mation; the silhouette of Dr. Hawes between, with the two sides of the medal above and below him. Under the Morning's Walk in the Metropolis*, I have written the following lines from Shakspeare's King Lear, A. iii. S. 4.

Take physic, Pomp!

Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,

That thou mayest shake the superflux to them,
And shew the Heav'ns more just.

The rest I shall arrange in due time.

Your American letters I have read over more than once, with attention and pleasure; but they are of too political and scientific a nature for me to form any decided opinion of them. Your thoughts on the gradual emancipation of slaves, by civilization, seems excellent. I attempt, in my humble way, the introduction of similar objects to civilize and lead the way to virtue and religion. Respecting the original production of more races of men than one, I have not made up my mind. Mr. King, in the second volume of his Morsels of Criticism, 4to. has the same idea, and the British Critic seemed to think it worthy of consideration.

Of the history and state of America, I am equally incompetent to form an opinion. At the time of the American war I was an incurious boy; and since I began to think, other objects of nearer concern have pressed upon my attention. Mr. Malthus's book I have not read; I have seen the ac

*See Hints, Vol. I. p. 5. ED.

count of it in my Review, and agree with you. I have done all I could to encourage matrimony in my parish. Not that I think very early marriages desirable, but in the present dissolute state of society, I consider early marriage as preferable to early and promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, and the best step to the due regulation of virtuous marriage and, though a young bachelor, I have twice preached in favour of marriage, and the blessing of a large family.

I have taken the liberty of supplying the place in the box, of those things which I was to keep, by some of my own productions, and I wish they were not only better in their composition, but also in their original design. My Plays must be considered as youthful follies, but though they might have been better, or perhaps had better not been at all, yet I hope there is nothing very reprehensible in them. The observations on Hamlet I must certainly consider as curious. I see you are an admirer of Shakspeare. They may, perhaps, afford you an hour's amusement, if not conviction. I am happy that you approve my Song of the Cow.

With many apologies for this long letter, and with the good wishes of this happy season,

I remain,

With great esteem and respect, Your much

obliged and devoted humble Servant,

J. PLUMPTRE,

LETTER CXIII.

From the same.

Hinxton Vicarage, Jan. 25, 1805.

Respected Friend,

I fear you will have too much cause to think that you have encouraged a very troublesome correspondent, and that your kindness has involved you in difficulties; but the case is, that the perusal of the many works and papers with which you have favoured me, has imparted some of your zeal to my mind, and I am become myself a zealous friend to vaccination. Indeed, till now, I did not know how malignant a pest the small-pox, shall I say? was. I have a sermon* to preach before the University, on the 24th February, and I design that that shall be the subject. Disease and death, we find from Scripture, are the effects of sin. Indeed, sin itself is figuratively called disease; and plagues in particular were often sent as the imme

*This Sermon, intituled, "The Plague Stayed; a Scriptural View of Pestilence, particularly of that dreadful Pestilence the Small Pox, with Considerations on the newly-discovered remedy by Inoculation with the Vaccine or Cow-Pock; with copious Notes and Illustrations," was published in 1805. This, together with a Sermon on the same subject, and by the same author, preached at Hinxton, March 3, 1805, is well worthy of perusal by every advocate for, and opponent of, Vaccination. ED.

diate punishments of sin: as we find in Numbers, ch. xvi. and ch. xxv.; 2 Sam. ch. xxiv. v. 15-25, and other places. The small-pox, we are told, had its rise in Arabia, with Mahomet, the angel of the bottomless pit, in Revelation, ch. xix., and propagated by the Saracens, and was the scourge of corrupted Christianity. Surely, therefore, that which is to mitigate or exterminate this disease is a sign of the favour of God; and, as such, ought to be welcomed with thankfulness. That it had its rise in this country, which, though stained with many crimes, is, perhaps, one of the purest, if not the purest, upon earth, is worthy of remark. Connected with this, I shall consider the plague, properly so called; the leprosy, introduced into Europe by the Crusaders; the gaol fever (which will introduce the mention of Howard); and the typhus (which will introduce the Houses of Recovery). The natural causes of disease seem to be intemperance of all kinds, dirt, sloth, and famine; and that they arise amongst the poor, from the negligence of the rich and intelligent. The natural remedies are the contrary of these: all virtues pleasing in the sight of God. This will give you a general idea of what I intend to be the subject of my sermon; and my object in writing to you, you think is to request any hints which may be useful. What I want particularly to know is, somewhat of the extent of the ravages made by the small-pox. I wish also to know, how far the antidote, the cow-pock, has spread;

if
you can

send me any farther information than is contained in your Hints and Address, and the papers you have already sent. I have Dr. Booker's Sermon, and Warren's Address. I have also Howard's two volumes on Prisons and Lazarettoes. I know not that you would think myself and my intention worthy of mentioning again; but lest, by chance, you should, may I beg the favour of you not to do it; as I think, were the idea to get abroad, that I am going to preach upon the subject of the cowpock, abstractedly considered, it would create a prejudice against it with us; but if I am allowed to unfold the subject as I intend, I think it will rather give satisfaction, and may be made a very interesting discourse.

I remain,

Your most obliged and

Obedient humble servant,
JAMES PLUMptre.

P. S. Can you inform me what author says that we have the small-pox from the Camel. I am taking your Hints, for the second time, morning and evening, along with my tea.