“As the Virtues and Graces as well as Cupid and Hymen will assist at Mr. Pitt’s nuptials, I think he could not choose a better place for their celebration than Wickham, their capital seat. I wish them many happy years together, and God bless them with health and every good.... I hope while you are at Croydon the good Archbishop will animate you to defy that foul fiend my Lord Bolingbroke; I believe I shall take some of Ward’s sneezing powder to clear my head of the impieties and impurities of his book. I am not satisfied with Mr. Warburton’s[75] answer, the levity shocks me, the indecency displeases me, the _grossièreté_ disgusts me. I love to see the doctrine of Christianity defended by the spirit of Christianity. When absurdity is mix’d with impiety, it ceases to be a jest. I can laugh at his Lordship’s cavils at Mr. Locke, his envy to Plato and all the old Philosophers, but I could with great seriousness apply to him the words of his friend and Poet to the Dunces-- “‘’Tis yours a Bacon and a Locke to blame, A Newton’s genius or a Milton’s flame. But oh! with one, immortal one dispense The source of Newton’s light or Bacon’s sense.’ But I must do his Lordship the justice to say that what he wants in faith he makes up in confidence, for after having assured you it is absurd to affirm God is just or good, he declared he is willing to trust the being whose attributes he cannot know, to dispose of him in another world, not at all doubting that the Supreme Being will be good to him, without goodness, and just to him without justice! He laughs at the faith of Abraham, and I should do so too, if Abraham had disputed God’s veracity, and then trusted to His promises. I never read such a mass of inconsistencies and contradictions, such a vain ostentation of learning, and if I durst, I would say it, all that can show ‘the trifling head, or the corrupted heart.’ I think I may venture to say trifling, for whatever does not relate to the argument is so, and to teize the gentle reader with all the miserable sophisms that perplex’d the world 2000 years ago, is barbarous. I wanted to apply to him the Epigram on Hearne[76] the antiquarian-- “‘Fye on thee! quoth Time to Thomas Hearne, Whatever I forget, you learn....’ I thank his Lordship, though, for making me once more look into Mr. Locke and Doctor Clarke,[77] in the veneration of whom I believe I shall live and dye.” [75] Rev. William Warburton, born 1698, died 1779. Chaplain to the King; Bishop of Gloucester; author of various works. [76] Thomas Hearne, born 1678, died 1735; antiquarian and author. [77] Samuel Clarke, D.D., born 1675, died 1729; celebrated theologian and natural philosopher. [Page heading: MR. PITT’S MARRIAGE] [Page heading: THE HONEYMOON] The return letter from West is so interesting that I give it _in extenso_-- “Croydon, November 18, 1754. “MY DEAR COUSIN,