The Thoresby Society

January 1. Morning, read Hammond, Annotations and Paraphrase; then in library till eleven. At church, where the number of persons seems to imply the resolutions of many to spend this new year in a more holy and exemplary manner, faxit Dens! Afternoon, in library.

3. Die Dom. Morning, read Dr. Hammond and Manual of Devotion. Mr. Midgeley preached well from Phil. iii. 17, 18. But a continued discourse, without so much as one distinct head, made it less profitable to my barren heart. Afternoon, Dr. Brooke preached an-excellent charity sermon, from Galatians vi. 10. But the anthem was inconsiderately ordered, being so short that scarce half the congregation was collected of; yet this collection, and that of the New Church, where the Vicar preached, amounted to 33£. 11s. 6d.

4. Morning, read Hammond; then in library till eleven, and after among papers ; concluded Blount's Ancient Tenures, some of which very uncouth and surprising. Read Maittaire's Annales Typographic! till seven.

8. Morning, read and wrote till ten ; when showing collections to a gentleman from Skipton till eleven. At church; afternoon, the same again, that missed most of Mr. Paley's sermon at the funeral of Mr. Bright Dixon's widow, whom he commended for her piety and charity, having left (after her sister's decease) part of her estate to pious uses.

9. Morning, read and wrote (save a little assisting widow Todd) till eleven, and after till about three, that the Vicar preached the funeral sermon for Alderman Dodgson, from 1 Cor. xv. 52. After, read and wrote till evening prayers.

11. Morning, read Dr. Hammond; wrote part of the preface to Vicaria Leodiensis till eleven. Afternoon walked to Beeston to visit the Hebrew lady, recovered from her late indisposition.

21. Dr. Brooke's stable was burnt this night, but the fire was quenched before the neighbouring houses were damaged.

23, Morning, read Dr. H. ; then examining the old charters, safe returned from the editors of the New Monasticon Anglicanum,* till eleven. After-noon, Mr. Robertson, a Frenchman born of Scotch parents, in the presence of the magistrates and about five thousand spectators, swam upon the river Aire in his leather boat; which is, before he extends it by a pair of bellows, wherewith he fills it all (except a small hollow for himself to sit in) with wind, in so small a compass as to be folded up in a handkerchief, some say put into his pocket. I was heartless, and even my dear's entreaty could not prevail upon me to go and see it; but both the barbers being run thither, I went to cousin Bowes's upon the bridge, and saw him at a little distance.

26. Morning, read as usually ; wrote till prayer-time. Rest of day, writing two indentures tripartite, to assist poor Widow Todd, of Hunslet; was fatigued, but revived, that got the good widow quit of her ill servant.

30. Nigro carbone notetur, the Vicar preached suitably to the melancholy occasion, from 1 Peter ii. 19, showing, 1. what it is to have a conscience towards God ; 2. what to suffer wrongfully. Afternoon with cousin Wilson about preface to the Vicaria Leodiensis.

31. Die Dom. Morning, Dr. Brooke preached excellently from Matthew xi. 6. 1st, The promise was made almost as soon as the fall, and good men in all ages were saved by his merits ; he was the Lamb slain from the beginning. The sin of mankind was then at the highest; and therefore the remedy was then most seasonable; then also, religion might best be propagated through the universal use of the Roman tongue. We make no scruple of believing there was such a city as Rome, and such a general as Julius Caesar; and why then of Christ and his miracles, of which we have the testimonies both of friends and enemies ? even apostates have confessed it, and the Christian religion undoubtedly shall continue, notwithstanding the wrath of men and malice of devils. Afternoon, Mr. Young of Bramhope preached well from that in Eccles. " As with the fool, so with the wise."

 

February 3. Taking account of books printed in the infancy of the art till eleven ; and so the rest of the day till evening.

4. Morning, read Marquis of Argyle's Instructions to his Son, wherein some things serious, above the common rank of the author, whose hard hap it was to suffer 1661, though he had set the crown upon the head of King Charles II. (see Historical Dictionary.) After, transcribing the abstract of Mr. Silvester Petyt's will relating to his benefactions till eleven, and after till dark.

7. Die Dom. Morning, the Vicar preached from 1 Peter i. 25. " The word of the Lord endureth for ever." Directing his reproof, 1, to such as profess to believe the Scriptures yet deny their sufficiency to salvation, but add thereto oral traditions, pretended to be received from the apostles, which he showed to be inconsistent with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to omit any thing essential to salvation. 2, To such enthusiasts as look upon the Scripture as a dead letter and pretend to the spirit; but it is certain the Spirit of God will reveal nothing contrary to his own word. 3. Others presume upon their own reason, without revelation, and so by their freethinking involve themselves in ignorance and error. Afternoon, Mr. Blanshard preached from Psalm cxix. 168. " All my ways are before thee." 1. AH our ways are before a most holy and pure God ; 2. that the most secret sins cannot escape his knowledge ; 3. all this is in order to judgment. After evening prayer, concluded Charnock of the Divine Providence : this is a second perusal of it, which evinces my great opinion of that learned and pious author, whom I heard preach at London in my young days, to a thin auditory, but mostly of ministers.

11. Morning, read Hammond, &c. till eleven; after, a little about business. The Vicar preached very well at the funeral of Mr. Newsom, from Psalm, xxxix. 7, and gave a great and deserved character of the party, who was really noted for piety. Afterwards to visit cousin Kirkshaw in the gout; read , Mr. Hunter's manuscript account of his voyage to I Canada and Quebec, anno 1711, dedicated to me J and presented this afternoon.

14. Die Dom. Read Hammond. The Vicar preached from Hebrews iii. 19, concerning infidelity. After dinner began to read the learned and pious Mr. Chavnock's two volumes of Sermons ; then, my dear being much better, I walked to Holbeck chapel, where Mr. Forster preached excellently from Num bers xxiii. last verse : showing the desirableness of dying the death of the righteous, by comparing it with the death of the wicked ; the different manner of their parting with the world and their pleasures here ; the one change, a preface to a glorious life, the other to eternal death. I was much affected, and earnestly desired a copy, which he has kindly promised.

18. Morning, read Hammond; finished the perusal of Mr. Maittaire's Annales Typographic! (the most curious and learned treatise upon that subject) and the printers of the ancient books in this library from thence: till eleven at church. Afternoon perusing the fair copy of the Vicaria Leodiensis. After evening prayer read Historical Dictionary.

20. Morning and forenoon as usually. After, with Captain Smith from Spain ; and after, at parson Barnard's with the female artist that drew the picture of this museum.

21. Die Doin. Morning, Mr. Rogers preached from 1 John iii. 3. Afternoon, Mr. Clark, of Wakefield, preached excellently at Hunslet, from Psalm cxix. 71, Afflictions are the springs of joy to the godly, the prelude of misery to the wicked; to the one momentary, to the other eternal. It is difficult to know whether we love God sincerely in prosperity : but if, when he smites, and when friends fail, like birds of passage take flight at the approach of winter storms, to love is a good sign. Being invited after to Mr. Paley's, his uncle Clark showed me a different sort of Jewish Philactery, which they place in a little tin box, on the inside of the lintel of the door of their houses: their company was very agreeable, but I left them with the Mayor and other gentlemen, to make a melancholy visit to Paul Ellis's, whose only son John being slightly bit by a lap-dog, above three months ago, without any inconvenience as they thought, but is now raging in the Hydrophobia. I saw five young men holding him, who was in a most piteous case, vomiting blood; his father was much dejected, and his mother overwhelmed with melancholy almost to distraction.

22. Morning, read Hammond ; writ and read till eleven ; at church ; rest of the day wholly lost in a visit, and disagreeable discourse from brother R., which reflecting upon father S., much discomposed my dear, and cost her many tears.

23. Morning, writing to Lord Wharton's feoffees about Bibles ; writ till eleven ; then writ letters till about two, walked to Hunslet chapel, where Mr. Paley* made a most affecting sermon at the funeral of John Ellis, a pious young man, who died of the Hydrophobia, from that of Job, " The Lord gave, &c.'

26. Forenoon, read and writ till eleven, and after, other letters into the country, till three ; with my dear at cousin C.'s, till six; with some friends at Mr. Lucas's ; the Indian book containing a Malabar history, writ, or rather inscribed, upon Palmetto leaves in the English tongue, kept us pleasantly employed late enough.

27. Morning, read Dr. Hammond; then writ to Dr. Charlett and Mr. Anstis, till eleven ; after, in library, finished the perusal of Barksdale's Memorials of worthy persons (4 Decads), wherein many things remarkable, though not writ with the greatest accuracy.

28. Die Dom. The vicar preached very well from Luke vi. 20 : afternoon, Mr. Blanshard preached from Phil. ii. 12. I afterwards heard the orphans, &c.

29. Morning, read Hammond; writ letters; finished the perusal of Dr. Palin's ingenious Travels, wherein a particular account of medals, manuscripts, and curiosities ; within till five, with Mr. Killing-beck, to read him his uncle's memoirs.

March 1. Finished perusal of Adam's Life, by a Venetian nobleman, wherein are some pious, other jocose passages, smart upon the female sex; the serpent with the face of a damsel. Afternoon, read and writ till about four; was after to consult cousin Wilson about preface to the Vicaria Leodiensis.

2. Morning, read Dr. Hammond ; then writ till church time; the vicar preached excellently from Cor. ii. 7- Afternoon, read a little; then walked to Burman tofts to visit cousin Whitaker; heard a melancholy account of the increase of the sickness about Thorne, the country sending by seven in a waggon, to be buried there.

9. Morning, read Hammond; then walked to Morley, to visit cousin Stubbs and the two old widows; finished the perusal of the Remembrances of ten excellent men, famous in their generations, by Clement Barksdale; had Mr. Lucas's company; in return, called at Mr. Walker's, at Churlwell, but he died at Christmas last, aged, as commonly said, 105 ; and after at the Hebrew lady's at Beeston ; was more than half weary, but got to church.

12. Morning, read Harmnond ; then writ to Cambridge to my dear son ; after, to other gentlemen, till near three ; at cousin Milner's to wish him joy of the young baronet, for whom the two grandfathers, my Lord Archbishop and Mr. Milner, were godfathers.* Sir Arthur Kay represented the Alderman. Afterward visited by Parson Brooke,"]" of High-Hoyland, to consult some manuscripts.

13. Die Dom, Morning, read Dr. Hammond ; then walked to Holbeck to hear Mr. Roebuck, who preached from Matt. iv. 7. ; had a sore storm of snow in return. Afternoon, Mr. Blanshard preached from Isaiah xxxii. 27; I afterwards catechised; til] evening prayers, read a sermon of Dr. Mangey's, preached at the consecration of the new church in Sunderland, in September last.

14. Morning, read Hammond ; eleven, at church ; after, walked to Annley, the minister (Mr. Hartley) being dead, to make inquiry ; had the Saxon Saddler along with me, and stayed at his house, with Mr. Lucas, to refresh myself.

19. Read Hammond; wrote to Sir Hans Sloane till eleven ; rest of day in doing a kindness for a widow gentlewoman and her daughter, save a little with cousin Milner, and the other Commissioners, about enclosing part of the common, and letting it for 14£. per annum, for the royal bounty to Holbeck Chapel.

22. Forenoon as before ; after, sent for by Mr. Hird, an ingenious mathematician^ with whom about an hour ; then wrote till even.

23. Morning, read Dr. Hammond; wrote to the King-at-Arms. Mr. Plaxton preached from Luke xiii. 1, 2, 3, showing, How unjust it is to censure persons as greater sinners, because of greater afflictions. Afternoon, abroad at relations till past five ; then walked with two friends to view the enclosures for Holbeck Chapel.

27. Die Dom. Morning, read Dr. Hammond ; Mr. Cooksou preached from Luke xviii. 1 ; afternoon, Mr. Dade, of Rothwell, preached well from 1 John iii. 1 ; afterwards heard a good number of poor children and servants repeat the appointed Psalms.

29. Read Hammond ; then writing letters, and a little abroad till eleven ; so afternoon, and to pay cousin W. what I had collected for him ; after evening prayers read history and divinity; was concerned for the death of my good old friend, Mr. Strype, a solid divine, and useful historian ; witness the Lives of the first four Protestant Archbishops of Canterbury, and others.

31. Morning, read Hammond, and finished the perusal of Dr. Hutchinson's Historical Essay concerning Witchcraft, which, though written with more caution and prudence than others upon the same subject, yet not so convincing to me as to disbelieve what the learned and pious Dr. Moore, Glan-ville, Baxter, and Turner, have written concerning the certainty of the World of Spirits, Antidote against Atheism, &c. : wrote a little till eleven, and after till evening prayers; after at cousin Cookson's, with Mr. Payler Smith, showing his Survey of the Lordship of Tyresall.

April 1. Read Dr. Harnmond ; then writing to York, till visited by Dr. Richardson, of North Bierley, but sorry it was not sooner or later, missing thereby public prayer; then read, &c. ; so afternoon, till past four; walked with my dear into the fields for air.

2. Morning, read Hamrnond; then writing to the two learned brothers, R. and S. Gale, till eleven ; afternoon, walked to Kirkstal Abbey, and by the help of my friend, Mr. Lucas, got up some of the tiles lately discovered, wherewith the abbey, at least that part nigh the high altar, was paved; there were some rows of blue and yellow ones, set chec-quer-wise, under the east wall; as afterwards others, more in view, with fleurs-de-lis painted on them. Of these latter, we found none, but brought of the others home with me. In time for the evening prayers.

3. Die Dom. Morning, read Usher on Meditation and Prayer; the Vicar preached excellently from 1 Cor. vii. 19. ; damnation (rather judgment) cannot be a strict analogy betwixt the Corinthians of that age and the Christians of this. Their Agapse, or Love-feasts, (wherein there was sometimes too much of the Bacchanalia,) being long since prohibited ; so no danger of the intemperance prohibited by the Apostle; but if not intemperance, there may be impurity ; but we should not desist from the duty, but exercise repentance.

5. Morning and forenoon, as yesterday; concluded Mr. Mather's Wonders of the Invisible World, relating to Witches executed in New England; of different sentiments from Dr. Hutchinson. Afternoon, writing till near four; at cousin Milner's, to show him that part of the Preface to the Vicaria Leodiensis, that relates to his benefaction, and he permitted to add, yet without his name, 201. per annum for the evening prayers.

6. Morning, read ; then writing to Mr. Boulter, Mr. Warburton, and Mr. Robinson, till church time. Mr. Pollard preached from Matth. xxv. 6, " And the door was shut." After, read and wrote till four; to visit cousin Aldburgh, to condole the death of her cousin, Robert Hitch, Esq. Member of Parliament; it proved to be his fellow M. P.

7. This morning, looking over the rolls, and making a new rental with cousin Cookson and other Lords of the Manor.

10. Die Dom. Read Hamrnond. Mr. Forster preached excellently from 1 Peter iv. 7, " The end of all things is at hand," which some understand of the desolation of Jerusalem, and the end of the Jewish Church and State ; others more probably of the day of judgment; others of the day of death : recommended sobriety and prayer. When nature is clogged, and reason clouded, but certainly when devotion is cooled by the freedom allowed, it is sinful ; no place or circumstance, but administers occasion of prayer. Afternoon, Mr. Blanshard preached very well from Prov. iii. 5 : what egregious folly is it to trust to our own folly, rather than the wisdom of God ; in all our projects let the fear of God guide us ; let us not dare to prosecute them in any other methods than he has prescribed.

12. Morning, read and wrote till eleven. Afternoon, with Lords of the Manor about fines of copyholds, in danger to be lost by remissness of the former sub-seneschals.

13. Morning, read and wrote till church-time : Mr. Barnard preached excellently from Psalm ii. last verse, showing the extent of the duty in its branches, which are reverence and affection ; justly exploding the Arian scheme . . . Christian obedience ought to be uniform and constant, not putting the issues of salvation on a death-bed repentance. Afternoon, visited by Mr. Paley, of Hunslet; afterwards with Cousin Milner, and Alderman K., at the vicarage.

14. Morning, read and wrote till eleven .... Afternoon, walked with Mr. Hey, Mr. L. and H. to Kirkstal-forge, where the inscription is now placed that was in the portal of the Abbey, mentioned in the Ducatus Leod. p. 580. Mr, Moore was so kind as to return with us to the garden of the abbey, where he had the view of some of the larger sort of the tesselated pavement, wherewith the abbey (at least about the high altar, where these were digged up) was paved ; we afterwards uncovered a great part of a large stone about the altar, in hopes to have found an inscription, that we were late and in the
dark at home.

16. Morning, read Hamrnond; wrote to the Bishop of Lincoln upon my son's account about ordination. Afternoon, with Mr. Buck, Bland, and
Smith, &c.

17. Easter Sunday ; read Annotations, &c.: the Vicar preached from 1 Thes. iv. 14. Afternoon, Mr. Paley preached excellently from 1 Cor. xv. 42, 3, 4, on the resurrection . . . After evening prayers supped at cousin Wilson's, with the Bishop of Man's son.

18. Morning, read . . . then had ditto Bishop's son, with Mr. Boulter Tomlinson, and Mr. Calvert, to see the curiosities, from early in the morning till full noon ; and after dinner, another company from Peniston ; was fatigued : with them at the vicarage till even.

22. Morning, read: kept close at my study all day, save usual attendance at prayers.

23. Had the company of two pious and ingenious young gentlemen, Mr. Wilson, the Bishop's son,* and Mr. Boulter Tomlinson till high noon, in library. Afternoon, wrote, Evening, had Capt. Smith's company from York.

25. Concluded the perusal of my old friend, Mr. Baker's, of St. John's College, Cambridge, most excellent Reflections upon Learning, wrote with a pious design, to show that the most exalted reason, under all its improvements, cannot yield complete satisfaction, which is only to be had from revelation. It is, in my opinion, a most judicious treatise, wherein is abundance of various learning and true piety. Much of the afternoon abroad at the Mayor's, and with Mr. Buck, and Mr. Bland, to choose a convenient station upon Cavalier Hill, to take a long prospect of Leeds, designed to be printed.

27. Morning, read : then sending my manuscript Vicaria Leodiensis to London, designed for the press, till eleven. Stepped into a poor house to see the corpse of George Fletcher, said to be slain by the soldiers, but the Jury brought it in—slain accidentally. After dinner, writing, &c.; took a walk to Burmantofts till evening.

28. Morning, read and wrote till eleven.% Afternoon, walked to Holbeck to visit Cousin Huntington, indisposed ; after, read and wrote till evening prayers, when Mr. Walter Stanhope was buried.

30. Morning, read Hammond : then finished a cursory perusal of Dr. Calamy's Remarks upon Dr. Walker as to Persecution, till eleven. Afternoon, read and wrote till Mr. Boulter Tomlinson came to visit me.

May 3. Morning, read : wrote till eleven; at church ; then taking leave of Captain Smith for Holland. After, assisting Mr. Skippen to read some ancient charts, temp. Edw. III. till near four ; had a visit from Mr. Mayor and others to see curiosities.

5. Morning, read Hammond: was all day within, endeavouring to take a review of my life. I was upon that part relating to my marriage . . . stirred not abroad, save to prayers morning and evening.

13. Afternoon, abroad at Cousin Milner's, Cousin Wilson's, and Dr. Brooke's, about Mr. Buck's Prospect of Leeds.

15. Die Dom. Morning, read Hammond. Dr. Brooke preached excellently from Phil. iv. 13. Afternoon, Mr. Cockshut preached from John xiii. 13, showing the import of the words, Lord and Master, as applied to Christ, and the advantage that accrues to such as are his disciples; they are sure to be protected, he being omnipotent; and not to be mistaken, he being infallible . . . Again, Christ gave not only his precepts to direct, but his example to walk by.

16. Morning, read Hammond : wrote to Justice Robinson about manuscript till near eleven ; when visited by a minister from Derby, and others, to see the Collection till past twelve ; concluded Britannia Triumphata from the conclusion of one (a legal) monarchy to the beginning of another, in the usurpation of O. C. wrote by a Cromwellist, wherein some remarkable transactions ; and also Mr. Boyle's Expe-rimenta, et Observations Physicse, relating to natural philosophy, wherein are several things very curious in their kinds, most of which I read the last month, Evening, prevented of church by some Quakers from Warwickshire.

17. Morning, read : then had the Vicar's company with Mr. Cockshut, to see the curiosities; with whom at the Vicarage till eleven ; at church; after, at Alderman Milner's for a Cambridge bill, and with Sir William Lowther to assist cousin M. N.; then had some gentlemen from Lancashire and London to see curiosities, that was fatigued with exposing them four times in two days.

20. Forenoon, as usually. Afternoon, at Holbeck and Mr. H.'s, procuring subscriptions for Mr. Buck ; till seven, at church.

22. Die Dom. Having concluded the learned Dr. Hammond upon the New Testament, the Paraphrase whereof is proper for a family, and the Annotations (as more learned) for the closet, but both excellent in their kinds, I began Mr. Henry's Annotations upon the prophetical books of the Old Testament, having formerly read the first and second volumes of the said author.

23. Read Henry ; wrote to both Mr. Gales ; after, rode with cousin Cookson to Sir Walter Calverley's, whose extraordinary civilities kept us so late, that it was almost midnight before we got home. Read Henry, &c.

24. Morning, read ditto; then in library till eleven; after abroad about business till evening. At supper at cousin Cook son's, with the Vicar and many friends, it being the birth-day of his son John.

26. Read and wrote till eleven, at church ; then showing collections to Mr. Leake, of the Earl of Scarsdale's family. Then proceeding in Bishop White's memoirs till near five.

30. Morning, read Henry's Exposition all day, except usual attendance at church ; collecting memoirs of the pious martyr Bishop Farrer, to set his memory in a truer and better light than the Oxford historian.

June 4. Morning, read Henry ; transcribed an ingenious letter of Mr. Eland's, concerning the number of acres in the several ridings of this county. The gross number in Yorkshire is 2,990,712. Afternoon, with feoffees and tenant about poor's concerns till evening.

8. Morning, read Henry ; wrote till eleven ; and after, till visited by Mr. Beighton of Coventry, an ingenious gentleman, author of the Ladies' Diary, to see the curiosities, till seven ; at church.

10. Morning, read Henry ; then proceeded in Memoirs of Bishop Baynes till eleven ; and after, till about three, when applied to by Mr. Wood, for my daughter in marriage.

11. Morning, read ditto; finished Bishop Hop-ton's Life ; after evening prayers, to visit Mr. Lucas, returned from his native soil, the remote parts of Lancashire, where also Archbishop Hutton was born.

12. Die Dom. Read Henry and Vines; was (as the week past) now especially solicitous for my dear son, who is to be ordained deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln this day. The Vicar preached very well from Acts xix. 5, concerning baptism. I after received the Sacrament, as, I suppose, my son may do at Bugden this day. Mr. Exley preached in the afternoon, but I was a drowsy unprofitable hearer; heard about forty children the Catechism till evening. 13. Morning, read Henry's Exposition; wrote till eleven, when unhappily prevented of church by some Quakers (pretendedly to take a room,) to no purpose ; afternoon, had Madam Tomlinson and her ingenious son and daughters to see the museum.

15. Morning, read ; wrote, per post, till eleven ; afternoon, with Mr. Buck, at Mr. Dennison's; the Vicar preached well at the funeral of John Beetham, dead in the prime of his days, from Mark xiii. 33. This young man died of a mortification : and this afternoon was buried a soldier, slain yesterday by his fellow drummer. Evening, Math the Vicar, at Mr. R. Maude's, returned from Portugal.

17. The former part of the day as usually; the latter, had Mr. Boulter Tomlinson's company, who brought his curious transcript and version of the Patriarch of Alexandria's letter to Archbishop Sharp, whose son made me a present of the original Greek autograph.

18. Morning, read Henry; wrote to Lincolnshire; afternoon, proceeding in Memoirs of Bishop Bentham, till evening.

19. Die Dom. Morning, read Daubuz on the Revelations ; Mr. Claphamson, of Hedingley, preached from Matthew xxviiL 28, 29-; afternoon, Mr. Bade, of Rodwell, preached from Matthew xxii. 37.; in return, called at cousin Wilson's, to show him the Bishop of Lincoln's letter of his ordination of my dear son, and the comfort he hoped I might have in him, which rejoiced my heart.

20. Morning, read Daubuz's Preliminary Discourse to the Revelations in secret, and Mr. Henry's upon Isaiah, in family, both learned men and my acquaintance, and both entered upon their rest: wrote Memoirs of the pious Bishop Bentham till at church, and a little after; but most of the afternoon with Mr. Midgeley, of Beverley; and after, had cousin Kirkshaw's company, with Mr. Taylor, of Cambridge, to see the museum.

21. Morning, read Daubuz and Henry ; then, writing to Mrs. Daubuz, till at church ; rest of day wholly spent at the Saxon's, with Mr. Forster and Mr. Lucas.

23. Forenoon as usually, read and wrote till eleven ; at church ; after, at Alderman Milner's, to recommend our two surveyors, Mr. Bland and Mr. Smith, to whom he gave orders to survey about 400£. per annum, that lies betwixt Humber and the sea, that he is about purchasing.

24. Forenoon, wrote Memoirs of Bishop Best till near eleven ; afternoon, of Bishop Guest, both learned men, and Eboracenses.

26. Die Doin. Morning, perusing a manuscript of Mr. Todd's Catechetical Lectures; which, though written by an illiterate pen, appear to have been excellent in themselves. Mr. Cookson preached from Acts xix. 5.

27. Morning, read Henry; writing Memoirs of Bishop Coverdale till at church, and after, till toward evening, when visited by the Lord Marquis of Carnarvon (upon his travels) and Lord Henry Bridges, to see the museum, with whom and their ingenious tutor, Mr. Hunt, and Dr. Stuart till late.

28. Morning, read, as usually; then, with the Marquis and the ingenious Dr. Stuart; wrote a little till eleven ; then, with Mr. Fenton about business ; and after, had relations from Cheshire, to see collections, till evening prayers.

29. Morning, read Henry; wrote ; then, had two of Mr. Wood's brothers-in-law, to treat about a marriage with my daughter; afternoon, with Parson Bentley, of Illingworth.

30. Morning, read as usually ; transcribed rest of Coverdale's Memoirs, till at church; afternoon, had company in the library; after, concluded the English Civil Wars, in English verse, written by a parishioner, Mr. Ant. Cooper, said to be of the family of Knowstrop.

July 12. Read Henry ; after walked to Holbeck, where my daughter Grace Thoresby was married to Mr. John Wood ; was most of day with relations and others upon that occasion, save a little in the library with Mr. B. T.; necessitated to sit up too late to gratify the inclinations of the young ones.

14. Morning, read and wrote till eleven ; then with relations ; son Wood began his London journeys ; was after at Dr. T.'s; had sister W.'s and cousin H.'s company till seven.

15. Morning, read and wrote till church time ; so afternoon, till evening prayers ; finished the perusal of the (Six) Ladies' Diaries, the ingenious author's present, Mr. Beighton, of Coventry, (when he came to see the museum,) wherein are many curious enigmas, &c., proposed and answered by several of the female sex, particularly of this county, Astreea, (Mrs. Hoyle, of Craven.)

21. Morning, read Henry ; then in library till eleven ; afternoon at cousin Milner's, to wait of Sir William; found there Sir William Lowther and Dr. Brooke ; stayed about two hours ; then showing collections till evening.

25. Morning, read Henry; then writing to Mr. Commissioner Gale till eleven, &c. ; afternoon, with cousin Wilson, &c. for Parson Daubuz's widow.

26. Read and wrote till eleven; then assisting the learned man's widow, (sent her three guineas for three books,) and visiting cousin Hopkinson indisposed, and cousin Aldburgh, till seven.

28. Former part of day as usual; latter had the ingenious Mr. Forster, of Holbeck,* &c. to view the curiosities, with whom late enough; received my son Wood well home from London and Norwich, La us Deo !

29. Memoranda: this post I received a most comfortable letter from the Bishop of Lincoln, concerning my son's preaching before him, and approbation by his Lordship, who conferred upon him the curacy of Bugden; so that he is placed, according to my heart's desire, under so pious and learned a ' Bishop's immediate inspection, where he has the use of two good libraries ; that of the Bishop's in the palace, and the minister's. I hope this is in answer to many petitions, that he may be delivered from those exorbitances that many young clergymen fall into, and may be useful in his generation.

30. Morning, read Henry ; then writing a letter of thanks to my good friend the Bishop of Lincoln, and of advice to my dear son Thoresby; till eleven at prayers ; after, had relations ; then at Mr. Kil-lingbeck's, with a Londoner.

Aug. 8. Wrote; read Henry; afternoon, had two sets of visitants, to whom wearied with showing collections. Evening, with the ingenious Mr. Fidler, of Edinburgh, at Mr. Hunter's, till late.

10. Morning, read and wrote ; afternoon had Mr. Fidler's company in the museum, (amongst Caxton's books,) and Mr. Bayliffe, from Cheshire, till evening. 16. Morning, read Henry ; then writing letters till eleven ; when abroad about business, was unavoidably prevented of making those deliberate reflections I designed upon my entrance into my grand climacterical year, by visitants from Lancashire, &c. (cousin Wilson's relations,) with whom rest of the day showing collections ; and evening at cousin W.'s.

18. Morning, read Henry ; then writing to Justice Robinson and Mr. Warburton till eleven ; dined with neighbours at a tenant's christening, which lost most of the afternoon ; after, to wait of the Archbishop, at Mr. Milner's.

22. Morning, read Henry; then in library till eleven; afternoon, visited by an ingenious young gentleman, Mr. West Fenton,* of the Temple, to see the collections.

24. Read; then writing to the Bishops of Lincoln and Man till eleven; afternoon, at Alderman B.'s request, at the auction of books ; after evening prayers, a little there, but bought none.

28. Die Dom. Morning, Dr. Brooke preached from Romans iv. 7 ; after dinner, read Mr. Tiling-worth's manuscript prayers. Mr. Forster preached from Psalm ciii. 13. I afterwards heard many poor children the appointed Psalms, in hopes of the long-delayed Bibles.

Sept. 5. Read Henry ; then in library till eleven ; at church ; so afternoon till three, when with cousin Cookson and Mr. Buck, to give the finishing stroke to the Prospect of Leeds from Cavalier-hill; in return, stayed at cousin Cookson's till near evening.

18. Die Dom. Morning, read Henry ; the Vicar preached excellently from Titus ii. 2. Afternoon, Mr. Forster preached excellently from 2 Cor, iv. 3, 4 ; finished the perusal (in my walk to Holbeck Chapel,) of Mr. Baxter's Poetical Fragments, or Heart-Employment, wherein much delighted. Time is at work, both night and day; My grave and coffin are at hand : Now I am writing; and anon, Even when it seemeth to delay, My glass hath but a little sand : They'll also say of me, he's gone.

23. Morning, read as usually; then walked with my dear to North-hall about business; much of the latter part of the day abroad to get a bill for Cambridge ; then in library till evening prayers. Mrs. Ann Mason, an ingenious young gentlewoman, died this day, and left my son two books, Malebranche and Norris, and daughter a legacy; read Burnet and Henry.

25. Die Dom. Morning, the Vicar preached from Titus ii. 2; afternoon, Mr. Forster preached very well from Prov. iii. 11 : we are admonished by afflictions to draw nearer to God; to acquiesce in his disposal of us, and never by any dishonest means, to free ourselves from troubles. I afterwards heard a great number of poor children the Psalms appointed.

Oct. 3. Morning, read Vines and Henry ; writ to my son at Cambridge ; then in library till eleven; at church; afternoon, in library till about three, when had three sets of visitants successively ; a Presbyterian minister, a Popish priest, and lastly a Non-juror, that hindered me from church.

5. Morning, read and writ till eleven, at church ; and after, till dark, when walked with my dear to the Bank, where son Wood and daughter entered upon house-keeping; prevented thereby of public prayers.

6. Morning, read Henry ; then drawing a Catalogue of the Miscellanies in 4to. ; afternoon, at church, at baptizing cousin Cookson's son, Arthur; cousin Milner stood up for Sir Arthur Kay, with whom, and other grandees, the Mayor, &c. till past eight; read Henry.

13. Morning, as usually, till eleven, at church; where were baptized Abraham, Sarah, and Rebekah, the trimelli of Abraham Scholefield, of the Shambles ; was concerned for a dream of an old manuscript, delicately painted and gilded : not as though it was in itself sinful, but that it plainly argues that my mind is too much set upon these things, else why might it not have been of the Bible ? Was in library till four; then walked with three friends to Hoi-beck, where the ingenious company kept us too late. 18. Morning, read Henry; writ letters to Scotland, till eleven ; at church; concluded perusal of the Life of the pious and learned linguist and loyalist, Mr. Cawton; afternoon, visited by the Earl of StrafFord's only brother's eldest son, to see the Museum, which took up till near six.

19. Morning, read Henry ; prepared for a journey, upon invitation of the no less religious, than right honourable Lady Elizabeth Hastings;* found Breck Lane better than expected; got well there, and in time for prayers ; after dinner, with my Lady perusing some ancient Court-rolls and Charters that her Ladyship wanted to understand more fully, which took up the whole time from afternoon prayers till supper, and after till bed-time ; had family prayers, with a chapter, and Burkitt's Annotations or Paraphrase.

22. Writ to the Bishop of Lincoln, till near eleven, when prevented of public prayers, by Mr. K. and a nonjuring parson, from Pinder-Oak;* with whom also after dinner; then writing till near dark. 27. Morning, read; then consulting manuscript about several manors of the Lady Betty Hastings, at her Ladyship's request.

30. Die Dorn. Read Henry. Mr, Paley preached from Phil. iv. 11, 12. Afternoon, Mr. Pollard preached from Jer. v. 9. Application—it is dangerous for man to continue in sin upon presumption of his (God's) patience. Afterwards, heard children and servants the Psalms.

31. Morning, read Henry; read and wrote till eleven. After, concluded Mr. Elstob's edition of the Saxon Canonical Hours, with his translation and notes, annexed to Dr. Hickes's Controversial Letters with Papists, &c. wherein much learning and curiosity., as of piety in Mr. Nelson's Letter to a Priest at Rome; which performance of my three friends pleased me well.

Nov. 1. Morning, read Henry ; then adding my late friend Mr. Strype's emendations to first volume of Bishop Burnet's History of the Reformation: was affected with the consideration that these five friends of mine, with whom I was personally acquainted, as well as had a correspondence by letter, who were eminently useful in their respective places, are all entered upon a boundless eternity, and enjoying the fruits of their labours, whilst I, an useless unprofitable cumber-ground, am left behind. Towards evening, walked with Mr. W. to Little Woodhouse; borrowed two volumes of the Religious Philosopher of Mr. Pendlebury, &c.

2. Read Henry; wrote till eleven; at church, when my grand-nephew Charles Nicholson was baptized. Dined there with the Vicar and relations ; stayed till about five, when with Mr. B. and S.

4. Read and wrote, till near eleven ; walked to Hunslet Chapel; and after, to Mr. F.'s in vain. Afternoon, wrote to Christopher Gale, Esq. of Carolina per his mother; then walked with Mr. Gates to view Mrs. Leighton's farm for the poor, for fear of encroachment by a neighbour, the tenant being weak.

5. Morning, read Henry ; then to assist a widow-gentlewoman, Mrs. S. Ray, till church time. Mr. Blanchard preached well from Rom. x. 10 : zeal for religion is commendable, when it is according to the temper of the gospel. Christ restored life to some, but never took it from any.

9. Morning, read and wrote till nine ; had ministers from Lancaster, &c. to see curiosities ; with whom dined at the Swan. Was too late for the funeral of John Walker of W., that returned and stayed a little with parson Robinson. Wrote till six, when with Alderman Milner, Dr. Tomlinson, &c. at a tavern, to drink a token from our kind friend Mr. Boulter ; stayed till about ten.

19. Morning, read ; then writing to Sir H. Pierse, at Dublin ; but prevented of public prayers by urgent business for a friend. Was much concerned for the sudden and dangerous illness of the Saxon C. H. Afternoon, read and wrote till near dark, again to visit C. H. till evening prayers ; after, read Dr. Harris's History of Kent (Mr. Boulter's noble present) and Henry.

20. Die Dom. Morning, Mr. Forster preached from " The Lord will be sanctified," &c. Levit. x. Afternoon, Mr. Blanchard preached from 1 John iii. 21. After evening prayers, read a very good practical sermon of Mr. Aspinall's, late of Kirk-Heaton in this neighbourhood (printed at Northampton), Henry, &c.

21. Morning, read Henry and Harris till light; then in library till eleven ; and after, till towards evening, with Mr. Forster to visit the Saxon.

Dec. 4. Die Dom. Morning, read Vines and Henry. The Vicar preached from 1 Tim. iv. 8. " Godliness is profitable for all things." Afternoon, Mr. Barnard made a very ingenious discourse from Matth. xv. 9- " Teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." Very well exposing the Jewish vanity and presumption in comparing, nay preferring, their oral law (pretended to be delivered to Moses in the Mount, and transmitted by tradition) before the written law, which traditions being in the second century committed to writing, appear to be only Rabbinical dreams. The like vanity appears also in the Popish impositions. He gave also a handsome touch at the Nonjurors; and then gave the genuine import of the words, and cleared the Established Church from the defects objected by the Romanists on one hand, and from teaching for doctrine the commandments of men, as is objected by the Separatists, on the other.

5. Morning, read Henry ; then wrote to Mr. Anstis and Dr. Charlett till eleven ; at church. Afternoon, with the Serjeant, perusing some papers of Mr. Harrison, founder of St. John's Church ; and after, with a gentleman from Sweden, about their Mint tokens of Baron Gortz ; and with Mr. L. and H. till evening prayers.

8. Morning, read and wrote till eleven ; at church. Afternoon, with Mr. Sympson, perusing Mr. Harri-son's papers till near dark.

12. Morning, read Henry; wrote till eleven. Afternoon, walked to Great Woodhouse, to see some medals and curiosities (seven Mosaic stones from St. Peter's at Rome) brought thence by Alderman P— ; and after, to the Bank. Evening, at supper at J. S'. a tenant; and though twenty persons, nothing but horse and dog talk, that (I) was sadly wearied.

14. This forenoon as usually. After, walked to Sheepscar, to see the attempt made for a new lead mine, which, by the specimen they find, seems to be a very rich ore. After, wrote till dark.

27. Dr. Brooke preached the anniversary sermon at St. John's, from Neh. i. 14, and very earnestly pressed the building of a new church, these two not being sufficient for the numerous inhabitants ; and pressed it with very many cogent arguments, it being conducive to the temporal as well as spiritual welfare of the people; urging also the generous benefaction of the endowment by Mr. Robinson, which if not presently embraced, might be irretrievable, depending upon one precious life, when conscience would reproach the neglect of such an opportunity. Afternoon, read and wrote till dark.

28. Taking extracts from Sir John Lewys' manuscript Voyage to India, lent me by the Lady Betty Hastings.

29. Read Henry and manuscript till eleven ; and after, till about three, showing collections to a gentleman. Then wrote till dark. Invited to Alderman Milner's feast, with the clergy, whose agreeable conversation stayed me till ten.

31. Read Henry ; then writing to Mr. Newman, Secretary to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, with an ample commission for above 850 books, to advance the good of souls, most to be distributed to the poor in these parts. Afternoon, read and wrote till dark. Thus another year of my short pilgrimage is irrecoverably slipped away.