His partiality for Peterborough was owing to his connections with Dr. Lockyer the Dean, with whom he generally passed some time in every summer; and finding his health and spirits rather better there than usual, he contracted such a fondness for the place, that he wished for nothing more than there to fix his staff and end his days. Dr. Lockyer was a man of ingenuity and learning, had seen a great deal of the world and was a most pleasant and agreeable companion, was one of Dr. Pearce's most intimate friends, and at his death bequeathed to him his library which was a good one. As Dr. Lockyer was himself an excellent story teller, so he had written in a large quarto book every good story that ever he had heard in company: and this book used to lie in his parlour for his visitors to turn over and amuse themselves till he could come to them. It contained a fund of entertainment, and it is a sign that it was conceived to do so, because some one or other thought it worth while to steal it; it never came to Dr. Pearce's hands, and he often regretted the loss of it. Dr. Lockyer in the former part of his life was chaplain to the factory at Hamburgh, from whence he went every year to visit the Court of Hanover; whereby he became very well known to the King George I. who knew how to temper the cares of royalty with the pleasures of private life, and commonly invited six or eight of

his friends to pass the evening with him. His Majesty, seeing Dr. Lockyer one day at Court, spoke to the Duchess of Ancaster, who was almost always of the party, that she should ask Dr. Lockyer to come that evening. When the company met in the evening, Dr. Lockyer was not there, and the King asked the Duchess if she had spoken to him as he desired. Yes, she said, but the Dr. presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and hopes your Majesty will have the goodness to excuse him at present, for he is soliciting some preferment from your ministers, and he fears it might be some obstacle to him, if it should be known that he had the honor of keeping such good company. The King laughed very heartily, and said he believed he was in the right. Not many weeks afterwards Dr. Lockyer kissed the King's hand for the deanery of Peterborough : and as he was raising himself from kneeling, the King inclined forwards, and with great good nature whispered in his ear, Well now, Doctor, you will not be afraid to come in an evening, I would have you come this evening.

Dr. Thomas, who died Bishop of Salisbury, I so describe him, for it was not always easy to distinguish the two Dr. Thomas's. Some body was speaking of Dr. Thomas. It was asked, Which Dr. Thomas do you mean? Dr. John Thomas. They are both named John. Dr. Thomas who

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has a living in the city. They have both livings in the city. Dr. Thomas who is chaplain to the King. They are both chaplains to the King. Dr. Thomas who is a very good preacher. They are both very good preachers. Dr. Thomas who

squints. They both squint. For Dr. Thomas who died Bishop of Winchester, handsome as he was, yet had a little cast with one of his eyes. The Dr. Thomas, who died Bishop of Salisbury, having succeeded Dr. Lockyer both in the chaplainship at Hamburgh and in the deanery of Peterborough, it is not an improper sequel to relate the manner of his rise and preferment, as he has himself been heard more than once to relate it. Dr. Thomas was accustomed, as well as Dr. Lockyer, to go from Hamburgh to pay his duty at Hanover every year that the King came over. After some time the King (George II.) asked him, Whether if he could obtain any preferment from the crown, he would not gladly leave Hamburgh to settle in England? He replied, that his Majesty's father had made him the like gracious offer, and he had declined it, because then there were several eminent merchants and factors who were very kind and liberal to him, and he lived among them much to his ease and satisfaction but now the case was altered, most of his old friends had died or were removed, a new race was springing up, and he should

make

should think himself very happy to return to England under his Majesty's patronage and protection. Well, said the King, consider with yourself, and consult with my Lord Harrington, (who was the Secretary then attending upon the King) and he will let me know your wants and wishes. The next time the King saw him he said, My Lord Harrington informs me, that you desire to have one of the royal prebends; but it is not in my power to get you any such thing, my ministers lay their hands upon them all, as necessary for my service; but I will tell you what I will do for you, they do not much mind livings, and I will give you the first living that falls, and then I will you one one of my chaplains, and then the next time I come to Hanover, you shall come over with me as my chaplain, and then if a prebend or deanery should happen to fall, you would have a good chance of succeeding to it, and this is the only way wherein I can procure any such thing for you. Agreeably to this plan, Dr. Thomas returned to England, had the living of St. Vedast Foster Lane, was appointed one of the King's chaplains, and the spring ensuing when the King was making preparations for Hanover, he sent word privately to Dr. Thomas to prepare himself and to have every thing in readiness to be put on board such a day. Before he went he thought it Bishop Gibson, who was then

proper to wait upon

the ecclesiastical minister, and to acquaint him with the King's order. You go to Hanover ? said the Bishop, it cannot be: Dr. Clagget is to go to Hanover it was fixed and settled some time ago. Dr. Thomas answered, that he had received his Majesty's express command, and should certainly obey it and accordingly Dr. Thomas attended the King to Hanover, and not Dr. Clagget. It happened in the course of the summer that the deanery of Peterborough became vacant, and Dr. Thomas had the honor to kiss his Majesty's hand for it. At the same time the Duke of Newcastle wrote to him from England, that he had in a manner engaged that deanery to Dr. Newcomb the Master of St. John's College in Cambridge, and should be greatly obliged to Dr. Thomas if he would be so good as to wave his turn; the Duke would certainly procure for him a better deanery, or the first residentiariship of St. Paul's that should become vacant. Dr. Thomas wrote in answer, that as the King had been graciously pleased to give him the deanery, he could not with any decency or good manners decline his Majesty's favor, but his Grace might vacate the deanery by giving him a better thing as soon as ever he pleased. He used also to relate another remarkable instance of the King's friendship and regard for him. While he was holding his visitation in Buckinghamshire, and confirming the young gen tlemen