Masonic Notes And Queries.

of his superiors hy the closeness of his application to study , and he took his Bachelor ' s degree with some reputation . With an elegant person ancl good address he distinguished himself in other ways . He was fond of company and dress , ancl in the refined language of one of his biographers—for Doddafter

at-, taining a sad celebrity , had several—he was a ' zealous votary of the -god of dancing , being in return distinguished by the favour of those fair priestesses who preside at his mysteries . ' At an early age Dodd began to Avrite , and in 1747 appeared his first Avorfe , a sort of mock pastoral . He was about twenty years

of age Avhen he hastily quitted the university , and repaired to London , where he begau a gay life , relying almost entirely on his pen for support . He became acquainted with a girl , beautiful , but much helow him in station ; and having married her , he showed the recklessness in money affairs whicli characterised his Avhole lifehy taking and furnishing a house in

War-, dour-sfcreet , Soho , a much better quarter in those days than now . This course drew on him the censure of his father , who hurried to town , aud forced him to give up his house .

"Dodd continued writing . In 1 . 49 appeared The African Prince in England to Zara , at his Father ' s ¦ Court , and Zara ' s answer , suggested by the visit to England of two African youths , who were made much of here . He also wrote , about this time , a mock heroic , A Lay of Vacation in College , and several other works , among them his Beauties of Shakspeare ,

the work by which he is best known ; which is reprinted doAvn to this clay , and which can boast of the honour of having been quoted by Schlcgel . Ho AA as ordained shortly before the publication of the last work in 1752 , ancl in the preface to it , he took leave in the following words of AA-hat Avas then known as ' polite letters : '—¦

"' For my own part , better and more important things henceforth demand my attention ; and I here , with no small pleasure , take leave of Shakspeare aud the critics . As this work was begun and finished

before I entered upon the sacred functions in -which I am now happily employed , let me trust this juvenile performance will prove no objection , since graver , and some very eminent members , of the Church have thought it no improper employ to comment , explain , and publish the works of their country ' s poets . ' " In the early years of devotion to his new profession

, the outward demeanour of Dodd is said to have been exemplary : he was active and zealous , and Avas rapidly attaining some reputation as a popular preacher . But in the Historical Memoirs , which were received at the time of their publication as undoubtedly authentic , he is stated to have heen the author of a workThe Sisters

, , published anonymously in 1754 , ' which gave no very favourable idea of the purity of his mind ; many of the scenes there described are painted with a warmth of imagination , ancl a luxuriance of colouring , which cannot but he dangerous to the young and susceptible . '

" Dodd had been active in promoting the establishment of the Magdalen Hospital , of which he was appointed the preacher in 175 S . Here is a description of his performances by a lively contemporary , no other than our invaluable friend Horace Walpole ; he dates January , 1760 : — "' As soon as we entered the chapel the organ

played , and the Magdalens sung a hymn in parts , — you cannot imagine IIOAV well . The chapel was dressed Avith orange and myrtle ; there wanted nothing hut a little incense to drive aAvay the devil or to invite him . Prayers then began ; Psalms and sermon ; the latter by a young clergymanone Doddwho contributed

, , to the Popish idea one had imbibed , by haranguing entirely in the French style , and very elegantly and tonehingly . He apostrophised the lost sheep , who sobbed and cried from their souls ; so did my Lady Hertford ancl Fanny Pelham ; till . I believe , the city dames took them for Jane Shores . The confessor then

turned to the audience , and addressed himself to his Eoyal Highness ( Prince Edward ) , whom he called most illustrious Prince , beseeching his protection . In short , it Avas a very pleasing performance , and I got the most illustrious to desire it might be printed . ' "Notwithstanding his fareAvelfto ' polite letters , '

Dodd hacl continued to publish . His numerous religious works did not prevent him from having a keen eye to temporal matters , or rather they were undertaken with strictly Avorlclly views . The grossest flattery to men Avho could serve was always ready , and Docld occasionally erred blaying- it on too thickly

y , as when on publishing an edition of Bishop Hall ' s Contemplations , he addressed to Miss Talbot , living in the family of Archbishop Seeker , so fulsome a dedication , with an eye to that dignitary , that the archbishop interfered , and insisted ou its withdrawal . But no flattery can be too gross for some menand Dodd

, did not ahvays miss his aim . On the appearance of a work by Dr . Squire , Dodd addressed to him a sonnet , with which the rising divine Avas so delighted , that on his appointment to the Bishopric of St . David ' s , Dodd become his chaplain . This piece ,

'rep lete , ' according to a critic , ' Avith imagery and classical ideas , ' may serve as a taste of Dodd's quality . " Sonnet occasioned by reading 'The Truth and Importance of Natural Religion , ' by S . Stjuire , D . D ., Dean of Bristol , fyc , afterwards Lord Bishop of St . David ' s . ' Methougbt I saw in a vision t'other morn , Celestial Reason in her azure vest ;

A star there was which blazed upon her breast , And placid sweetness did her brow adorn . Firm Judgment here , and gentle Candour stood , With meek-eyed Charity beside the queenj With many graces more , but chief was seen Instruction , hand in hand with Public Good . Attendant these on heavenly Reason came , And on reliious shrine an offering laid .

g I saw it straight her whole attention claim , Then what it was bow could I but inquire ? Instant with rapture , ' "Tis my son ' s , ' he said , ' The polished page of my judicious SQUIRE . ' "Dodd , moreover , egregiously flattered this prelate in the Public Ledger , in Avhich he wrote , and he was further requited by being madein 1763 a prebendary

, , of Brecon . " The Christian Magazine had been set on foot in 1760 , and to it Dodd largely contributed . Prom one of its numbers Ave extract a criticism on Dodd himself : — 'His style is at once elegant aud nervous ; neither careless nor yet affected ; sufficiently open and

diffuse for the pulpit , yet neither tedious nor redundant in the closet : in short , such a style as we would recommend to the imitation of those young divines who would desire to instruct without being tedious . ' The opinion of Dr . Johnson Avas scarcely so favourable ; being asked Avhether Dodd ' s sermons were not addressed to the passions , "They are nothing , sir , '