Manuscript . Satirical Sermon on Drunkenness. Entitled "A remarkable Sermon on the word Malt, preached by the Rev. Mr Dodd in a hollow tree

Schoolmaster, poet (1754-1836) Two pages, folio, fold marks, other minor defects but complete and clear and mainly good condition. It is addressed to "W Evans Esq., / Baggage Warehouse" ina different hand from all other writing, and, also on the address panel "With R.V's compts". Above another hand has written "Mr Valpy writing". Text as follows: "The Revd Mr Dodd, a very worthy minister, who lives a few miles from Cambridge, had rendered himself obnoxious to many of the Cantabs by frequently preaching against Drunkenness, several of whom meeting him on a journey, determined to make him preach a Serman in a hollow tree, which was near the roadside, and they gave him the word Malt by way of Text. Finding remonstrance in vain, he thus delivered himself: - Beloved . . . I am a little man come at a Short notice, to preach a Short Sermon, from a small subject, in an unworthy pulpit, to a small congregation. Beloved my text is Malt. . . . I must of necessity divide it into letters . . . M, my beloved, is Moral - A is allegorical. L is liberal. T is theological. The moral is set forth to teach you Drunkards good manners: therefroe M masters A all of you: L listen; T to my Text. . . . The thing meant is the juice of Malt which you Cantabs make A, your Master; A, your Apparel; L your Liberty; T your Trust. The literal is according to the letter; M much; A ale; L letter; T trust- The Theological is according to the effects that it works - & these I find to be of two kinds - first, in this world; secondly in the world to come. The effects that it works in this world are in some M, murder; in others A, adultery; in all, L, looseness of life; & in some T, Treason . . . . . . Thirdly by way of caution- a drunkard is the annoyance of modesty, the spoil of civility, the brewer's agent , the alehouse benefactor, his wife's sorrow, his children's trouble, his own shame, his neighbour's shame, a walking swill-bowl, the picture of a beast, & the monster of a man . . . " Note: Perhaps the Rev. Dodd was the author of "Hints to Freshmen" (1798)?