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James Hervey
From "Weston, June 28, 1746" to "Dear Mr. T----," submitted by a correspondent signing himself "W," who appends a paragraph in praise of Hervey, "a very worthy man, exemplary divine, and ingenious writer." (15.97-99). Also, from "Weston, Feb. 21, 1746" to "Dear Mr. W--" [the "W" who sent in the first letter?], submitted by "J. W.," who identifies himself as the "W" who submitted the first letter but not as the recipient of the second letter. (16.161-162). The first letter is described as "[Now First Published.]"; the second, like the first also, as an "original" letter. The recipient of the first letter probably resided "at Brynsworthy, that agreeable seat, where, three years ago, I passed several delightful weeks." Modern gazetteers describe Brysworthy as "ham.[let], N. Devon, 1½ m. S. of Barnstaple." Hervey was curate of Bideford, North Devon, for nearly three years, beginning in 1740 (DNB). Still in the first letter: Hervey inquires about Mr. T's last visit to the Abbey, identified in a footnote as "Stoke-Abbey, near Bideford, the seat of Paul Orchard, Esq. . .; to whom Mr. Hervey stood godfather, and dedicated the second volume of his Meditations." Hervey asks, "Is Mr. W--'s Abode in your parts," raising the suspicion that this Mr. W is the same "W" who submitted the letter. In any event, the whole letter is too long and touches on too many matters for a précis, although the recipient is identified as a clergyman with a daughter whose initials were C. I. The second letter contains far less news and is almost entirely given over to religious sentiments, largely about charity.
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