Complete works of samuel.., p.377
Complete Works of Samuel Butler, page 377
“Who is to be the new Dean of Norwich? Bishopgate is given to Lord Grey’s brother. I wish they would make you Dean of Norwich. I am very anxious to see you handsomely preferred. As for myself I have no claim, except it can be found in the character you have been so kind as to give me. Nor would I accept of any preferment unless I looked forward to sharing it with a helpmate. I should have enough to keep me and my angle, and might vagabondise to the end of my days; but the fates seem to decree otherwise — and I think for my happiness, could that one obstacle, res angusta domi, be obviated. It is quite ridiculous to read the number of congratulations sent me, first on Copley’s advancement, and now on Blomfield’s, as if my fortunes were secured, and myself in the high road to clerical appointments and independence.
“I have jogged on nearly half a century, and a much shorter time will set all these worldly matters at rest. If I am not to be a Benedict in this world, I hope I may be so in the next. God bless you!
“Ever yours affectionately and gratefully, “S. TILLBROOK.”
TO DR. BUTLER’S SON.
[August (?)! 1828.]
* * * * *
“We have had a great visitor to-day — the Duke of Sussex called and stayed two hours with me, though he said he could not stay a minute, and means to come at some future time and stay here, to your mother’s infinite delight. We have set on foot our subscription for the church at St. Mary’s, and started with £700.
“Your affectionate father, “S. BUTLER.”
FROM THE REV. S. TILLBROOK.
“October 22nd, 1828.
“MY DEAR ARCHDEACON, — Our learned Caput, with Dr. Wordsworth as chief dissentient, have just thrown out the grace for admitting Pearson to an ad eundem B.A. degree. This is hard and unjust, because no notice was given or grace passed previously subjecting Dublin to such contempt; besides, I take the thing to be illegal, and have very little doubt but that Pearson might compel us by mandamus to confer the ad eundem degree. No objection under similar circumstances was ever taken before.
“But it is no great matter, and Pearson, instead of being a B.A. of Peterhouse College, must be content to remain for the present a pensioner undergraduate. Dr. Hollingworth will allow him to attend his course of lectures, and you must do what you can with the Bishop of Hereford. I only returned to Peterhouse College on Friday last from Sussex, where I spent my time most agreeably. I went to Fulham to thank Bishop Blomfield for making me a Whitehall preacher. He was most kind, hospitable, and personally attentive to me. I staid three days, and was much pleased with the palace and grounds, which are contiguous to the river. We will go together some day and look at his larder and cellar, etc.
* * * * *
“Tom has just popped in, and looks very well. He did not, however, report so favourably of your health as I could have wished. Let me hear better tidings soon.
* * * *
“Very glad the grayling proved good.
“Ever yours, etc., “S. TILLBROOK.
“P.S. — It would be an act of kindness in Mrs. Butler if she would consider me one of her boys, and buy for me six pair of Welsh fleecy hosiery lambs’ wool stockings for the winter and forward them by coach.
“N.B. — Small foot, large calf!”
Almost on the same day Pearson wrote a very sensible letter to Dr. Butler, telling him what had passed between himself and Dr. Wordsworth. This immediately drew from Dr. Butler the following proposed circular, addressed to Mr. Tillbrook: —
“October 25th, 1828.
“In consequence of the extraordinary refusal of the Master of Trinity College to grant an ad eundem A.B. degree to a member of the University of Dublin, whose character is unimpeached, and who produced a regular certificate from that University, some members of the Senate, who consider such proceedings to be arbitrary and illegal, and who are of opinion that it would be extremely hard to tax an individual with the expense of obtaining redress for an act of oppression and indignity hitherto unknown in the University, have agreed to subscribe the under-mentioned sums towards applying to the Court of King’s Bench for a mandamus upon this occasion.
“S. BUTLER, D.D., ST. JOHN’S (£100).”
FROM THE REV. S. TILLBROOK.
“PETERHOUSE COLLEGE, October 27th, 1828.
“MY DEAR ARCHDEACON, — I never wish to fight under a better captain than you. I really believe that we could muster a good stout body of forces between us, for old Barnes always says that I am the best fellow that ever beat up for recruits under the keys of St. Peter. I must also do justice to this said veteran, who has been laying about the Caput most stoutly, and banging them into a sense of decency and justice. At the next congregation Dr. Davy, of Caius, Vice-Chancellor, will preside, and our Master has, I believe, overcome the scruples of Wordsworth. If at the next presentation of Pearson’s grace his admission ad ettndem be refused, it will then be time enough to take other steps; and if it be not refused, the sense of the Senate will be shown when Wordsworth’s threatened grace is offered.
“Besides, when Ds. Pearson is incorporated, we can cudgel Wordsworth without fearing his spite and malice. I would advise you therefore to wait patiently. If Pearson succeeds, you can write, if you like, a civil note to Dr. Davy, the ex-Vice-Chancellor, and you can, si placeat tibi, give Wordsworth a touch over the raw place with a little Salopian caustic. Pearson himself sent a very respectful and well-written statement of his case to Dr. Davy. Indeed, I have been much pleased with your old pupil’s conduct generally, though in this particular instance his appeal to the Vice-Chancellor should have been through the father of the College, whose peculiar office it is to attend to matters of degrees, etc.., etc.
“Do not let this matter annoy you. Believe me, the liberal feeling is all on our side. But as we can only ask, and not demand legally, we must not be too hasty. It is always at the option of the Caput to allow this privilege, though courtesy and custom have led some to conclude that it is a positive and legal right on the part of the Dublin B.A. The old tactic ‘Cunctandi’ will suit our purpose.
* * — * — * — *
“Thank Mrs. B. for taking care of my legs.
* * — * — * — *
“P.S. — I have kept quiet because I saw that I could strike hard by waiting a little in ambuscade. I never yet in my life had to fight Vice-Chancellors and Proctors that I did not ultimately utterly rout them and put them to shame. Ask Le Blanc; ask Dr. Proctor; ask half the boys who have been Proctors. Our old house flourishes; we have nearly thirty freshmen come up this term.”
From a letter from Pearson to Dr. Butler dated November 28th, 1828, it appears that on that day the Caput withdrew their opposition and admitted him to an ad eundem degree.
FROM THE REV. AUTHORITY NORMAN.
“BRAILSFORD, October 22nd, 1828.
“DEAR SIR, — I think it is due to you to state the alteration which has taken place in our Clerical Society, and led to the secession of the Revs. Hope, Gell, Wood, Swain, and a few others. Perhaps I had better speak plainly, and call them in modern language the Ultras of the High Church party. I hope. I do this without any offensive meaning, as describing a party who would not give up something of their opinions for the purpose of uniting with their opposed brethren. The consequence has been that the middle party, to which I belong, has become more united with the party generally termed the Evangelical party in the purposes of the society.
“Discussions on doctrinal subjects were forbidden, and this restriction seemed to give a character of dryness to our meetings, so much so that the younger members broke through the order, and introduced questions on forbidden subjects; and now there is no restraint except their own good sense over the discussion of the meeting.
“But I must say that great care has hitherto been taken to keep within the bounds of propriety. The last question was, The best means of establishing and maintaining the pastoral connection between the minister and his parishioners? — which led to many observations that must be useful to our body. But who can say that such discussions will be always conducted with prudence and decorum? I thought it right to inform you of this step, to afford you the means of judging of the future. For my part, I scarcely know how to proceed. So long as I can carry moderation with me I may do more good than evil in attending the meetings. But assuredly I will not lend myself to any extravagance. At the same time I fear I am too fond of seeing the picture of human nature which such a meeting exhibits; and this is something of an excuse for not having withdrawn myself, if I had not a better. But I do think that the two former of the gentlemen whom I have named should have consulted you before they retired, as by their secession they have assisted to change the character of the society, and leave you, the President of it, unconscious of that change.”
* * * * *
TO THE REV. A. NORMAN.
“SHREWSBURY, October 27th, 1828.
“DEAR SIR, — I thank you for your communication respecting the Clerical Society at Derby, from which you state several of our brethren to have withdrawn, in consequence of the admission of discussions on doctrinal points.
“I suppose they consider, as I do, that the society is dissolved by the alteration of its constitution in a most important and fundamental article, but at present I have not received any communication whatever on the subject except your letter.
“Be that as it may, I beg you to make known to the members of the present society, when you next meet, that, having originally disapproved and protested against the measure you state to be now introduced, I cannot consistently continue to have the honour of belonging to it.
* * * * *
“I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell. I have been a fellow-sufferer, and am still not in good health....
“Believe me to be with much regard, dear Sir, “Yours very faithfully, “S. BUTLER.”
FROM THE REV. J. WOOD
“SWANWICK, November 1st, 1828.
“MY DEAR SIR, — Your letter found me at Swanwick after my return out of Wales, where I have been passing my three months, and one of my first inquiries when I came back was, ‘ How are you going on with the Clerical Society?’ The answer, which did not surprise me, was, ‘ Your friends, So-and-so, have retired.’ And as I was satisfied something or other must have happened to occasion this secession, without giving myself time to think much about it I wrote a note to Norman, assigning no cause whatever, but requesting him to withdraw my name; for as I expected to go back very soon to my family (with the Bishop’s leave), I thought some queer new-fangled plans might be adopted, and I did not wish to have my name connected with a society of this sort, unless I knew precisely what their intentions and mode of proceedings were.
“I take shame to myself that I did not write to you before I withdrew my name — I certainly ought to have done so; but when we do things in the hurried manner in which I have been since my return, we sometimes forget things we ought not, and I trust you will forgive this unintentional omission of mine.
“With regard to the society being dissolved, I believe the matter stands as follows: — Mr. Hope fully intended to make a proposition of this sort, but he was overruled by Gell; for I understand there had been some hard raps on each side, and in some cases almost getting to personalities, and Gell said he was confident, if Hope had proposed the dissolution, it would have occasioned violent personal quarrels, and have exposed the nakedness of the land in such a public way that, for the sake of peace and quietness, and to avoid being made the laughing-stock of the dissenters, he persuaded Hope to withdraw quietly with the others. This is, I believe, the state of the case; but I speak only from what I hear. Your letter to Mr. Norman was put into the Derby office on Thursday. I saw Hope and Gell, and they both concurred in opinion about it.
“These very good folks certainly go great lengths, and many of them, begging their pardons, are very, very ignorant. What think you of W — of Pinxton refusing (a coroner’s warrant directing him) to bury a parishioner who hanged himself in a fit of insanity? The man’s friends got Pepper to go over and talk to him; but he had seen the man sane the day before, and he must have better authority before he would either read the service or suffer it to be read in his churchyard. Luckily Pepper, in again looking over the warrant, saw that the man had hanged himself in a field adjoining Pinxton, but in Normanton parish; so he sent immediately the warrant to Doveton, and got the poor fellow put under the sod about nine o’clock. This is sub rosâ.
“I think I have not written to you since my son was at the ordination at Lichfield. I think six or seven were sent to the right-about. I was a little afraid, expecting some questions might be asked which might not be answered satisfactorily; but he found Hodson very gentlemanly, and the Bishop kind, though I believe they did not perfectly agree in opinion on some points.”
TO A PARENT.
[About November 5th, 1828.] * * * * *
“The ordinary expenses of a young man who is prudent, and yet lives respectably as a pensioner, are about £300 per annum. This includes his private tutor, journeys, and all expenses. I do not think it can be done for less. It is the allowance I make my son, who I am sure is prudent and steady; he finds it sufficient, but not superfluous. Now if — were elected to one of our exhibitions at Magdalene College, he would still have £240 to provide. Under these circumstances I rather incline to recommend his being placed at Trinity College, Dublin, as a much less expensive mode of education. This, however, should depend upon his future destination.”
FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX.
(Published by permission of Her Majesty.)
[Between February 25th and 28th, 1829.]
“DEAR SIR, — Many thanks for your kind letter of the 23rd of this month, with its valuable information, to which I will attend. What is to be the result of the Duke of Wellington’s plans, with which I am acquainted, a few days will show. A more real and lasting service he cannot render his country, and I hope the grace will be conferred as generously as the conception is grand. The consolidation of the interests and the peace of a great empire is a greater service to a country than that of thousands of conquests by war. It is the triumph of justice and reason over bigotry and persecution. I look forward with pleasure to making you a longer visit on another occasion, when I trust we may congratulate each other on the success of events which must rejoice the heart of every honest man, of every sincere Christian, and of every true Briton. The game is not easy to play; for we must oppose calmness and reason to violence and misrepresentation; but as the former economises strength, and the latter wastes it, so we must tire out our antagonists. Poor, dear Drury! I wish he may succeed; it would be a shame and injustice if he does not. He is a deserving, excellent man.
* * * * *
“I was very sorry not to see you when in town. Pray believe me, with great sincerity, “Yours, etc., “AUGUSTUS FREDERICK.”
* * * * *
TO H.R.H. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX.
[ A bout March 1st, 1829.]
“May I be allowed to address a few more lines to your Royal Highness, both to express my gratitude for your condescension in so kindly replying to my last, and to make an observation on the point which I now find to be the clamour of the anti-Catholics in this neighbourhood?
“They say Mr. Peel has offered no security; and if I were speaking to them as between friends, I should be inclined to concede this in a considerable degree, though not perhaps entirely. But were I to declare my opinion in an assembly of statesmen, I would say that neither Mr. Peel’s securities nor all the securities that any parliament can give will equal those that are to be found out of parliament. Parliamentary securities are but the securities of certain enactments which the next parliament may change; but the real security is to be found in the Protestant feelings of the people, and if this security did not exist all others would be perfectly worthless, while if it does exist all others are unnecessary. Now the sense of the people of England as regards the Catholic religion is decided; their petitions against the admission of Catholics to political power speak to their faith, and every man who puts his name to one of those petitions does so far offer guarantees against the introduction of the Catholic religion; from that point of view his petition against their being granted political power is not without its use, even though it tends to defeat one of his own arguments. I cannot find many here who understand this sort of reasoning, but I conceive it is intelligible to thinking men. I have not broached them here, nor shall I, for I hate to waste words to no effect.”
FROM DR. BURTON, REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY AT OXFORD.
“March 21st, 1829.
“MY DEAR SIR, — Having been employed in examining the candidates for Dean Ireland’s Scholarship, I have great pleasure in sending you word that we have elected another of your pupils, C. W. Borrett, of Magdalen College. We were quite unanimous in giving him the preference, though the respective excellence of different candidates in different exercises made it more than usually difficult to decide. Johnson of Wadham has not, I should think, made so much advance since last year as might have been expected. Payne of Balliol has showed himself a very good Greek scholar; and if he will work as hard in his Latin, he will have a good chance next year. You need not take the trouble to acknowledge this letter, unless you should wish for more particulars, which I shall be happy to send you.
