be free from the fears of 'em for which you have just cause to bless God and I can speak it by Experience Those Ominous Presages of Persons Deaths or Misfortunes never happen'd to me nor many of my Relations Who all held a Principle against Superstition or any observation of such things Your humble and uncommon Confession of your own Frailties is what we must all own as well as you if we chuse good Principles for our Conduct 't is all the Vertue we can pretend to the exact Performance depends upon many things not in our Power Your neglect and disregard of dressing and fine Cloaths suits the Temper and Inclination of the Wise and Men of Business 't is a weakness even in Women but a great Folly in Men and a true conjecture may be often made of the Intellects of both Sexes by their Dress You have a strange Happiness for a Man of Business to have so much liesure for Divine Contemplation in the Fields and other pleasant Places whereby you furnish your Mind with Pious Ejaculations which serves you upon occasion to obtain Gods Direction Blessing and Conduct in your Affairs 't is then the Business goes pleasantly on when the success is perfectly resignd to God 'T is pitty your great Love to your Wife should make you so uneasie that all your Philosophy could hardly furnish you with Patience enough to support a Months Absence Your excessive loving Temper which I perceive you do not take for a weakness but a Perfection gives you much reason to applaud your great Success in your choice of two Wives successively of so much Merit Tho' you seem so surprised at the 〈◊〉 Company you