The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Original Letter from the younger Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, upon his Death-bed, to the Reverend Doctor Warburton.

Dear Doctor,

Always looked upon you as a man of true virtue, and know you to be a person of sound understanding; for however I may have acted in opposition to the principles of religion, or the dictates of reason, I can honestly assure you, I had always the highest veneration for both. The world and I may now shake hands; for I dare affirm we are heartily weary of one another.

O Doctor, what a prodigal have I been of that most valuable of all possessions, Time! I have squandered it away with a profusion unparallelled; and now that the enjoyment of a few days would be worth a becatom of worlds, I cannot flatter myself with a prospect of half a dozen hours.

How despicable, my dear friend, is that man, who never prays to his God but in the time of distress! In what manner can we supplicate that omnipotent Being, in his affliction, with reverence, whom in the tide of his prosperity, he never remembered with dread?

Don't brand me with infidelity, my dear Doctor, when I tell you, I am almost ashamed to offer up my petitions at the throne of grace, or of imploring that divine mercy. in the next world, which I have so scandalously abused in this? Shall ingratitude to man be looked upon as the Blackest of crimes, and not ingratitude to God? Shall an insult offered to the King, be looked upon in the most offensive light, and yet no notice be taken of the King of Kings who is treated with indignity and disrespect!

The companions of my former libertinism would scarcely believe their eyes, were you to shew them this epistle. They would laugh at me as a dreaming enthusiast, or pity me as a timorous wretch, who was shocked at the appearance of futurity. But whoever laughs at me for my being right, or pities me for being sensible of my errors, is more entitled to my compassion than my resentment. A future state may very well strike terror into any man who has not acted well in this life: and he must have an uncommon share of courage indeed, who does not shrink at the presence of his Go

You see, my dear Doctor, the apprehension of death will bring the most profligate to a proper use of their understanding. To what a situation am I now reduced! Is this odious little but a suitable lodging for a prince? or is this anxiety of my mind becoming the characteristic of a Christian? From my rank and fortune, I might have expected affluence to wait upon my life: from my religion and understanding. peace to smile upon my end; instead of which I am afflicted with poverty, and haunted with remorse; despised by my country, and, I fear, forsaken by my God!

There is nothing so dangerous, my dear Doctor, as extraordinary abilities. I cannot be accused of vanity now, by being sensible I was once possessed of uncommon qualifications, more especially as I sincerely regret, that I was ever blessed with any at all. My rank in life made these accomplishments still more conspicuous: and, fascinated with the general applause which they procured, I never considered about the proper means by which they should be displayed; hence, to purchase a smile from a blockhead. I despised, have, I frequently treated the virtuous with disrespect; and profaned with the holy name of Heaven, to obtain a laugh from a parcel of fools, who were entitled to nothing but my contempt.

Your men of wit, my dear Doctor, generally look upon themselves as discharged from the duties of religion, and confine the doctrines of the gospel to people of meaner understanding; it is a sort of derogation. in their opinion, to comply with the rules of Christianity; and they reckon that man possessed of a narrow genius. who studies to be good. What a pity that this holy writings are not made the criterion of true judgment! or that any one should pass for a fine gentleman in this world, but he that seems solicitous about his happiness in the next!