and greatest Excellencies of any who have studied to mix Art and
Nature in their Compositions, _&c_." He hath however thought fit to
adorn the Subject of Antiquities with the Beauties of his Stile,
without any Force upon Nature, or the being obliged to forsake her
easy and unconstrain'd Method of applying proper Expressions to proper
Thoughts. The _Bishop_ of St. _Asaph_ hath shewn his Skill in
Antiquities, by more Instances than one; yet do I not find, that even
in the Opinion of this Gentleman, it hath spoil'd his Stile. I shall
add to these the late and present _Bishops_ of _Worcester_, the
former, Dr. _Stillingfleet_, is allow'd by all to have been one of
the most learned Men and greatest Antiquaries of his Age; and for the
present Bishop, who is also a learned Antiquary, take the Character
which is given of his Skill and Exactness in the _English_ Tongue from
[F]_Bishop Wilkins_;

I must acknowledge my self obliged, saith he, to the continual
Assistance I have had from my most learned and worthy Friend, Dr.
_William Lloyd_, than whom (so far as I am able to judge) this
Nation could not have afforded a fitter Person, either for that
great Industry, or accurate Judgment, both in _Philological_, and
_Philosophical_ Matters, required to such a Work. And particularly,
I must wholly ascribe to him that tedious and difficult Task, of
suiting the Tables to the _Dictionary_, and the drawing up of the
_Dictionary_ itself, which, upon trial, I doubt not, will be found
to be the most perfect, that was ever yet made for the _English
Tongue_.

I will only farther beg leave to mention, the _Bishop_ of_ Carlisle_,
_Your Self_, and Dr. _Gibson_, who for good Spirit, masterly Judgment,
and all the Ornaments of Stile, in the several ways of Writing, may be