Archbishop of Canterbury - KU ScholarWorks - The University of ...

The Manuscript 5
Commentators.] Apr. 22. 1715 I saw the noble Spectacle of the total
Eclipse of the Sun, at Chesterfield. The first emerging of the Rays out of
the Darkness was inexpressibly reviving. In the latter End of July that
year, I went to Scarborough, & was there about a fortnight, & returned
to Chesterfield by way of Hull. 2 )[Whilst I was here, a small share was
given me in a Lead-Mine, the Title to which was doubtful: but it proved
good. And I received from it for some Years about 40 11 a Year, which was
a great Help to me. Afterwards it gradually diminished to nothing.]
FOLIO 7 At Michaelmass 1715, I went from Chesterfield to
1715-17 London by way of Coventry, & was in no little Danger
from Waters. In June 1716, I made a visit of some Days to
Mr Butler at Oxford. During this Stay in London, I read the Apostolical
Fathers, Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, Whistons Primitive Christianity,
& many other chiefly Theological Books. I was pretty well
satisfied of the Lawfulness of conforming to the Church of England as a
Layman, but not equally of becoming a Minister in it. And though I was
less inclined to some Singularities of Opinion than I had been, yet I
continued favourable to others: nor could I be sure how soon, or indeed
in what manner, my Judgment might fix. And therefore, I believe before
Christmass this Year, I applied my self to the Study of Physick; yet never
totally intermitting Divinity, 2 )[much less doubting of the Truth of
Religion, natural and revealed; & still less being a Disputer against
them in Company, as a nameless Pamphlet Writer of the Year 1768 hath
charged me: whose Calumnies in this respect my Intimacies &
Friendships alone, (continued) through the whole time of my studying
physick, sufficiently acquit me. I was also acquainted indeed with
several Persons, occasionally much given to irreligious Talk, as Dr
Oldfield, Mr Cheselden & Mr Bowes, which last I have often reproved
for it. And such men are very apt falsely to represent others, as of the
same Opinions with themselves: especially if for the sake of Mirth, or of
learning useful things of another nature from their Conversation, they
listen to them with any seeming pleasure on subjects of this Nature, &
perhaps are tempted now & then to throw in a word grave or humorous,
which but seems to lean to that side of the Question. Yet of this last I
think I never was much {blameable} guilty] I went through some
Courses of Anatomy with Mr Cheselden that Winter, & read the usual
Books in the preparatory Sciences. In Spring, or Summer, 1717, I went
into Nottinghamshire, & to Mr Milnes's at Chesterfield: whence I
[made an Excursion to Buxton Wells, &] returned in Autumn to London
with my Sister who was married on the Road at { } within a few
miles of Chesterfield, to Mr John Frost, to whom she soon went back. I
came first to Mr Bowes's House, as usual: but in the Winter, I do not
remember exactly at what time, removed to the House of Mr Bakewell,