1731. MR THOMAS BOSTON. 401 And therewith came a lerter, direóted to Sir Richard, from Mr Loftfs, concerning the fpecimen on the accentuation, dated Rotterdam, April 20. 1731, whèrein he infinuates, that fore great men in the facred literature at Leyden had modettly refufed to give their thoughts of it ; but gives his own.judgment there- on as follows. I have perufed the MS. and take it for a certainty, or great probability, that the other parts and pages of the MS. are done with equal care and judgment; and then I think it is a very good undertaking, which fhows the diligence, induitry, and accuracy of the author. He is clear, orderly, and methodical, and has force obfervations in the fpecimen, that I take to be molt j:udiciogs and ufeful, which.I never met with in my frnall reading, though I have compared and (till am comparing authors. And I fhould be glad to fee this criticusc.riticorum, encouraged, not only to excite the languifhing tafte of our na- tion to put fuch critics as Le Clerk out of,countenance, who make to little account of the Hebrew accents, as if they were fuperfluous niceties, but alfo to give force occafion for the revival of the controverfy, which many think was fufficiently wròught into adecifion by Chapel and Buxtorff.' [Signed BAi3THoLOivAuw LOFTUS.] Mean while there was no account thereof from London, as to the hate of the matter there. On Monday June 7. havingkept the houfe two weeks, to at- tend the new communicants coming to me in order to their aduaiffion, I rode out a mile, but with great pain in my knee. Being comeback the lengthof the glebe, much moved herewith, in refpeet of what might happen in being called to vilt the fick, I tried hanging my leg out of the ftirrup ; and riding fo with pretty much cafe, "I was encouraged again with refpeut to the event forefaid. I rode out again in the fame polture on the morrow ; and continued that way for force time after, as I had occafion. Thus I was become lame, the fcurvy having fallen down into my Wee, at the time above mentioned. And .I was put from kneeling ; -at prayer either ftanding upright, or proftat- ing myfelf on a bed. But now the pain I formerly had in my back, which came to me in the fpring, and towards the autumnal equinox, went off, and carne no more. But this feerned to ,have taken its place, the humour now landing in my knee, which formerly had annoyed my back. There had been a hay-ftack burnt, and about L. 4 Sterling ftolen from the owner of the flack, in Deephop, in the fpring ; but no finding out ofthe aótor or aótors of there wickedneffes; only there was one vehemently fufpeóted. Therefore on the Taft-day before the facrament, in my preface, I read to the con- gregation Deut. xxi. concerning the expiation of uncertain 3 D 2 b
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