University of Virginia Library

Letter 19
30 June 1772
NLS: MS 25295, ff. 155-156

The honour of your last favour of the 21^ inst. was sent me hither, into the country. Dr Hurd will be delighted with your Lordship's opinion of his Book.[46] His parts & learning, uncommon and extraordinary as they are, are the least part of his merit. His moral character, the virtues of his heart and mind, charm all his Friends.

I will take the liberty of communicating your Letter, on the subject of his book, to him. It will give him much pleasure to make him partaker of your excellent remarks: in which both your learning and acumen are so conspicuous. I had the happiness of bringing him into the acquaintance of Lord Mansfield, some time ago: with whose extraordinary qualities his Lordship was soon so taken, as to admitt him to great intimacy with him. I will only venture to give you a short Specimen of the Dr's Character by which you will find how free he is from all inordinate Ambition. His Virtues were so well known to the King & Queen, that he was ordered to be [deletion] spoken to by Ld Holderness, last year, when the Pr[ince]. of Wales's Family was settled, [deletion] with an offer to bear a share in his royal Highness' Education. and as this was an affair of importance the Governor was directed to tell the Dr, his answer was not expected immediately, but that he might take a fortnight's time to consider of it. The Dr, after making his best ack[n]owlegments for the honour, & said he was prepared to give an immediate & a final answer to the proposal.—that he had just past the meridian of life, and with but indifferent health, so that he dared not venture on so important a charge; but must beg leave to decline the offer.—There are but few instances of a Clergyman's thus starting [i.e. standing] aside from the high road of Preferment, when he was so fairly entered. Your Lordship will be amongst the first to set a just value on

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