. . . Some time since I finish'd the visitation of my
Diocese, the hurry whereof, together with a cold, gave me
a small fever. At Oxford I had a very good sermon
preach 'd by one of the Proctors of the University, who
hath a living in my Diocese in defence of the Church's
authority to impose subscriptions, which, if it be printed
as it was intended to be, will, I doubt not, meet with
your Grace's approbation.
" Perhaps your Grace may not yet have been informd
that one of the Physicians lately chosen into one of
Dr. Radcliffe's Fellowships, was oblig'd to leave a
considerable Foundation, whereof he was a member
because he would not make the Subscription requir'd
by Law. Whether he can hold this Fellowship without
Subscribing as is directed by the Act of Uniformity,
your Grace can far better judge than I am able to do ;



1747] A STRICT RULER 145

but if on the account of his nonconformity he hath
exchang'd a Fellowship of fifty or sixty, for another
of three hundred pounds per annum, it is easy to see
what encouragement this will give to others who are
less modest and sincere than this young man is said
to be."

His strictness in matters of Ecclesiastical Rule is
illustrated by the following :

" CuDDESDEN, igth July 1726.
