CHAPTER IV. Letters on different Subjects, between the Years 1778 and 1780, inclusive. RICHARD SHACKLETON TO SAMUEL CARLETON. "Thou hast so far coincided with my sentiments. Now let me further add, in my humble judgment it will not prove to thy advantage, for divers reasons, to spend time unnecessarily in Dublin, when thy affairs will be settled there, so as that thou canst handsomely leave it. Many inconveniences attend an indolent life any where, especially there. Come as soon as thou canst into the country among thy friends, where are wholesome air, opportunity for exercise, and, in some places, wholesome conversation; of which last I would not be supposed to mean as if I thought the city entirely destitute. Thou art heartily welcome to my house, and need be in no hurry, but at thy own leisure, and after due consideration and trial, fix thy head-quarters where thou mayst think most proper; like the bird disencumbered and raised high from the earth, that sings up in the air, and looks down and chooses what spot to alight on. Thus mayst thou, dear cousin, being more unfettered from the cares of earth, soar nearer to heaven, making melody in thy heart, and anticipating the joys of that happy place. So shall thy last days be thy best days; and after all thy troubles, conflicts, and besetments, which I believe have been many, and of various kinds, thou wilt, through the infinite goodness of our great Benefactor, find and feel sweet peace at last. Accept of the hearty salutation of my father, wife, sister, and children. I am, dear cousin, "Very affectionately thine, "R. S." After the death of Abraham Shackleton, Samuel Carleton came to live with his cousin Deborah. R. S. TO HIS DAUGHTER MARGARET. * "Ballitore, 24th of 1st Month, 1773. Mayst thou, dear child, be preserved in simplicity and nothingness of self; in humility and lowliness of mind, seeking diligently after, and waiting steadily for, the inward experience of that which is unmixedly good. This is the way to be helped along, from day to day, through one difficulty and proving after another, to the end of our wearisome pilgrimage; having recourse, like the hunted hart, to the brook by the way, when pressed by our spiritual enemies. By this, my dear child, the predecessors in our family, who lived in the truth, were enabled to wade through their afflictions, and knew that overcoming which entitles to the glorious, eternal rewards. Many are the favours which thou, my dear daughter, hast received at the hand of the great Giver. What need I enumerate any of them? thy grateful heart is sensible of them. May thy branches, weighed down with humility, gratitude, and all fruits of the spirit, bend towards the root which sustains every tree of righteousness, and from which its sap and life is supplied and derived. By humility and lowliness of mind, many temptations are avoided, and incumbrances escaped. It is a safe and quiet habitation, into which the devil cannot enter; and his emissaries view the dwelling with derision, and turn from it with contempt. So the heavenly guest has more free admittance, and uninterrupted abode; and the bread eaten in secret administers invisible but effectual support. "I am, dear Margaret, "Thy affectionate father, "R. S." In this year Dr. Leland published his history of Ireland, and Richard Shackleton received a letter, with the signature of the author, requesting his opinion of the work. The style of the letter gave no very favourable promise of the abilities of the historian. R. S. sent a civil reply, disclaiming any pretensions to critical judgment, and soon after received the following letter from the real author. "SIR, DR. L. TO R. S. "July 2d, 1773. "My absence from Dublin prevented me from receiving your favour till this day. Whoever he was that took the liberty of addressing a letter to you in my name, and whatever were his intentions, I account myself obliged to him. He has indeed been guilty of an unprovoked incivility to us both; but he has been the means of introducing me, in some sort, to one, of whom our common friends have often spoken with the utmost affection and respect, and with whom I exceedingly wished to be acquainted. I know not in what terms the request was made, that you would give your opinion of my book; but I beg you will allow me to repeat it, with sincere esteem, and a very just sense of the value of your opinion. I shall return to Dublin in the course of next week, and my first care shall be to send a set of the History of Ire land to Mr. Jackson's. If you do me the honour to peruse it, I must entreat you will not send it back, but accept of it, as a small mark of my sincere regard. "The book has been read in England, and received with more favour than I hoped for. Here it has had a few attentive readers; but as to the public in general, I was ever persuaded, that in this kingdom, at least, their voice would be determined precisely in the manner you mention. I am sorry to say that you will find it very incorrectly printed. Believe me, with very sincere respect and regard, "Sir, "Your faithful and most obedient servant, R. S. TO DR. LELAND. "Ballitore, 17th of 10th Month, (October,) 1773. "DR. LELAND, "I had the favour of writing to thee some time ago, and handed thee the original mock letter which gave rise to our correspondence. I have not had the pleasure of hearing from thee since, but perused thy history with the best attention which I was capable of. I am much obliged to thee for the book, and for the entertainment and instruction it has afforded me. Good history casts such a light on all sides, and upon such a multitude of objects, and is so nearly concerned with religion and morality, that he certainly deserves very well of the public, who contributes, in so great a degree, to their pleasure and profit, by presenting them with a work of this kind. Thy history, without doubt, has cost thee much painful labour: there must have been much pioneering, much fable and false hood to clear away; and when this has been done, but scanty and bare materials left to erect a comely edifice. However, the cement is so good, and the several parts so aptly joined together, that we see a complete, well-finished, though not a magnificent structure; a structure which, in my opinion, will last, although a flood of calumny and false criticism should assault it. I only speak my own unbiassed sentiments: I have neither opportunity nor leisure to ransack and examine the stores from which the great leading historical events have been drawn ; but I have all along particularly remarked such a diligent, wary investigation of the reality of facts and characters, that I attend to the narrative with the satisfaction which a man feels, who is persuaded, from the cautious veracity of his author, that what he hears is true. "An history of our own country is in some respects like an history of our own times; it necessarily, by some means or other, touches so nearly particular families, that it is no wonder if individuals are piqued in some cases, whose family pride or interest is concerned; and, taking offence at a part, decry the whole work. Self-love sits close to us, and we do not like to see an aspersion lie even on our own family names. Different sentiments also in religious matters, cannot fail of operating variously on those who read such an history: these sentiments being interwoven among our earliest prejudices, and fast rooted and rivetted by our judgments or our feelings, are not indeed easily shaken, but very sensible of any rude attack. On this account I am also of the number who think some part of thy history exceptionable. The expression which I wish to be altered is cited below*. Vol. iii. p. 504. "But those called Protestants were chosen from Quakers, or other enthusiasts-from the poor, the profligate, and contemptible." |