"Bp. Fell tells us, that all these Tracts were written by the excellent Author (whom he makes to be one and the same person) at severall times, as y'e exigence of the Church, and the benefit of soules directed y'r composures; and that he (the Author) did likewise publish them apart, in the same order as they were made. The last, it seems (w'ch is _The Lively Oracles_), came out in 1678, the very year Dr. Woodhead died. Had the Author liv'd longer, we should have had his Tract _Of the Government of the Thoughts_, a work he had undertaken; and certainly (as Bp. Fell hath told us), had this work been finished, 'twould have equall'd, if not excelled, whatever that inimitable hand had formerly wrote. Withall it may be observ'd, that the Author of these Tracts speaks of the great Pestilence, and of the great Fire of London, both w'ch happen'd after the Restoration, whereas Bp. Chappell died in 1649. And further, in sect. vii. of the _Lively Oracles_, n. 2., are these words, w'ch I think cannot agree to Bp. Chappell [and less to Mr. Woodhead]. _I would not be hasty in charging Idolatry upon the Church of Rome, or all in her Communion; but that their Image-Worship is a most futall snare, in w'ch vast numbers of unhappy Souls are taken, no Man can doubt, who hath with any Regard travailed in Popish Countries: I myself, and thousands of others, whom the late troubles, or other occasions, sent abroad, are, and have been witnesses thereof_. {293} These words seem to have been spoke by one that had been at Rome, and was forced into those Countries after the troubles broke out here. But as for Chappell, he never was at Rome, nor in any of those Countries. "As for Archbp. Stern, no Man will believe him to have any just Title to any of these Tracts. [The last Passage concerning idolatry, will not agree with Mr. Woodhead, nor the rest with Lady Packington.] "In a letter from Mr. Hearne, dat. Oxon, Mar. 27, 1733, said by Dr. Clavering, Bp. of Petr. to be wrote by one Mr. Basket, a Clergyman of Worcestershire. See Dr. Hamond's _Letters_ published by Mr. Peck, et ultra Quære." On so disputed a point as the authorship of the _Whole Duty of Man_, your readers will probably welcome any discussion by one so competent to form an opinion in such matters as Hearne. The letter above given was unknown to the editor of Mr. Pickering's edition. J.E.B. MAYOR. Marlborough College. [Footnote 2: The printed copy has _Trinity_ College.] * * * * * MISTAKE ABOUT GEORGE WITHER. In Campbell's _Notices of the British Poets_ (edit. 1848 p. 234.) is the following, passage from the short memoir of George Wither:--