l8o LIFE AND CORRESrONDENCE CF THE [1786 



ing psalms, which will make the purchasing of new books indispensably- 

 necessary to the joining in our service: and we might have some regard 

 to those of middling condition who would wish a Prayer Book to be in 

 the hands of every member of their families. 



On the other hand, it is natural for us to wish to see our labors in this 

 business productive of some fruit to the widows and the orphans. 

 I only throw out the above for your consideration, and am 



Your affectionate humble servant, 



W. White. 



P. S. — I request you to consider whether it will not be best to bring 

 in Addison's Translations '■'The Lord my pasture shall prepare,'' and 

 '■^Tlie spacious firmafuent, etc.,''' among the hymns. They are not strict 

 translations. The latter at least can come in no other way as it is in 

 the same metre with Tate and Brady's Translations of the 19th Psalm. 

 It will not be too late to decipher this by return of post. 



P. S. — The December packet informs of Willet's arrival : by whom 

 went the original letter to the bishops. 



Some Queries on the Preface to the Common Prayer. (Dr. 



White.*) 



Page 2d. Quaere the propriety of saying anything about the Church 

 of Rome. 



Page 10. Protestant Episcopal Churches. Would it not be better in 

 the singular number — at least it should be so when we speak of the acts 

 of the late Convention, ia order to harmonise with the phraseology of 

 the Constitution. 



Page 12. The apology for not reviewing the collects, etc., appears to 

 me exceptionable, ist, because the pleading the want of time seems an 

 improper excuse in business of this magnitude and holds out the ex- 

 pediency of another review; 2dly, because we do not know that the 

 Convention would not have given the necessary powers to the com- 

 mittee as is insinuated, and 3dly, because there are other alterations 

 alluded to which we have not adopted. I wish the expression to be 

 more general; thus — "it will appear that almost every amendment, 

 etc." Ibid. It is said, that the service is so arranged as that we need 

 not turn backwards and forwards. This being not exactly true, I wish 

 the explanation modified. 



*The Qiitzries of Dr. White are, of course, upon the preface by Dr. Smith, as orig- 

 inally ivrillen. Dr. Smith adopted some of the suggestions and not others. The force 

 of Dr. White's suggestions, of course, do not so clearly appear in the case of those 

 adopted; since, in the preface as given supra, (pp. 158-165), the original language of 

 Dr. Smith disappears m the new words adopted. — II. W S. 



lor Dr. Smith's views upon Dr. White's Quaries, see infra, pp. 188-I90. 



