Days with Sir Roger de Coverley | Page 2

clergyman rather of plain sense than much learning, of a
good aspect, a clear voice, a sociable temper, and, if possible, a man
that understood a little of backgammon. My friend, says Sir Roger,
found me out this gentleman, who, besides the endowments required of
him, is, they tell me, a good scholar, tho' he does not shew it. I have
given him the parsonage of the parish; and because I know his value,
have settled upon him a good annuity for life. If he outlives me, he
shall find that he was higher in my esteem than perhaps he thinks he is.
He has now been with me thirty years; and tho' he does not know I
have taken notice of it, has never in all that time asked anything of me
for himself, tho' he is every day soliciting me for some thing in behalf
of one or other of my tenants his parishioners. There has not been a
law-suit in the parish since he has liv'd among them. If any dispute
arises they apply themselves to him for the decision; if they do not
acquiesce in his judgment, which I think never happened above once or
twice at most, they appeal to me. At his first settling with me, I made
him a present of all the good sermons which have been printed in
English, and only begg'd of him that every Sunday he would pronounce
one of them in the pulpit. Accordingly, he has digested them into such

a series, that they follow one another naturally, and make a continued
system of practical divinity.
As Sir Roger was going on in his story, the gentleman we were talking
of came up to us; and upon the Knight's asking him who preached to
tomorrow (for it was Saturday night) told us, the Bishop of St. Asaph in
the morning, and Dr. South in the afternoon. He then shewed us his list
of preachers for the whole year, where I saw with a great deal of
pleasure Archbishop Tillotson, Bishop Saunderson, Dr. Barrow, Dr.
Calamy, with several living authors who have published discourses of
practical divinity. I no sooner saw this venerable man in the pulpit, but
I very much approved of my friend's insisting upon the qualifications of
a good aspect and a clear voice; for I was so charmed with the
gracefulness of his figure and delivery, as well as with the discourses
he pronounced, that I think I never passed any time more to my
satisfaction. A sermon repeated after this manner, is like the
composition of a poet in the mouth of a graceful actor.
I could heartily wish that more of our country-clergy would follow this
example; and instead of wasting their spirits in laborious compositions
of their own, would endeavour after a handsome elocution, and all
those other talents that are proper to enforce what has been penned by
greater masters. This would not only be more easy to themselves, but
more edifying to the people.

MR. WILL WIMBLE.
I was yesterday morning walking with Sir Roger before his house, a
country-fellow brought him a huge fish, which, he told him, Mr.
William Wimble had caught that very morning; and that he presented it,
with his service to him, and intended to come and dine with him. At the
same time he delivered a letter which my friend read to me as soon as
the messenger left him.
"Sir Roger,

"I desire you to accept of a jack, which is the best I have caught this
season. I intend to come and stay with you a week, and see how the
perch bite in the Black River. I observed with some concern, the last
time I saw you upon the bowling-green, that your whip wanted a lash to
it; I will bring half a dozen with me that I twisted last week, which I
hope will serve you all the time you are in the country. I have not been
out of the saddle for six days last past, having been at Eaton with Sir
John's eldest son. He takes to his learning hugely.
"I am, Sir, your humble servant,
"Will Wimble."
This extraordinary letter, and message that accompanied it, made me
very curious to know the character and quality of the gentleman who
sent them; which I found to be as follows. Will Wimble is younger
brother to a baronet, and descended of the ancient family of the
Wimbles. He is now between forty and fifty; but being bred to no
business and born to no estate, he generally lives with his elder brother
as superintendent of his game. He hunts a pack of dogs better than any
man in the country, and is very famous for finding out a hare. He