April 3, 1711, Swift visited Mrs. Barton at her
lodgings. On each of these occasions she regaled him with a good story,
which there is no need to repeat: there is no harm in either, and they are
far from being the most singular communications which he made to Stella;
but they go beyond what, even in that day, will be considered as the
probable conversation of a maiden lady of thirty-one, with a bachelor man
of the world of forty-three. But they by no means exceed what we know to be
the license then taken by married women; and Swift's tone with respect to
the stories, combined with his obvious respect for Mrs. Barton, may make
any one lean to the supposition that he believed himself to be talking to a
married woman.

The reserve of Swift puts us quite at fault as to the locality of Mrs.
Barton's _lodgings_. They may have been in Lord Halifax's house; but if
not, it requires some supposition to explain why they were not in that of
Newton, with whom she had lived, and with whom she certainly lived after
the death of Halifax. Perhaps, when farther research is made in such
directions as may be indicated by the only unreserved statement of the
existing case which has ever been printed, the conclusion I arrive at, as
to me the _most probable_, may either be reinforced, or another substituted
for it. Be this as it may, such points as I have discussed, relating to
such men as Newton, will not remain in abeyance for ever, let biographers
be as timid as they will.

A. DE MORGAN.

* * * * *

DR. PARR ON MILTON.

Amongst my autographs I find the inclosed letter frown Dr. Parr. It is
written upon a half-sheet of paper, and in a very cramp and illegible hand.
To whom it is addressed, or when written, I am unable to say. As it relates
to the opinions held by Milton, perhaps you may think it worth insertion in
your work, particularly as Milton has been the subject of some papers in
"N. & Q." lately.

W. M. F.

_Copy of Letter from Dr. Parr, without date or address._

Dear Sir,

I send you Johnson's _Life of Milton_. My former feelings again return
upon me, that Johnson did not mean to affirm that Milton prayed not
upon any occasion or in any manner; but that he was engaged in no
visible worship; that he prayed at no stated time; that he had not what
we may call any regular return of family or private devotion. Pray read
the sequel. That he lived without prayer can har