Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-12
From the .Nt7v Monthly Magazine
AMUSEMENT OF CLERGYMEN.


"Let virtue be your food, and amuse-
mont your sauce :" but a, cording to
some writers. every Kind of sauce
must be intcrGiCted to the clergy.
which puts me in mind of the condi-
ton of the domestic chaplain mention
cd in the Guardian, who was looked
upon as an intruder for stopping to
partake Of the more luxurious part OF
an entertainment. Calvin allowed
sports even upon the Lords Day !;
Alexander Newell, the exemplary
Dean of st. Paurs, was a devoted an
sler and Dr.. Doddrige contesses
his attachment to card playing. But
shall content myself at present with
producing a very curious letter on
this subject, written in answer to
some complaints against him, by that
jealous Cal,inist, the Reverend Au-
gustus Toplady, who was accustomed
to play at cards with Mr.. Quincy.
the short hand writer. This prac-
tice having attracted much notice,
and given offence to the more precise
professor. drew from Mr.. Topiady
the following justification. addressed
to the late Mr.. George Fowler, an
eminent stationer in the city.
Broodhsmbury, Non. IL, l77S.
Ferry Dear Sir,-Neyer apologize
to me, beseech you, for &ny religious
freedoms which You may be friend
ly enough toIake. Sithout pretend
ing to the apOstolical gift Of intuitiye
discernment, 1 know too much Of
your heart 10 be offended at such real
instances of your esteem. ] must
Dc a monster ofpride. were l capable
of reseTting an intimation which
brt atha sIch sincerity of regard, and
which you have the happy ait Of con
YeyinS with such delicacy Of polite
rrss Instead Of wishing you to in
: nit vour iabors Of love, | reques'
va To- reproye. t. rehuko, ard to'x.
hort me. RS in your opinion. occasion
NAV reguire. Some individuals 81
what . called the religious world. al,
so very pert and impcrtinent. that ]
have been obliged To treat them as I
would the utiCiousness Of wasps. and
give them a gentle flap to keep them
at THEN due distance. But without
nv shadow of compliment, I have so
great and just an idea of the valuable
friend to whom | am now writing,
tina, l am DESTROYS. moi to repel, but
to invite and Caress, his truly affec-
Tomato admOnitions. They even in,
duce me to love him the better, and
respect him the more nor can he
bind me to him by a!stronger tie.
AS You dear sir, have unbnsOmed
your thoughts, with such Transparent
cy and genuine faithfulness, | also in
return. will for once. consider you
as my fathers counsellor, q open any
whole mind to YOU, on the subject
we have in hand, without disguise
or reserve.
l. 1 do rot think that honest Mar
tin Lrther committed sin, by playing
backgammon, for an hour or two at
ter dinner. in order, by unbending
his nind, to promote digestion.
2. cannot blame the holy mar
tyr, Bishop Billy, for frequently
playing at tennis, before he became a
prelate nor for playing at the more
serious game Of chess, twice day Of
ter he was made bishop.
8. As little do | find fault with ano-
Their of our most exemplary martyrs,
the learned and devout Mr.. Archdea-
con Phiipot, who has left it on re
cord, as a brand on the Pelasians of
that age, h" that they looked on hon.
este pastyme as synnc," and had the
impudence to call him an Antinomian,
and a loose moralist, because he now
and then relaxed his brow with hun
tynge. shootynse, bowlynSe, and
such lyke."
4. Nor can I set down the pious
bishop Latimer for an enemy to holt
ness Of life, on account Of his saying
that hunting is good exercise for
men Of rank, and that shooting is as
lawful an amusement for persons Of
superior class.
s. have not whit the worse o.
pinion of the eminent aud profound
Mr.. Thomas Gataker, for the trea-
tise which he pr0feSsedly wrote Ia