has nor ever had more right than another to dictate, unless inspired.  St. Peter and St. Paul disagreed from the earliest time, and who can be sure which was in the right? and if one of the apostles was in the wrong, who may not be mistaken?  When you will tell me which was the orthodox, and which the heterodox apostle, I will allow that you know what orthodoxy is.(441) You and I are perhaps the two persons who agree the best with very different ways of thinking; and perhaps the reason is, that we have a mutual esteem for each other’s sincerity, and, from an experience of more than forty years, are persuaded that neither of us has any interested views.(442) For my own part, I confess honestly that I am far from having the same charity for those whom I suspect of mercenary views.  If Dr. Butler, when a private clergyman, wrote Whig pamphlets, and when Bishop of Oxford preaches Tory sermons, I should not tell him that he does not know what orthodoxy is, but I am convinced he does not care what it is.  The Duke of Rutland seems much more liberal than Butler or I, when he is so civil to you, though you voted against his brother.  I am not acquainted with his grace, but I respect his behaviour; he is above prejudices.

The story of poor Mr. Cotton(443) is shocking, whichever way it happened, but most probably it was accident.

I am ashamed at the price of my book, though not my fault; but I have so often been guilty myself of giving ridiculous prices for rarities, though of no intrinsic value, that I must not condemn the same folly in others.  Every thing tells me how silly I am!  I pretend to reason, and yet am a virtuoso!  Why should I presume that, at sixty-four, I am too wise to marry? and was you, who know so many of my weaknesses, in the wrong to suspect me of one more?  Oh! no, my good friend:  nor do I see any thing in your belief of it, but the kindness with which you wish me felicity on the occasion.  I heartily thank you for it, and am most cordially yours.

(441) On Lord Sandwich’s observing that he did not know the difference between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, Bishop Warburton is said to have replied, “Orthodoxy, my lord, is my doxy, and heterodoxy is another man’s doxy."-E.

(442) Cole, in a letter to ’Mr. Gough, of the 10th of August, says—­“Mr. Walpole and myself are as opposite in political matters as possible; yet we continue friends.  Your political and religious opinions possibly may be as dissimilar; yet I hope we shall all meet in a better world, and be happy."-E.

(443) A son of Sir John Cotton, who was accidentally killed whilst shooting in his father’s Woods.-E.

Letter 224 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, July 26, 1781. (PAGE 286)