Dillenius. 183 
the clofe application he gave to them, that 
his habits were of the reclufe kind. If it 
be allowable to form any opinions of men 
from the perufal of their letters, fome that 
I have feen, written by him, would fug- 
geft, that he was naturally endowed with 
a placid difpofition, improved by a philo- 
fophical calmnefs of mind, which fecured 
him in a confiderable degree from the ef- 
fects of the incidental evils of life. I will 
at leaft lay before the reader, in the note 
* " For my little time, I have met with as many 
" adverfities, and misfortunes, as any body ; which, by 
the help of exercife, amufement, and reading fome of 
" the Stoic philofophers, I have overcome ; and am re- 
" folved that nothing lhall affli(9: me more. Many 
" things here, as well as at my home, that hath happened 
" to me, would cut down almoft any body. But two 
" days ago I had a letter, acquainting me with a very 
" near relation's death, whom I was obliged to affift with 
" money in his calamities, in order to fet him up again 
" in his bufmefs ; and now this is all gone, and there 
" is fomething more for me to pay, and which is not a 
" little for tne\ but it does not at all afFe6^: me. I rather 
thank God that it is not worfe. This is only one, and 
" I have had harder ftrokes than this, and there lies ftill 
fome upon me. Feb. 13, 172S.'* 
N 4 z tranfcript 
