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1. To JOHN TOLAND¹

Address: To Mr John Toland To the care of Mr Roberts² in Warwick lane London³

MS: BL Add. MS 4465, fols. 17–18; unpubl.

Edinburgh, 13 November 1718

Sir

I have read some of your performances, & I have all the reason in the world to think, that I may tell my Sentiments to you freely, & that if you differ from me, you will, for the sake of truth, give your self the trouble to shew me why you do so: and therefore I have fairly ventured to begin a corespondence with you, and I would perswade my self, that when we have exchanged some few letters, you will not incline to drop it.

Sir I am a Freethinker, and I glory in the character. Some people are pleased to say that I am no good Christian; and in good faith if these two characters are in the least incompatible, I shal very frankly yeild it to them that I am not. But if to prove all things & to hold fast that only which is good, be true Christianity; I am as orthodox as any man can pretend to be. I neither regard custom, nor fashion, authority nor power; truth & reason are the only things that determine me. And I can never believe that to be a fool, is the way to get into the favour of infinite wisdom; or that one must be stript of his reason, to be made meet for the society of pure & perfect spirits. Sir I don’t know how it comes about, that it hath always been cast in the Atheist’s teeth, that he hates the restraints of virtue, & would gladly take up with any hypotheses, to get rid of the fears of another world. Perhaps

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it may be so with some. For my part, I have no prejudice against the being of a God; nor do I think, the practice of virtue, can be any hardship upon those, that have a true taste of life; but the only difficulty, that I can see, about the immortality of the soul, arises from the principles of the Theists themselves. An eternal Series may go on to eternity; but if you stop at the one end, you must stop at the other too. To suppose a God at the top of an Infinite scheme, that sees all his designs at once, is in reality to suppose a thing finite & infinite at the same time. For that which is seen must be finite; so that if God sees all his works, his works must have an end. Infinite knowledge, or an Infinite scheme perceived, is the most glaring contradiction imaginable. A succession of things may be vastly long, but end it must if it be perceived.

And in truth, Sir, the notion of God seeing all his works at one wiew, affords us no very extroardinary Idea of the divine blessedness. To be always fixed to the same Ideas, is a happiness, that I don’t envy even the Godhead it self. Let the wiews of the Deity be as large & wide as you will: I like much better to skip merrily from one thing to another at my pleasure. To have always just & true notions, is very desirable, but to be eternally humming over the same story, or to have always the same objects before one’s eyes, is the dullest entertainment under the heavens.

I have a great deal more to say to you, Good Sir, about the principles of religion, if you incline to keep up the corespondence, but this is enough at once. I long very much to know what you mean by your immortal government.⁴

I am Sir

with the greatest respect

and sincerest friendship

your most humble servant

Philocles⁵

PS. Please to direct for me. To Mr Ebednezar Shovel at Edinburgh⁶

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2. To [VISCOUNT MOLESWORTH]⁷

MS: NLI, Microfilm n. 4082, p. 3753⁸

Tinninghame East Lothian, 3 August 1722

My Lord

I have long admired your steady & firm adherence to Liberty & the interests of your country, & in my heart blessed you and all your Generous Designs. But when the E. of Shaftsbury’s Letters to you, that have been lately published,⁹ came to my hands, Pardon me, My Lord, if it was then my Esteem rose highest, and my breast began to glow with the Warmest affection towards your merit. Good and Honest surely must he be who was the Friend and Trustee of the truly Good and Upright Shaftsbury.¹⁰ And worthy indeed hath your Lordship’s conduct always been of so noble a Friendship.

I have, My Lord, studied with great care the works of that Excellent man, & must own I never received so much real benefit from any Uninspired writings; so incomparably perfect is the composure of all his peices, & so divine the Energy with which these form the genuine principles of Virtue & goodness, and a true relish of beauty & Truth of every sort in the mind of a well disposed Reader. And I have now conceived so just a veneration for his memory, that there is nothing can give me more pleasure than to hear of him & his Friends, and particularly of his worthy Lady and promising Son.¹¹ I have often, My Lord, regretted that none of his Friends have

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given the world an account of his Life. Sure I am it would not be an Idle tale; but a profitable history. The progress of his studies & improvements, and the Steps by which his Lordship, inter scabiem tantam et contagia Lucri,¹² arrived to such a surprising height of Virtue & so polite a taste in all usefull science, must undoubtedly be very curious & worthy of observation, and the account of ’em very Entertaining & instructive.

May I presume, My Lord, to Enquire of your Lordship how a copy of the Letter he wrote to an English Lord with his peice upon the judgement of Hercules which I am informed was only printed with thirty copies of his works, may be procured?¹³ Or if there is any thing else of his that I can have access to see. I have no news to write from this place that can be so agreable to your Lordship as that even in this narrow bigotted country there are severall of my acquaintance who are sincere Lovers of Truth & Liberty. I am heartily Sorry, My Lord, that there should be any dispute about your election & am heartily concerned with several others here about the final event.¹⁴ My Lord I am setled a Professor of Philosophy in the new College of Aberdeen;¹⁵ & hope now to have Leisure to apply my self to the Study of the Antients, the Study to which my humor & Genius leads me; And in my publick Profession shal always make it my business to promote the interests of Liberty & Vertue & to reform the taste of the Young Generation. But oh! My Lord, Education in this country is upon a miserable footing; And why should I say in this country, for is it not almost Every

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where? And must it not be so while Philosophy is a Traffick, and Science is retailed for a peice of bread?

If your Lordship should do me the honour of a Letter I must put you to the trouble of enclosing it under a cover to Mr George Young Chirurgeon at Doctor Pitcairn’s head Edinburgh;¹⁶ for I shal for some time be very litle in one place; and he is a very honest worthy Friend of mine, to whom I committ my affairs at Edinburgh in my absence.

I am with the sincerest respect

My Lord

your Lordships

most humble and

devoted servant

Geo: Turnbull

P.S. When I was just going to put up this Epistle a Friend of mine came upon me, who would needs have me to present his humble respects to your Lordship & most hearty wishes for your prosperity & the success of all your noble designs.¹⁷ He is a Gentleman of a very fine taste a truly Worthy Honest Fellow. ’Tis to him I in a great measure owe my acquaintance with the E. of Shaftsbury’s works; and there is none perhaps who has studied these Excellent writings more, or understands them better. He was Educated by his Presbyterian Friends for the Sacred Function & ’Een commenced Preacher before he came to his present free State of mind & just notion of Religion & Vertue. But is now a very sincere promoter of Liberty & true Vertue by his sermons & otherwise. And indeed he is very well fitted to do service here in the honest cause being wise as well.

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3. To VISCOUNT MOLESWORTH

Address: To The Right Honourable my Lord Molesworth. To the care of

Mr Valentine¹⁸ Bookseller at the Queen’s head in Fleet Street London

MS: NLI, Microfilm n. 4082, p. 3753¹⁹

Settled now at Aberdeen, 5 November 1722

My Lord

Upon the reading your most good & condescending Letter (which I received much sooner than I was flattering my self as earnestly as I longed for it) methought I felt all that was Good & Honest in me redoubled. Every line is so full of the true Philosopher the worthy Honest man. The applause of the truly Good & Upright is indeed a strong & powerfull incentive to those who are but just Entred upon the paths of virtue: And it was truly generous in your Lordship weel knowing the charm to Encourage so Liberaly my honest inclinations. You my Lord who have always been acting the noblest part any Mortal can be Engaged in upon this earthly Stage, when you are wrestling for liberty & your country, does not the presence & applause of your friends & weel-wishers to your cause add something to your Zeal & Courage? Or is that divine pitch of honest boldnes & that overpowring force of Publick affection which you discover in your publick actings no more than what you can easily command at any time or in any cool & solitary hour. This indeed were more great & Godlike. But the most Elevated Virtue among mankind, I think, reaches not so high. For my own part (My Lord) I act in a much Lower orbit, and my Strugles are not to be compared with these your Lordship hath undergone in pursuing your far greater & nobler undertaking. But I should never be able to maintain my Virtue in the warmth & Vigour that is necessary to bear one up under the Difficulties that Lie Even in my way; Did I not frequently Endeavour by Strength of Fancy to supply the want of a real presence & applause. And thus (My Lord) have I at Last presumed to address my self to your Lordship, with whose imagined presence, I have long been very familiar, that by (A

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Macte Virtute)²⁰ A real approbation & good wish from one so far advanced in the ways of honour & Merit, (a condescension I weel knew your uncommon Generosity would readily comply withall as soon as the weightier matters you are Ever employed about should permit you) I might obtain the most Effectual motive I could in my imagination devise to animate & Enliven my faint & Languid Vertue and to give new life & vigour to all my honest purposes & resolutions.

That your Lordship after the toil of many years Employed in fighting with vice & Tyranny, now when your constitution is become crazy & inhabile & your days are fast hastening to the natural period instead of Ease & retirement can yet think with pleasure of Strugling for the Public weal & the same Glorious cause of Liberty, is indeed a proof of the Strongest & most Indefatigable Virtue & the Sincerest affection to your country. But oh my Lord how it moves me to the heart! And how afflicting should it indeed be to all the Friends of Liberty, that means have been found by mercenary avaricious men, Enemies surely to the common interest & all that is Good & Honest to debar such an old Experienced approven Patriot from all access to serve his country in a legal way; Spirit worn out in his country’s service & yet willing to Sacrifice the remnants of old age & a crazy body to her interests, the Cato of our time & nation.²¹ Indeed in these degenerate times the truly honest Patriot who resolves to act faithfully, & to continue to his country’s interest is likely to have a very hard fighting task: But tho’ Vertue hath seldom been triumphant, the Strugle is glorious & a few honest Champions against Slavery & arbitrary power have always been of great use at least to moderate matters & keep the measures of Wicked men a little more tolerable than otherwise they might have been.

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But if our few faithfull honest men are shut out from all capacity of Exerting themselves in a legal way what shal become of us.

But I must contain myself.

The learned youth of the University of Glascow (with some of whom I have the honour to be acquainted) have indeed given proofs of a free & generous spirit which deserve to be commended. And I am sure they have a very gratefull sense of the Encouragment you have been pleased to give them.²² Would to heaven (My Lord) I could say our college were as yet in any respect upon a better footing than her sisters. Sure I am I should reckon my Self a happy man if I can contribute any thing in my capacity to promote the interests of liberty truth & the love of mankind. ’Tis indeed on the Education of the youth that the Foundation stones of Publick Liberty must be layed. But oh (my Lord) when shal a Formal dogmatical spirit which hath brought true Philosophy & usefull Scholarship into such contempt be seperated from the gown; And our Academies become realy good & Wholesome Nurseries to the Publicke. O when shall all that Idle Pedantick Stuff which is now alass the most innocent cargoe our youth can carry with them from our Universities be banished; And that Philosophy which once governed States & Societies & produced Heroes & Patriots take place in its room. And for this effect when shal the Sprightly arts & Sciences, which are so Essential in the formation of a gentiel & liberal Caracter be again reunited with Philosophy from which by a fatal Error they have been so long severed! But what do I talk of? All this surely is meer Romance & Enthusiasm. For how can it be so while our Colleges are under the Inspection of proud domineering pedantic Priests whose interest it is to train up the youth in a profound veneration to their Senseless metaphysical Creeds & Catechisms, which for this purpose they are daily inured to defend against all Doubters & Enquirers with the greatest bitte<r>ness & contempt, in a stiff formal bewildering manner admirably fitted indeed to Enslave young understandings betimes and to beget an early antipathy against all Free thought. My lord I have read with great pleasure several late

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performances of a truly noble & generous Spirit, particularly the Independent Whig & the letters subscribed Cato, & with my soul wish weel to the worthy undertakers.²³ No doubt they are known to your Lordship & they are certainly men of a fine turn, throughly good & honest Lovers of mankind. I admire that noble warmth of honest Enthusiasm which give such uncommon life & vivacity to these Excellent papers: And yet more that comprehensive knowledge of mankind by which it is influenced & supported. For indeed it is in the histories of mankind that the value of liberty is best learned, as weel as the ways by which it has been lost & preserved: And this brings it to my mind to ask your Lordship if there is any translation in any of the more known languages of the Laws of Denmark, for I have a great inclination to see these laws which are so weel spoken of in that most judicious account of Denmark published in 1692.²⁴ How weel pleased should I be that there were such accounts of all the other States in Europe that by that means I might supply the want of travel with the hopes of which I fear I must not flatter myself.

My Lord I cannot read what you say of your age & constitution without the most passionate Emotions. May heaven be so kind to mankind as to prolong your days. But to your self I must believe your age is noway uneasy. For Cato like you have the vertuous labours of a weel spent life & Philosophy the never failing refuge of a learned Honest man, to solace you in these days which appear only Evil to a youthfull taste. And that Philosophy which hath made you so compleatly good & Vertuous must undoubtedly have Enabled you long agoe to Despise Death that Head Gobling & all its terrors. Your body (my Lord) may be frail & decaying apace But your virtue is still lively & vigorous & this methinks presages it shal never die, but when

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its present crazy habitation fails Exchange it for another more suited to its perfection & Excellence. The Great motive, your lordship knows, which perswaded the wisest antients to the belief of a future state unrevealed to them was purely the love of virtue in the persons of these great men the Founders and Preservers of Society. And indeed even amidst all the Light the Christian revelation affords concerning futurity there is something in this argument peculiarly satisfying to good & virtous minds. For surely if Wisdom & Goodness be chief & predominant in nature whatever difficulties & hardships may be necessary to form as weel as prove a true & genuine virtue; yet after Virtue has strugled thro’ much opposition & by suffering arrived to perfection, it cannot continue any longer to be suppressed & born down; But must at last triumph over all opposition and be placed in such circumstances as it may Exert all its benignity & goodness & act like it self. But it is now high time to beg pardon for detaining your Lordship so long and giving too loose reins to an Impulse for which I have nothing to say but that it is truly honest. And indeed it had got vent much sooner had I not been obliged to a continual wandering since I received yours. I am my Lord with the sinc<e>rest respect your most obliged humble servant.

Geo: Turnbull.

4. To VISCOUNT MOLESWORTH

Address: To The Right Honourable The Lord Molesworth at Breckdenston

near Dublin

MS: NLI, Microfilm n. 4082, p. 3753²⁵

Edinburgh, 14 May 1723

My Lord

I am unwilling to trouble your Lordship too often; But now I Long exceedingly to know how you are & in what state of health.

I thank your Lordship mos<t> heartily for your most acceptable & obliging complement & there is nothing indeed of that kind I would be prouder

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of than to have your works in my Library Ex dono the worthy Author. If you please therefore to transmit the peices you mention to Glascow directed to the care of Mr James Arbuckle Student of Divinity he will forward them to me.²⁶

I have seen Mr Collins’ treatise on Free-thinking some years agoe & another peice of the same Author’s (as it is commonly said) upon liberty & necessity; & I should be glad to know if he is still alive & what is become of him.²⁷ Toland who was said to have been of his Club I know is gone.²⁸ I beg Leave to tell your lordship that I wrote a small treatise about four years agoe upon the Religion of the State which had it not been for the timidity of Printers had seen the light long since.²⁹ The design of it was to shew that a fair & impartial excercise of reason was the best & worthiest part an understanding creature could act in matters of thought or faith & that no rational society could have any common interest in matters of that sort but the common defence of this common & noblest priviledge of rational beings. I Endeavour to shew that the interest of true religion only requires that the Publick Magistrates & Guardians should protect all the members of the societies under their care & tutorship equally in the easy & quiet use of the thinking & reasoning Liberty: And that all other publick medling in religion must be prejudicial to religion trade learning politeness & in fine to all the common right & interests of mankind whether Civil or Spirituall. But now My Lord tho I be as sincere & hearty a lover of free-thinking as ever, I begin to doubt a litle whether upon an impartiall balance of all the

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interests & advantages of Society some Established worship & mode of religion & publick order of Priests or Teachers would not be found absolutely necessary if not for the upholding of society, at least for the right management of it.³⁰ The decision of this question depends upon a thorough knowledge of mankind & a judicious observation of the ways by which they have been governed in different ages & circumstances. And I should be glad to have your Lordship’s sentiments upon that head weel knowing your own deep insight into human affairs & that your notions of government & politicks are founded upon solid history & observation. In the mean time I can’t but think it very plain from history that some orders of Priesthood have been very pernicious to Society & that most that ever were might have been under regulations much more advantageous to true religion & Virtue & all the learned & polite arts.

What you tell me my lord of the breaking up of my last surprised me not a litle; But it was a sincere esteem of your Lordship’s uncommon love to truth liberty & virtue that alone induced me to hasten so forwardly in to your friendship & this I am proud to own in the face of all the flatterers of Arbitrary power that I have more real pleasure in the virt<u>ous correspondence in which you are pleased to allow me than in all the gawdry pomp & honours of their most caressed minions I am my Lord with the sincerest respect your

Lordships most obliged

humble servant

Geo: Turnbull

PS. I do not know my lord if I should venture upon so short & distant an acquaintance with your lordship to desire of you to recommend me, if it fall in your way, to go abroad governour to a young gentleman, for that to be sure is what one of your wisdom & honesty will not do rashly; But so impatient is my desire of an opportunity of that sort for my own improvement; & so satisfied am I at the same time that my natural turn fits me for a trust of that kind more than any other that I shal presume to tell your lordship that it would be the greatest favour you could do me & that I am far from proposing your lordship should do any thing of that kind without using any methods you think proper for knowing more of my sufficiency for that business.

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5. To CHARLES MACKIE³¹

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History in the university

of Edinburgh

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

London, 3 September 1725

Dear Sir

We are just going to Leave this place; & having as yet received no account of Mr Duncan’s³² inclinations I cannot write any formal commission of Substitution & Factorship³³ But shal do it as soon as I know the person you agree with. And I do by this give you full & ample power to transact & bargain with him or any other person in my name to be my Substitute and Factor at Aberdeen to teach my class for me & uplift all the Emoluments & Salaries due to me at the term of Martimass next & thereafter till the bargain & transaction you shal make in my name be duly revocked and do by this missive to you oblidge my self to hold firm & stable any bargain or transaction you shal make with any person in my name and for the above mentioned effect as if done my self personaly; as also to give a formal commission of Factory and substitution to the person you shal agree with upon stampt paper as law requires as soon as you notify the particulars of the said bargain & transaction to me. And for you<r> trouble in this & many other favours shal always be Dear Sir your most oblidged

humble servant

George Turnbull

PS. I am realy anxious to have the affair of the Substitution fairly setled. I shal write to you as soon as we setle at Groninghen. mean time if there is occasion

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to write let letters be directed to the care of John Gordon Factor in Roterdam³⁴ Tell Mr Maclauran³⁵ that it has been impossible for me to get out to the country to wait on Jeriswood.³⁶

6. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History and Antiquities in the

University of Edinburgh North Britain

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

Groninghen, 20 October 1725

Dear Sir

Your friend Rossal³⁷ is very kind & oblidging; and I hope in a litle time I shal be acquainted with him. Mr Udney³⁸ & I wait upon his history colledge; which he has but jus<t> begun. Monsieur Cramant³⁹ is still here &

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was Exceedingly weel pleased to hear of your weelfare & desired to have his compliments returned to you. I believe I shal pass this winter pretty pleasantly But by what I can see yet I should not care to be here another. I wrote to Mr Duncan lately my mind about my affair at Aberdeen I should be much oblidged to him if he could think of it; & I leave the terms Entirely to you. But what are our folks inclinations at Aberdeen I know not. I am afraid the folks I thought would be easiest may be most uneasy. For I have wrote twice or thrice both to Dr Mackail⁴⁰ and Mr Varner⁴¹ & have had no answer If they will make me uneasy I cannot help it: But this winter I neither will nor can come home.⁴² Let them do what they please. And indeed I wish heartily I may be so lucky as to have no more to do with that place. But I know I need not put you in mind how much I want to be delivered from Aberdeen; & how much I wish something better would cast up. I should be glad to know if you have made any steps in the Glascow project⁴³ & what you think of it But I must either finish this letter now without saying any more or lose this post for I am called to the other Room to attend Mr Barbeyrac⁴⁴ who is come to honour us with a visit. I suppose Mr Duncan has given you an account of his colledges.⁴⁵ I realy like his

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colledge on the Institutes⁴⁶ but he has given it over because he had not above five to wait on it. I am Dearest Sir

Your most obliged

humble servant

George Turnbull.

7. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History in the university

of Edinburgh

MS: EUL MS La. II. 91; unpubl.

Aberdeen, 23 January 1727

Dearest Sir

Tis indeed a dismal and affecting story that gives occasion to my troubling you at this time. Poor James Hadden’s melancholy death.⁴⁷ Now Dear Sir may I adventure to speak of my self to you for that profession & entreat your friendly asistance. I know by many proofs the sincerity of your kindness & friendship towards me. If it was possible to get me into that business I would be very happy: And I can’t think considering how litle there is to do in such a profession but I might turn my studies so as in time to be able to do tolerably in it. I never thought such a profession should be a sine cure; nor was I in such a one would I incline to make it so: But on the contrary apply my self to it with all vigour and application. Dear Sir I need not tell you more particularly what I would have you do for me<.> I write to Mr Maclauran at the same time: I cannot say but I am somewhat uneasy Mr Duff’s presentation is not yet come down.⁴⁸ But I am very sure that if in that or any thing that casts up it be proper to medle for me neither Mr

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Maclauran nor you will forget me. I had once some thoughts of writing to the Sollicitor⁴⁹ or my Lord Provost of Edinburgh.⁵⁰ But considering how litle I have the honour to be of their acquaintance I thought it better to refer all to you and Mr Maclauran. I am Dearest Sir

with the sincerest respect

your most

humble servant

George Turnbull

8. To CHARLES MACKIE

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

[Utrecht], 10 January 1730

Dear Sir,

I heartily wish you many happy returns of years. I was indeed Longing most impatiently to hear from you; But your friendship I could never suspect; nor would I fear the indolence you complain off did any opportunity offer of doing me or any friend a real service. Your letters will ever be most agreable to me when they bring me good accounts of your self & your’s; But this last indeed brought me news which gave me a very sensible uneasiness. Poor Trotter⁵¹ is he indeed taken from us! And must Mr Scot⁵² also die! How vain and uncertain is human life sed ita visum Superis!⁵³ I am glad however to hear my other friends are so weel; & that Mr Warrender⁵⁴

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is to come abroad with that young Lord: sure I am his Lordship is very lucky: And how earnestly must I wish who know & like Warrender so weel that he would come to this place & that it might be our mutual happiness to travel together. And indeed this is an exceeding good place for study. Mr Wauchope⁵⁵ who gives his kind service to you & with whom I am very happy gives great application & with Excellent success. But I need not trouble you with an account of the colleges he attends. Lord George Hay⁵⁶ who is just come here within these few days, I would gladly hope, will follow his good Example. He is recommended to my care in the most obliging manner by the Marquis;⁵⁷ & lodges in the same house with us. Allow me to give some account of my self<.> I attend the college of Mr Otto upon the Pandects & believe me it is an Excellent one.⁵⁸ I have likewise a privatissimum upon Grotius in conjunction with Mitchel,⁵⁹ who you may be sure remembers you most kindly, & My Lord Cornberry⁶⁰ with whom I have the honour to be very weel acquainted & who is indeed the most virtous wise young gentleman I ever knew & at the same time has a vast deal of Life & wit. No doubt you know Mr Otto’s Thesaurus juris is now finished & the price mounts every day.⁶¹ It is certainly a curious collection. Mr Cunninghame⁶² to whom Otto has been vastly obliged in making that

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collection says it has much dimi<ni>shed the value of a Law library he had gathered from all parts of the world with great care. And By the bye Cunninghame has been here severall days; he is a worthy good man but the most entetaea about his readings of Horace & Phaedrus.⁶³ I have been often with him & he with me; & I am sure I could divert you a litle if I durst; But all I dare say is that you will soon see another learned work of his in which he is to defend as warmly as ever he attacked a certain Learned Doctor at the Expence of a very Reverend prelate.⁶⁴ Mr Duker⁶⁵ whose Thucidides we will now have in three months gives Mr Wauchope a privatissimum upon Sueton.⁶⁶ He is realy as Good as he is learned & the last he has given unquestioned proofs of. He is likewise busy just now in giving the finishing stroke to some notes upon Livy upon his collegue Mr Drakenburg’s⁶⁷ account a book the world will likewise very soon see. You see then Dear Charles how I employ my time here. And tho I am Exceeding happy in Mr

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Wauchope & will never part with him upon any consideration while he has any use for me; yet you know sufficiently my inclinations do not give me to be a Wanderer: if therefore Will Scot happens to die (which I sincerly pray heaven may forbid) Could it possibly be brought about, the profession of the law of nature is much to my taste and I would willingly make a bargain with Mr Scot about it: The Greek Class is the most profitable & perhaps if other folks could be brought to consent to it he would not be averse to return to it upon certain terms.⁶⁸ And I have now three hundred pounds good. No doubt you sufficiently understand me & I would have you to talk with my good friend Mr Maclauran about it. To no other but you two will I ever write or speak of the matter. I can’t think but considering how long I have chiefly applied my self to that study & the opportunities I just now have of farder improving my self; it might be said I might be trusted with that profession. And in short what upon that melancholy event which it seems there is reason to dread I would have proposed to Mr Scot is that I should be made professor of the Law of nations & that he should return to the Greek but supply both till it please God to send me safe back with Mr Wauchope & have both salaries; & that upon my return I should enter upon the profession & the salary & pay him a reasonable consideration. If this appears to you Romantick & unpracticable it is only told to a friend with whom I can trust any thing & who I know would very gladly serve me. My kind respects to my good friend Mr Maclauran<.> I thank him for all his favours & particularly his goodness to my brothers. pray remember me to Mrs Macky⁶⁹ & to John Stevenson⁷⁰ & all our friends in the castle<.> pray let me hear from you now & then. I wish you would write

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to Doctor Mitchel⁷¹ who is now at Paris & send the letter to me that I may write along with it<.> I want to corespond with him for he can be of great use to me<.>

your’s

G. Turnbull

9. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: A Monsieur Charles Macky Professeur en Histoire a Edinburgh

par Londre

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

Paris, 23 October 1730

Dear Sir

I long now to hear from you & hope you’l give me that pleasure soon. We had a very agreable journey allong the Rhine; & were so agreably disapointed at the German courts we saw that we design to see more of them; in going to Italy we will pay a visit to the Court of Lorrain & so see Strasburg Munich perhaps Vienna & go thro the Tirroll. The Court at Brussels is vastly stupid; But Brussels is a delightfull place. To Enjoy the company at Spa & Aix la chappelle we deserted the Rhine came thro Treves a wretched country saw luxembourg a town I don’t know whether it may not at present be the strongest in the world: its mines are prodigious. At Spa we had very good company & at Aix no less so; for the prince of Orange was there: who Every body agrees, was his body as good as his spirit, would be a very Extraordinary young prince.⁷² We chose after that to go into Brabant & Flanders & from thence to come to Paris that we might see a litle of its magnificence

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before we take up our winter quarters which I suppose will be at Angiers if there are not too many English there. There are vast numbers here But I can give no account of any of em for we never go to the English coffeehouse but shun our country men as much as is possible. I only see Doctor Pringle⁷³ sometimes; a valuable acquaintance I assure you. Pray write to me & send me a copy of a letter in latin you have describing Winesene house;⁷⁴ you had it from Mr Anderson⁷⁵ But I have almost quite forgot where it is only I remember you read it to me & I must see the place & have the description. pray send it to me. & if in any thing I can serve I am sure you know you have nothing to do but to command. Forget not my compliments to your Lady Nor to any of my Friends: I need not name em. I never was in better health; & I am very easy every way: yet this travelling life with all the pleasures that attend it has its allay. Mitchel⁷⁶ is returned to Holland to study Law at the Corpus another winter But joins us in the beginning of summer some where or other. This is a place one would not soon weary of did not they spend so much time at cards & game so high: But on that account I believe it is impossible to get much into the grande monde here: And perhaps the loss is not great. There are fine things to be seen; & very good company of another taste to be found. I want much to hear from Mr Maclauran<.> I hope he will be so kind as to introduce me to some of his acquaintances.⁷⁷ I think to see the Chevalier Ramsay⁷⁸

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this afternoon; But what I’ll think of him I don’t know; his caracter is a meer proteus. But I want to be with all sorts of folks if I can. Prithee let me know if there are any changes among our friends since I heard from you last. None of my brothers ever write. I give my self here entirely to reading french authors. Sometimes however I steal a look of a Roman & sometimes of a Greek author I like to see the difference: speaking french with the volubility of a french man I’ll never attain; But I understand & am understood: and perhaps that is enough. I begun Italian last winter & that I am sure I’ll find an easier task to master even as to speaking. When I begin to write to you or any of my friends I find a pleasure I imagine my self with you & become tedious without saying any thing. it is time to take leave I am

Sir

Yours most sincerely

& affectionately

George Turnbull

10. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History at Edinburgh par Londre

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

Marseilles, 23 September 1731

My Dear Sir

It is now long since I had the pleasure of hearing from you: your colleges are now over & I may venture to trouble you. We are to go for Lions in a few days; & after some litle stay there to Geneve. We are four in company & have had hitherto a very pleasant journey. But to say the truth there is not much worth the while in this voyage: I did flatter my self with spending some time in Italy before seeing you But when friends press coming home & young Gentlemen have no very great taste for Antiquities the Governours would be in the wrong to press an Italian voyage & that is my case

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& that too of my brother Governour in company; one of the Best men & Best scholars I know Mr Markland of Cambridge who published the Epistola Critica to Dr Hare & after that Statius.⁷⁹ Will you forgive me my Dearest friend if I open my mind a litle to you & tell you that as the time of coming home draws near my cares increase. I can’t bear the thoughts of being out of business: travelling again or the care of some body at home is all I can project: and I wish I could be sure of some such good opportunity. I will be at home in time enough to go abroad again the next season for setting out. And I sometimes am thinking with my self who there is in our country that is worth the while: sometimes the Marquis of Clidsdale⁸⁰ comes in my head tho’ he be too young to travel: and the Marquis of Tweddale⁸¹ honoured me frequently while I was at Utrecht with very kind letters. Sometimes my Lord Eglinton⁸² comes into my head. Can you forgive all this foiblesse:⁸³ Or is there any in giving sin<c>ere vent to a sincere friend? If there is any occasion casts up may not I be mentioned tho’ I am not home since I am to be so soon. And if any thing does may I not Expect better terms than I have at present for in truth there is nothing to be gained by a hundred pound abroad if one does as must be done to be acceptable to company in france. But enough of this you understand me; & I am sure have me at heart. I fancy we may be in England next spring early. There are troubles & cares innumerable in the charge of a young Gentleman abroad was he ever so good & wise and I am lucky enough: But there are cares & troubles in Every Station of Life; & if nothing else offers a good

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opportunity of travelling again would give me joy because it would give me something to do. My humble service to your lady, to Mr Maclauran & all friends. pray tell Mr Maclauran that his treatise upon motion is much longed for abroad; & much wanted.⁸⁴ It is long since I said to several who are impatient to see it that it would be soon published: But I have forgot whether he designed it in English or in Latin: if in English I wish he would get it translated into french. I never write to any body a journal of my travels; all I have seen has been described again <and> again. The affair of the Jesuite & the Girl of which you have certainly heard is still in dependence before the Parliament of Aix; & is the only subject of conversation in these parts of the world. The Jesuites Exert all their force to get him innocented. But the populace are warm & zealous against them evrywhere.⁸⁵ I don’t know if ever you was in the south of France: for antiquities there is nothing remaining tolerably entire Except at Nismes.⁸⁶ The new part of this town is very beautifull. And Aix is the finest town I ever saw. But what is all this to the purpose Fareweel my Dear Sir and believe me with the sincerest respect & affection

your most humble servant

George Turnbull.

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11. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of history at Edinburgh

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

London, 13 May 1732

Dear Sir

I had your’s of the 23 of March Last night. I arrived here thursday evening <and> thought indeed to have been here two months agoe; but it is not easy to leave Paris. Your Long Long silence made me not a litle uneasy; But I could never call the sincerity of your friendship in question. Your concern in looking about for me in my absence is a new proof of it I will never forget; and no doubt you must wonder I have not wrote to you sooner about that proposal. But this is first post after my receiving your’s & after giving you a great many thanks for your kindly concern about me allow me to ask the favour of you to make my most humble compliments to that young Gentleman’s curators & to thank them for the honour they do me in offering me that charge which I can’t accept off being engaged already.

That is all that it is necessary to say to them but I must trouble you with more of my story; nor do I believe you will think it any trouble to know any thing that concerns me. I have had the good Luck to be very agreable to several English I met with abroad. My Lord Cornbury⁸⁷ whom I believe I have named in former letters to you is much my friend: has often assured me that there is no man he would sooner choose to oblidge than me (These are his own words) has begged me again and again to let him know if he could serve me. I have at last named something to him and I am sure of his readiness to do for me to the outmost He knows very weel my situation & that I don’t incline to travel with any charge if I could do better & diswades me from it. But if nothing casts up for me soon I design to accept

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of a very generous offer made me by one whom I like with all my heart to make the tour of Italy with him not as a governour for he is of age but as a comrade: He has no great fortune so I can Expect nothing by him but the pleasure of making that tour with him with litle or no Expence to my self. a twelvemoneth hence I am engaged If I can possibly to make the same tour with another English Gentleman of a very great fortune whose bounty & generosity & regard for me I have already had several proofs of & who proposed the thing to me in the most handsome manner & is able to reward me very Liberaly. Thus I am sure in a manner of passing two or three years more very agreably; and am not without hopes that before that time what I have in eye as my grand restor<a>nce for Life may suceed by my Good Lord Cornbury’s means. As for travelling with a young man & being answerable for his conduct the <trifle> of what I had from Mr Wauchope would not engage me to do it unless I was under an absolute necessity of doing it. I have been very happy with Mr Wauchope I have told him & do acquaint his friends this post that I cannot have the pleasure of going to Scotland with him. I told Colonel Stclair⁸⁸ of it today & I hope they will go to Scotland together. Mr Wauchope has behaved very weel abroad & I am glad to see that those who knew him formerly think I have done my duty to him not without sucess tho’ entre nous to have made the improvement as I could have wished, he ought to have been at least a year longer abroad and never to have seen the Gentleman who from a generous principle he brings home with him. This entre nous it was a delicate point to me to medle with. My kind service to Mr Maclauran if he yet remembers me. I am sure I will always love & esteem him. my humble service to your Lady & all friends & pray henceforth give me not the pain of fearing I have forfeited your friendship<.> I thank you for naming me to Dr Mitchel.⁸⁹ I will endeavour soon to have the pleasure of waiting upon him.

I am Dear Sir

with the sincerest respect

your most obliged humble servant

George Turnbull.

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12. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History in the university

of Edinburgh

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

London, 27 May 1732

My Dear Sir

Excuse this trouble for last time I wrote to you nay a few post<s> agoe when I wrote to Mr Maclauran I did not know that what I now desire would be of any use to me. Mr Hamilton⁹⁰ to whom I refer you will tell you what I propose. My service to all my Friends & acquaintances in your society.⁹¹ I make no doubt of their giving me a very favourable testimonial<.>⁹² you’l please to speak to them all in my name & assure them of my most humble respects from a sence of many obligations I lie under to almost all of them<.> And believe me my Dear Sir

Your’s affectionately

George Turnbull

I am to dine with Sir Richard Ellis⁹³ some day next week when I will have the pleasure to see your Friend.

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13. To CHARLES MACKIE

Address: To Mr Charles Macky Professor of History Edinburgh

MS: EUL, La. II. 91; unpubl.

London, 15 September 1733

Dear Sir

I Long prodigiously to hear from you and beg that favour soon: I know I had the last from you: But you’l Excuse me I have been in a very great hurry for some time. For Mr Maclauran I have wrote to him several times & asked very sensible favour’s such as I thought I might ask from so old an acquaintance But it seems I have offended him I know not how I heartily wish him weel but must it seems reckon no longer upon his assistance in any project, not so much as a favourable recommendation.

Dear Charles I trust in your friendship thoroughly and hope you will not forsake me.

You know my scheme; But tho’ I have friends it is difficult very difficult to succeed. And yet it was by Every bodie’s advice whom I could trust here I took the resolution: And indeed, that way of life would be very agreable to me. I would fain have a pupil in the mean time who was to be in England for some time & have been looking about: two have been proposed but nothing is yet done tho’ I would not be nice about the terms

This moment I was interrupted by a visit from Doctor Stewart⁹⁴ who came to make me proposals from the Marquis of Annandale’s⁹⁵ friends but that is to go abroad<.> they offer good terms And it gives me courage afresh to think I am sought after. If I go abroad I am resolved to go into orders first. And I am to go to Oxford soon to have the degree in Law ad eundem.⁹⁶

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This is by Mr Talbot’s advice who has wrote to Oxford about it long agoe.⁹⁷ This they think necessary in England. Some of my Lord Eglinton’s⁹⁸ friends here have spoke to me about him but they had no commission: they say he is to be Educated in England & that they would give good terms. I would rather stay in England as I have already said. Dear Sir I have wrote you a long letter about my self but it is a pleasure to give vent to a sincere friend. Was I with you I have a great deal to say But will write no more

My kind Compliments to Mrs Macky<.> As for what I have wrote in the beginning of my letter about Mr Maclauran I know you’l soften it: it would give me pleasure to know I had yet any share in his friendship. I heartily wish him joy & all of you a good session. I am my Dear Sir

Your’s most affectionately

George Turnbull.

I am just come to town have been in the country for six weeks.

14. To [ALEXANDER GORDON]⁹⁹

MS: BL, Add. MS 6190, fols. 56–57; unpubl.

London, 10 March 1737/38

Dear Sir

I had the honour of your kind Letter by which you acquaint me of the resolution of the committee of the Society of Learning with regard to my work.¹⁰⁰

[print edition page 33]

I reckon my self under the greatest obligations to the Honourable & worthy members of the committee for their very generous resolution to encourage my undertaking, in a private capacity. I should never have thought of carrying on my design by subscription, had I not been perswaded that the Society not having a fund for undertaking it, it was impossible to accomplish in any other way what had already cost me a very considerable Expence. I will take it as a very great favour to be allowed to wait on the committee from time to time in order to have their opinion of my work as it advances, Having nothing more at heart than to have it Ex<e>cuted to the satisfaction of such good judges & generous Encouragers of all the ingenious arts & Sciences.

At the next meeting of the Committee I will have the honour to wait on them & shew them several Specimens of the Engraving with which I flatter my self they will be very well pleased.¹⁰¹

I am very sensible from the obliging manner in which the Committee received my proposals and hath all along treated me, that the Encouragement of Learning for which the Society was formed, is entrusted with persons disposed to promote that noble design with the greatest zeal agreably to the Excellent rules of the Society. I beg leave to return my most sincere & hearty thanks to the Committee in general & to Every member of it in particular for all their favours and for their Last very generous resolution which you did me the favour to communicate to me. I am fully perswaded that very great advantages must redound to Learning from their Excellent management. Please to communicate this to the Committee and you will highly oblige Dear Sir

Your most obedient

humble servant

George Turnbull.

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15. To THOMAS BIRCH¹⁰²

Address: To The Reverend Mr. Thomas Birch Over Against

Mr. Bettenham’s¹⁰³ in St Johns Lane near St John’s Gate¹⁰⁴

MS: BL, Add. MS 4319, fols. 279–80; unpubl.

26 February 1738/39

Reverend Sir

Allow me to ask your friendly assistance in an affair that was proposed to me yesterday. Many candidates appearing for the Secretary-ship to the Society &c if Mr Gordon goes some of my friends chid me for not thinking of my self & got my consent to use their interest for me.¹⁰⁵ I can’t help thinking that a member has a better title to ask it than one who is not. You have a very universal acquaintance with the members; and are very justly esteemed by all who know you; and you are therefore able to do me very great service in this affair, and to Lay a very great obligation on

Reverend Sir

your very humble

and obedient Servant

George Turnbull.

Dear Sir¹⁰⁶

I would have waited on you with the above letter of my freind Mr Trumbulls: which I just received, but was affraid of your being abroad & therefor have sent

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it you knowing you’l have as great a regard to the desire of that Gentleman as if I had delivered it. I Asshure you it will be doing me a wery great favour if you can serve him in this point, & I am sensible it will be serving the Society & oblidging a worthy man. I am

Dear Sir

Your very humble Servant

And: Millar

Monday Afternoon

4 O’Clock

16. To THOMAS BIRCH

Address: To The Reverend Mr Thomas Birch

MS: BL, Add. MS 4319, fols. 281–85; unpubl.

7 April 1739

Reverend Sir

I know very well that you have a great deal to do; and I am very unwilling to take you off one moment from the useful way in which you are always employed; the more so that I am fully convinced of your extreme readiness to do good offices for any one you think has any degree of merit & your disposition to think favourably of Every one. But Kind Sir I must beg you to accomplish what you have begun. I have already found by the kind reception I have met with from Dr Sykes¹⁰⁷ that your recommendation hath the weight with him I was perswaded it must have with all who know you. I should be glad on several accounts to have the affair over;¹⁰⁸ I am a<n>xious to have it done; & my Friends daily press me more & more not to delay it. Yesterday the Doctor asked me if I continued in my resolution to which I answered I had always devoted my self to that Study & only repented my having delayed so long going into orders; and therefore I entreated

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him to speak to the Bishop¹⁰⁹ that it might be done as soon as possible; which he most obligingly undertook. But the Doctor leaves town after Easter & in that case I may happen to fall into an unknown Chaplain’s hands; whereas now after the conversations I have had with the Doctor & the obliging things he has been pleased to say I look upon my Examination as almost pass’d.¹¹⁰ I have no manner of title to ask the Bishop to appoint a day for me alone; yet I would gladly have private ordination & should be very proud to be known to the Bishop. I might I am sure press the Doctor himself. But tho’ I have seen a good deal of the world I believe I shal always continue timid in my own affairs. It is proper my name should be given in form to the Bishop; and I should be glad to know from you what testimonials are necessary.¹¹¹ I am very well known to Dr Freind & his son¹¹² who I think is one of the Bishop’s chaplains; But I am afraid they are not in town. I know very few other <C>lergymen beside your self Except some at Oxford & three or four in town<.> I have been confined to the house ever since I had the pleasure of seeing you by a severe Cough a disease quite new to me other wise I would have waited upon you instead of writing.

It is proper I should know in time whether a title is absolutely necessary or not that is whether the Bishop demands there should be one because in

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that case it is time to look about me in order to get one.¹¹³ I can’t help wishing you had more idle time on your hands for I am now about revising a work which has long lain by me called the Moral philosopher that I should be very glad to have your opinion about.¹¹⁴ The shortest wiew I can give you of the Design is this: “The phenomena in the material world are justly reckoned to be well Explained physicaly & moraly when they are reduced to good general laws: The phenomena therefore in the moral world that are reduced to good general laws are likewise well Explained physicaly & moraly. & I attempt to point out several good general laws to which many phenomena in the moral world are reducible” But in order to prepare my way I begin with showing how natural philosophy proceeds; and next that General laws in the moral world are so far from being inconsistent with liberty that the activity, power or dominion of created agents necessarily supposes the prevalence of general laws as far as it extends. I have set apart this summer for revising this work & reading what hath been published, that I have not yet seen, upon the subject. I must not forget to tell you that I think I have set a future state that is the arguments for it in a light somewhat uncommon. And I conclude with shewing that the doctrine of the gospel concerning God’s government of the world is Exactly agreable to reason & yet receives a new, a different Evidence from testimony. And by gathering together into proper Classes all the texts relative to a future state I have endeavoured to take off an objection made against Christianity as not giving us any satisfactory account of a future State tho it pretends to have brought life & immortality to light. I would fain hope that some time this summer you may find time to breath Harrow on the Hill air.¹¹⁵ I shal have a bed for a friend; and I should be overjoyed to have an opportunity

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of laying all this train of reasoning before you of which no one is a better judge. I am

Reverend Sir

with the sincerest respect

your most obedient

humble servant

George Turnbull.

17. To THOMAS BIRCH

Address: To The Reverend Mr Thomas Birch at

Rathmall’s Coffee-house¹¹⁶

MS: BL, Add. MS 4319, fols. 286–87; unpubl.

28 April 1739

Reverend Sir

I am just going out of town to take the air I shall be back on tuesday. It would be very convenient for me on many considerations if the Bishop¹¹⁷ could be prevailed upon to give me orders tomorrow se’night and priests orders the sunday after. If you could prevail upon Dr Sykes¹¹⁸ to urge it I will reckon it a very great obligation. Dr Hoadley¹¹⁹ has promised sunday next to take an opportunity of speaking of me to his Father.

I beg pardon for giving you all this trouble about me; But if <I> am troublesom blame your self you have engaged me to take all this freedom by your friendly obliging manner and I am with the sincerest respect your most obedient

humble servant

George Turnbull.

[print edition page 39]

18. To THOMAS BIRCH

Address: To The Reverend Mr Thomas Birch

MS: BL, Add. MS 4319, fol. 288; unpubl.

Friday Evening 18 May 1739

Dear Sir

Tho’ I have not had it in my power to go further than Rathmell’s coffee-house¹²⁰ to Enquire after you yet I am afraid you may be indisposed since you have not been there for some time. I want much to see you some time tomorrow where you please. I have a testimonial in my pocket¹²¹ which I would gladly have your name to<.> pray let me know where you will be tomorrow <at what> hour: if you chance not to be at home when this comes to your house I beg to see you tomorrow Evening at Rathmell’s.

I am Reverend Sir

your most obedient

humble servant

George Turnbull

19. To [THOMAS BIRCH]

MS: BL, Add. MS 4319, fol. 289; unpubl.

4 February 1739/40

Dear Sir

I know how busy you are and therefore that I can’t hope to have the pleasure of seeing you till I am able to wait on you. I hope that may be soon.

Mean time knowing your friendship I take the Liberty to send you some proposals. I hate to be idle, can not afford to live so; and would gladly be useful in some way. perhaps you may not know that it is but returning to

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my first business for five years in the university of Aberdeen. and since that time I became again a student in the same way at Groninghen and Utrecht. It is not amiss my friends who are so kind as to mention this scheme should tell it is not a new business to me.¹²² I persuade my self of your readiness to serve me on Every occasion. I have had proofs of it and wish I could be of any use to you.

I am Dear Sir

your most obedient

humble servant

George Turnbull

I thank you for introducing me at the coffee-house.¹²³ I Expected great pleasure by being often there; but almost ever since I have been very ill. I begin now to recover if <a> change of weather do not demolish me.

Pray Excuse the want of better paper.

20. To THOMAS BIRCH

Address: To The Reverend Mr Birch

MS: BL, Add. MS 4319, fols. 293–95; unpubl.

Kew,¹²⁴ 24 April 1741

Reverend Sir

I beg you would add to the many former instances of your friendship your interest to get Encouragement to this design. It hath been the Study

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of many years, & I think such a work is much wanted. may I hope to see you at Kew. It would be a great favour to one who tho’ I have but few pupils can’t come to town to Enjoy my friends. I am

Reverend Sir

your most obedient

humble Servant

George Turnbull

I send you 12 receipts from 157 to 168¹²⁵