Days with Sir Roger De CoverleySteele, Richard, Sir
General
Days with Sir Roger De Coverley
Steele, Richard, Sir
English essays
divinity.
As Sir Roger was going on in his story, the gentleman we were talking of
came up to us; and upon the Knight's asking him who preached to tomorrow
(for it was Saturday night) told us, the Bishop of St. Asaph in the
morning, and Dr. South in the afternoon. He then shewed us his list of
preachers for the whole year, where I saw with a great deal of pleasure
Archbishop Tillotson, Bishop Saunderson, Dr. Barrow, Dr. Calamy, with
several living authors who have published discourses of practical
divinity. I no sooner saw this venerable man in the pulpit, but I very
much approved of my friend's insisting upon the qualifications of a good
aspect and a clear voice; for I was so charmed with the gracefulness of
his figure and delivery, as well as with the discourses he pronounced,
that I think I never passed any time more to my satisfaction. A sermon
repeated after this manner, is like the composition of a poet in the
mouth of a graceful actor.
I could heartily wish that more of our country-clergy would follow this
example; and instead of wasting their spirits in laborious compositions
of their own, would endeavour after a handsome elocution, and all those
other talents that are proper to enforce what has been penned by greater
masters. This would not only be more easy to themselves, but more
edifying to the people.
MR. WILL WIMBLE.
I was yesterday morning walking with Sir Roger before his house, a
country-fellow brought him a huge fish, which, he told him, Mr. William
Wimble had caught that very morning; and that he presented it, with his
service to him, and intended to come and dine with him. At the same
time he delivered a letter which my friend read to me as soon as the
messenger left him.
"Sir Roger,
"I desire you to accept of a jack, which is the best I have caught this
season. I intend to come and stay with you a week, and see how the perch
bite in the Black River. I observed with some concern, the last time I
saw you upon the bowling-green, that your whip wanted a lash to it; I
will bring half a dozen with me that I twisted last week, which I hope
will serve you all the time you are in the country. I have not been
out of the saddle for six days last past, having been at Eaton with Sir
John's eldest son. He takes to his learning hugely.
"I am, Sir, your humble servant,
"Will Wimble."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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