CHRIST'S HOSPITAL FIVE AND THIRTY YEARS AGO

INMr.Lambs"Works,"publishedayearortwosince,Ifindamagnificenteulogyonmyoldschool*,suchasitwas,ornowappearstohimtohavebeen,betweenthe1782and1789.Ithappens,veryoddly,thatmyownstandingatChristswasnearlycorrespondingwithhis;and,withallgratitudetohimforhisenthusiasmforthecloisters,Ithinkhehascontrivedtobringtogetherwhatevercanbesaidinpraiseofthem,droppingalltheothersideoftheargumentmostingeniously.

[Footnote]"RecollectionsOfChristsHospital"

IrememberL.atschool;andcanwellrecollectthathehadsomepeculiaradvantages,whichIandothersofhisschoolfellowshadnot.Hisfriendslivedintown,andwerenearathand;andhehadtheprivilegeofgoingtoseethem,almostasoftenashewished,throughsomeinvidiousdistinctionwhichwasdeniedtous.Thepresentworthysub-treasurertotheInnerTemplecanexplainhowthathappened.Hehadhisteaandhotrollsinamorning,whilewewerebatteninguponourquarterofapennyloaf——ourcrugmoistenedwithattenuatedsmallbeer,inwoodenpiggins,smackingofthepitchedleathernjackitwaspouredfrom.OurMondaysmilkporritch,blueandtasteless,andthepeasesoupofSaturday,coarseandchoking,wereenrichedforhimwithasliceof"extra-ordinarybreadandbutter,"fromthehot-loafoftheTemple.TheWednesdaysmessofmillet,somewhatlessrepugnant——(wehadthreebanyantofourmeatdaysintheweek)wasendearedtohispalatewithalumpofdouble-refined,andasmackofginger(tomakeitgodownthemoreglibly)orthefragrantcinnamon.Inlieuofourhalf-pickledSundays,orquitefreshboiledbeefonThursdays(strongascaroequina),withdetestablemarigoldsfloatinginthepailtopoisonthebroth——ourscantymuttoncragsonFridays——andrathermoresavoury,butgrudging,portionsofthesameflesh,rotten-roastedorrare,ontheTuesdays(theonlydishwhichexcitedourappetites,anddisappointedourstomachs,inalmostequalproportion——hehadhishotplateofroastveal,orthemoretemptinggriskin(exoticsunknowntoourpalates),cookedinthepaternalkitchen(agreatthing),andbroughthimdailybyhismaidoraunt!Irememberthegoodoldrelative(inwhomloveforbadepride)squattingdownuponsomeoddstoneinaby-nookofthecloistersdisclosingtheviands(ofhigherregalethanthosecateswhichtheravensministeredtotheTishbite);andthecontendingpassionsofL.attheunfolding.Therewasloveforthebringer;shameforthethingbrought,andthemannerofitsbringing;sympathyforthosewhoweretoomanytoshareinit;and,attopofall,hunger(eldest,strongestofthepassions!)predominant,breakingdownthestonyfencesofshame,andawkwardness,andatroublingover-consciousness.

Iwasapoorfriendlessboy.Myparents,andthosewhoshouldcareforme,werefaraway.Thosefewacquaintancesoftheirs,whichtheycouldreckonuponbeingkindtomeinthegreatcity,afteralittleforcednotice,whichtheyhadthegracetotakeofmeonmyfirstarrivalintown,soongrewtiredofmyholidayvisits.Theyseemedtothemtorecurtoooften,thoughIthoughtthemfewenough;and,oneafteranother,theyallfailedme,andIfeltmyselfaloneamongsixhundredplaymates.

Othecrueltyofseparatingapoorladfromhisearlyhomestead!TheyearningswhichIusedtohavetowardsitinthoseunfledgedyears!How,inmydreams,wouldmynativetown(farinthewest)eback,withitschurch,andtrees,andfaces!HowIwouldwakeweeping,andintheanguishofmyheartexclaimuponsweetCalneinWiltshire!

Tothislatehourofmylife,Itraceimpressionsleftbytherecollectionofthosefriendlessholidays.Thelongwarmdaysofsummerneverreturnbuttheybringwiththemagloomfromthehauntingmemoryofthosewhole-day-leaves,when,bysomestrangearrangement,wewereturnedout,forthelive-longday,uponourownhands,whetherwehadfriendstogoto,ornone.Irememberthosebathing.excursionstotheNew-River,whichL.recallswithsuchrelish,better,Ithink,thanhecan——forhewasahome-seekinglad,anddidnotmuchcareforsuchwater-pastimes——Howmerrilywewouldsallyforthintothefields;andstripunderthefirstwarmthofthesun;andwantonlikeyoungdaceinthestreams;gettingusappetitesfornoon,whichthoseofusthatwerepennyless(ourscantymorningcrustlongsinceexhausted)hadnotthemeansofallaying——whilethecattle,andthebirds,andthefishes,wereatfeedaboutus,andwehadnothingtosatisfyourcravings——theverybeautyoftheday,andtheexerciseofthepastime,andthesenseofliberty,settingakeeneredgeuponthem——Howfaintandlanguid,finally,wewouldreturn,towardsnightfall,toourdesiredmorsel,half-rejoicing,half-reluctant,thatthehoursofouruneasylibertyhadexpired!

Itwasworseinthedaysofwinter,togoprowlingaboutthestreetsobjectless——shiveringatcoldwindowsofprint-shops,toextractalittleamusement;orhaply,asalastresort,inthehopeofalittlenovelty,topayafifty-timesrepeatedvisit(whereourindividualfacesshouldbeaswellknowntothewardenasthoseofhisowncharges)totheLionsintheTower——towhoselevee,bycourtesyimmemorial,wehadaprescriptivetitletoadmission.L.sgovernor(sowecalledthepatronwhopresentedustothefoundation)livedinamannerunderhispaternalroof.Anyplaintwhichhehadtomakewassureofbeingattendedto.ThiswasunderstoodatChrists,andwasaneffectualscreentohimagainsttheseverityofmasters,orworsetyrannyofthemonitors.Theoppressionsoftheseyoungbrutesareheart-sickeningtocalltorecollection.Ihavebeencalledoutofmybed,andwakedforthepurpose,inthecoldestwinternights——andthisnotonce,butnightafternight——inmyshirt,toreceivethedisciplineofaleathernthong,withelevenothersufferers,becauseitpleasedmycallowoverseer,whentherehasbeenanytalkingafterweweregonetobed,tomakethesixlastbedsinthedormitory,wheretheyoungestchildrenofusslept,answerableforanoffencetheyneitherdaredtomit,norhadthepowertohinder——Thesameexecrabletyrannydrovetheyoungerpartofusfromthefires,whenourfeetwereperishingwithsnow;and,underthecruelestpenalties,forbadtheindulgenceofadrinkofwater,whenwelayinsleeplesssummernights,feveredwiththeseason,andthedayssports.

TherewasoneH——,who,Ilearned,inafterdays,wasseenexpiatingsomematureroffenceinthehulks.(DoIflattermyselfinfancyingthatthismightbetheplanterofthatname,whosuffered——atNevis,Ithink,orSt.Kits,somefewyearssince?MyfriendTobinwasthebenevolentinstrumentofbringinghimtothegallows.)ThispettyNeroactuallybrandedaboy,whohadoffendedhim,witharedhotiron;andnearlystarvedfortyofus,withexactingcontributions,totheonehalfofourbread,topamperayoungass,which,incredibleasitmayseem,withtheconnivanceofthenursesdaughter(ayoungflameofhis)hehadcontrivedtosmugglein,andkeepupontheleadsoftheward,astheycalledourdormitories.Thisgamewentonforbetterthanaweek,tillthefoolishbeast,notabletofarewellbuthemustcryroastmeat——happierthanCaligulasminion,couldhehavekepthisowncounsel——but,foolisher,alas!thananyofhisspeciesinthefables——waxingfat,andkicking,inthefulnessofbread,oneunluckyminutewouldneedsproclaimhisgoodfortunetotheworldbelow;and,layingouthissimplethroat,blewsucharamshornblast,as(topplingdownthewallsofhisownJericho)setconcealmentanylongeratdefiance.Theclientwasdismissed,withcertainattentions,toSmithfield;butIneverunderstoodthatthepatronunderwentanycensureontheoccasion.ThiswasinthestewardshipofL.sadmiredPerry.

Underthesamefacileadministration,canL.haveforgottenthecoolimpunitywithwhichthenursesusedtocarryawayopenly,inopenplatters,fortheirowntables,oneoutoftwoofeveryhotjoint,whichthecarefulmatronhadbeenseeingscrupulouslyweighedoutforourdinners?Thesethingsweredailypractisedinthatmagnificentapartment,whichL.(grownconnoisseursince,wepresume)praisessohighlyforthegrandpaintings"byVerrio,andothers,"withwhichitis"hungroundandadorned."Butthesightofsleekwell-fedblue-coatboysinpictureswas,atthattime,Ibelieve,littleconsolatorytohim,orus,thelivingones,whosawthebetterpartofourprovisionscarriedawaybeforeourfacesbyharpies;andourselvesreduced(withtheTrojaninthehallofDido)

Tofeedourmindwithidleportraiture.

L.hasrecordedtherepugnanceoftheschooltogags,orthefatoffreshbeefboiled;andsetsitdowntosomesuperstition.Buttheseunctuousmorselsarenevergratefultoyoungpalates(childrenareuniversallyfat-haters)andinstrong,coarse,boiledmeats,unsalted,aredetestable.Agag-eaterinourtimewasequivalenttoagoul,andheldinequaldetestation——sufferedundertheimputation——

`Twassaid

Heatestrangeflesh.

Hewasobserved,afterdinner,carefullytogatheruptheremnantsleftathistable(notmany,norverychoicefragments,youmaycreditme)and,inanespecialmanner,thesedisreputablemorsels,whichhewouldconveyaway,andsecretlystowinthesettlethatstoodathisbed-side.Nonesawwhenheatethem.Itwasrumouredthatheprivatelydevouredtheminthenight.Hewaswatched,butnotracesofsuchmidnightpracticeswerediscoverable.Somereported,that,onleave-days,hehadbeenseentocarryoutoftheboundsalargebluecheckhandkerchief,fullofsomething.Thisthenmustbetheaccursedthing.Conjecturenextwasatworktoimaginehowhecoulddisposeofit.Somesaidhesoldittothebeggars.Thisbeliefgenerallyprevailed.Hewentaboutmoping.Nonespaketohim.Noonewouldlaywithhim.Hewasexmunicated;putoutofthepaleoftheschool.Hewastoopowerfulaboytobebeaten,butheunderwenteverymodeofthatnegativepunishment,whichismoregrievousthanmanystripes.Stillhepersevered.Atlengthhewasobservedbytwoofhisschool-fellows,whoweredeterminedtogetatthesecret,andhadtracedhimoneleave-dayforthatpurpose,toenteralargeworn-outbuilding,suchasthereexistspecimensofinChancery-lane,whichareletouttovariousscalesofpauperismwithopendoor,andamonstaircase.Afterhimtheysilentlyslunkin,andfollowedbystealthupfourflights,andsawhimtapatapoorwicket,whichwasopenedbyanagedwoman,meanlyclad.Suspicionwasnowripenedintocertainty.Theinformershadsecuredtheirvictim.Theyhadhimintheirtoils.Accusationwasformallypreferred,andretributionmostsignalwaslookedfor.Mr.Hathaway,thethensteward(forthishappenedalittleaftermytime),withthatpatientsagacitywhichtemperedallhisconduct,determinedtoinvestigatethematter,beforeheproceededtosentence.Theresultwas,thatthesupposedmendicants,thereceiversorpurchasersofthemysteriousscraps,turnedouttobetheparentsof——,anhonestcoupleetodecay,——whomthisseasonablesupplyhad,inallprobability,savedfrommendicancy;andthatthisyoungstork,attheexpenseofhisowngoodname,hadallthiswhilebeenonlyfeedingtheoldbirds!——Thegovernorsonthisoccasion,muchtotheirhonour,votedapresentrelieftothefamilyof——,andpresentedhimwithasilvermedal.ThelessonwhichthestewardreaduponRASHJUDGMENT,ontheoccasionofpubliclydeliveringthemedalto——,Ibelieve,wouldnotbelostuponhisauditory——Ihadleftschoolthen,butIwellremember.Hewasatall,shamblingyouthwithacastinhiseye,notatallcalculatedtoconciliatehostileprejudices.Ihavesinceseenhimcarryingabakersbasket.IthinkIheardhedidnotdoquitesowellbyhimself,ashehaddonebytheoldfolks.

Iwasahypochondriaclad;andthesightofaboyinfetters,uponthedayofmyfirstputtingontheblueclothes,wasnotexactlyfittedtoassuagethenaturalterrorsofinitiation.Iwasoftenderyears,barelyturnedofseven;andhadonlyreadofsuchthingsinbooks,orseenthembutindreams.Iwastoldhehadrunaway.Thiswasthepunishmentforthefirstoffence——AsanoviceIwassoonaftertakentoseethedungeons.Thesewerelittle,square,Bedlamcells,whereaboycouldjustlieathislengthuponstrawandablanket——amattress,Ithink,wasafterwardssubstituted——withapeepoflight,letinaskance,fromaprison-orificeattop,barelyenoughtoreadby.Herethepoorboywaslockedinbyhimselfallday,withoutsightofanybuttheporterwhobroughthimhisbreadandwater——whomightnotspeaktohim;——orofthebeadle,whocametwiceaweektocallhimouttoreceivehisperiodicalchastisement,whichwasalmostwelebecauseitseparatedhimforabriefintervalfromsolitude:andherehewasshutupbyhimselfofnights,outofthereachofanysound,tosufferwhateverhorrorstheweaknerves,andsuperstitionincidenttohistimeoflife,mightsubjecthimto.*Thiswasthepenaltyforthesecondoffence——Wouldstthoulike,reader,toseewhatbecameofhiminthenextdegree?

[Footnote]*Oneortwoinstancesoflunacy,orattemptedsuicide,accordingly,atlengthconvincedthegovernorsoftheimpolicyofthispartofthesentence,andthemidnighttorturetothespiritswasdispensedwith——ThisfancyofdungeonsforchildrenwasasproutofHowardsbrain;forwhich(savingthereverenceduetoHolyPaul)methinks,Icouldwillinglyspitonhisstatue.

Theculprit,whohadbeenathirdtimeanoffender,andwhoseexpulsionwasatthistimedeemedirreversible,wasbroughtforth,asatsomesolemnautodafe,arrayedinuncouthandmostappallingattire——alltraceofhislate"watchetweeds"carefullyeffaced,hewasexposedinajacket,resemblingthosewhichLondonlamplightersformerlydelightedin,withacapofthesame.Theeffectofthisdivestiturewassuchastheingeniousdevisersofitcouldhaveanticipated.Withhispaleanfrightedfeatures,itwasasifsomeofthosedisfigurementsinDantehadseizeduponhim.Inthisdisguisementhewasbroughtintothehall(L.sfavouritestate-room),whereawaitedhimthewholenumberofhisschool-fellows,whosejointlessonsandsportshewasthenceforthtosharenomore;theawfulpresenceofthesteward,tobeseenforthelasttime;oftheexecutionerbeadle,cladinhisstaterobefortheoccasion;andoftwofacesmore,ofdirerimport,becauseneverbutintheseextremitiesvisible.Theseweregovernors;twoofwhom,bychoice,orcharter,werealwaysaccustomedtoofficiateattheseUltimaSupplicia;nottomitigate(soatleastweunderstoodit),buttoenforcetheuttermoststripe.OldBamberGascoigne,andPeterAubert,Iremember,werecolleaguesononeoccasion,whenthebeadleturningratherpale,aglassofbrandywasorderedtopreparehimforthemysteries.Thescourgingwas,aftertheoldRomanfashion,longandstately.Thelictoracpaniedthecriminalquiteroundthehall.Weweregenerallytoofaintwithattendingtothepreviousdisgusting——circumstances,tomakeaccuratereportwithoureyesofthedegreeofcorporalsufferinginflicted.Report,ofcourse,gaveoutthebackknottyandlivid.Afterscourging,hewasmadeover,inhisSanBenito,tohisfriends,ifhehadany(butmonlysuchpoorrunagateswerefriendless),ortohisparishofficer,who,toenhancetheeffectofthescene,hadhisstationallottedtohimontheoutsideofthehallgate.

Thesesolemnpageantrieswerenotplayedoffsooftenastospoilthegeneralmirthofthemunity.Wehadplentyofexerciseandrecreationafterschoolhours;and,formyself,Imustconfess,thatIwasneverhappier,thaninthem.TheUpperandtheLowerGrammarSchoolswereheldinthesameroom;andanimaginarylineonlydividedtheirbounds.TheircharacterwasasdifferentasthatoftheinhabitantsonthetwosidesofthePyrenees.TheRev.JamesBoyerwastheUpperMaster;buttheRev.MatthewFieldpresidedoverthatportionoftheapartment,ofwhichIhadthegoodfortunetobeamember.Welivedalifeascarelessasbirds.Wetalkedanddidjustwhatwepleased,andnobodymolestedus.Wecarriedanaccidence,oragrammar,forform;but,foranytroubleitgaveus,wemighttaketwoyearsingettingthroughtheverbsdeponent,andanothertwoinforgettingallthatwehadlearnedaboutthem.Therewasnowandthentheformalityofsayingalesson,butifyouhadnotlearnedit,abrushacrosstheshoulders(justenoughtodisturbafly)wasthesoleremonstrance.Fieldneverusedtherodandintruthhewieldedthecanewithnogreatgoodwill——holdingit"likeadancer."Itlookedinhishandsratherlikeanemblemthananinstrumentofauthority;andanemblem,too,hewasashamedof.Hewasagoodeasyman,thatdidnotcaretorufflehisownpeace,norperhapssetanygreatconsiderationuponthevalueofjuveniletime.Hecameamongus,nowandthen,butoftenstaidawaywholedaysfromus;andwhenhecame,itmadenodifferencetous——hehadhisprivateroomtoretireto,theshorttimehestaid,tobeoutofthesoundofournoise.Ourmirthanduproarwenton.Wehadclassicsofourown,withoutbeingbeholdento"insolentGreeceorhaughtyRome,"thatpassedcurrentamongus——PeterWilkins——theAdventuresoftheHon.Capt.RobertBoyle——theFortunateBlueCoatBoy——andthelike.Orwecultivatedaturnformechanicorscientificoperations;makinglittlesun-dialsofpaper;orweavingthoseingeniousparentheses,calledcat-cradles;ormakingdrypeastodanceupontheendofatinpipe;orstudyingtheartmilitaryoverthatlaudablegame"FrenchandEnglish,"andahundredothersuchdevicestopassawaythetime——mixingtheusefulwiththeagreeable——aswouldhavemadethesoulsofRousseauandJohnLockechuckletohaveseenus.

MatthewFieldbelongedtothatclassofmodestdivineswhoaffecttomixinequalproportionthegentleman,thescholar,andtheChristian;but,Iknownothow,thefirstingredientisgenerallyfoundtohethepredominatingdoseintheposition.Hewasengagedingayparties,orwithhiscourtlybowatsomeepiscopalleveewhenheshouldhavebeenattendinguponus.Hehadformanyyearstheclassicalchargeofahundredchildren,duringthefourorfivefirstyearsoftheireducation;andhisveryhighestformseldomproceededfurtherthantwoorthreeoftheintroductoryfablesofPhaedrus.Howthingsweresufferedtogoonthus,Icannotguess.Boyer,whowastheproperpersontohaveremediedtheseabuses,alwaysaffected,perhapsfelt,adelicacyininterferinginaprovincenotstrictlyhisown.Ihavenotbeenwithoutmysuspicions,thathewasnotaltogetherdispleasedatcontrastwepresentedtohisendoftheschool.WewereasortofHelotstohisyoungSpartans.Hewouldsometimes,withironicdeference,sendtoborrowarodoftheUnderMaster,andthen,withSardonicgrin,observetooneofhisupperboys,"howneatandfreshthetwigslooked."WhilehispalestudentswerebatteringtheirbrainsoverXenophonandPlato,withasilenceasdeepasthatenjoinedbytheSamite,wewereenjoyingourselvesatoureaseinourlittleGoshen.Wesawalittleintothesecretsofhisdiscipline,andtheprospectdidbutthemorereconcileustoourlot.Histhundersrolledinnocuousforus;hisstormscamenear,butnevertouchedus;contrarytoGideonsmiracle,whileallaroundweredrenched,ourfleecewasdry.Hisboysturnedoutthebetterscholars;we,Isuspect,havetheadvantageintemper.Hispupilscannotspeakofhimwithoutsomethingofterrorallayingtheirgratitude;theremembranceofFieldesbackwithallthesoothingimagesofindolence,andsummerslumbers,andworklikeplay,andinnocentidleness,andElysianexemptions,andlifeitselfa"playingholiday."

[Footnote]*Cowley.

ThoughsufficientlyremovedfromthejurisdictionofBoyer,wewerenearenough(asIhavesaid)tounderstandalittleofhissystem.WeoccasionallyheardsoundsoftheUlulantes,andcaughtglancesofTartarus.B.wasarabidpedant.HisEnglishstylewascrampttobarbarism.HisEasteranthems(forhisdutyobligedhimtothoseperiodicalflights)weregratingasscrannelpipes.Hewouldlaugh,ay,andheartily,butthenitmustbeatFlaccussquibbleaboutRex——oratthetristisseveritasinvultu,orinspicereinpatinas,ofTerence——thinjests,whichattheirfirstbroachingcouldhardlyhavehadvisenoughtomoveaRomanmuscle——Hehadtwowigs,bothpedantic,butofdifferingomen.Theoneserene,smiling,freshpowdered,betokeningamildday.Theother,anolddiscoloured,unkempt,angrycaxon,denotingfrequentandbloodyexecution.Woetotheschool,whenhemadehismorningappearanceinhispassy,orpassionatewig.Noetexpoundedsurer——J.B.hadaheavyhand.Ihaveknownhimdoublehisknottyfistatapoortremblingchild(thematernalmilkhardlydryuponitslips)witha"Sirrah,doyoupresumetosetyourwitsatme?"——Nothingwasmoremonthantoseehimmakeahead-longentryintotheschool-room,fromhisinnerrecess,orlibrary,and,withturbulenteye,singlingoutalad,roarout,"Odsmylife,Sirrah,"(hisfavouriteadjuration)"Ihaveagreatmindtowhipyou,"then,withassuddenaretractingimpulse,flingbackintohislair——and,afteracoolinglapseofsomeminutes(duringwhichallbuttheculprithadtotallyforgottenthecontext)driveheadlongoutagain,piecingouthisimperfectsense,asifithadbeensomeDevilsLitanywiththeexpletoryyell——"andIWILL,too."——Inhisgentlermoods,whentherabidusfurorwasassuaged,hehadresorttoaningeniousmethod,peculiar,forwhatIhaveheard,tohimself,ofwhippingtheboy,andreadingtheDebates,atthesametime;aparagraph,andalashbetween;whichinthosetimes,whenparliamentaryoratorywasmostataheightandflourishingintheserealms,wasnotcalculatedtoimpressthepatientwithavenerationforthediffusergracesofrhetoric.

[Footnote]*InthisandeverythingB.wastheantipodesofhisco-adjutor.Whiletheformerwasdigginghisbrainsforcrudeanthems,worthapig-nut,F.wouldberecreatinghisgentlemanlyfancyinthemoreflowerywalksoftheMuses.Alittledramaticeffusionofhis,underthenameofVertumnusandPomona,isnotyetforgottenbythechroniclersofthatsortofliterature.ItwasacceptedbyGarrick,butthetowndidnotgiveittheirsanction——B.usedtosayofit,inawayofhalf-pliment,hail-irony,thatitwastooclassicalforrepresentation

Once,andbutonce,theupliftedrodwasknowntofallineffectualfromhishand——whendrollsquintingW——havingbeencaughtputtingtheinsideofthemastersdesktoauseforwhichthearchitecthadclearlynotdesignedit,tojustifyhimself,withgreatsimplicityaverred,thathedidnotknowthatthethinghadbeenforewarned.Thisexquisiteirrecognitionofanylawantecedenttotheoralordeclaratory,strucksoirresistiblyuponthefancyofallwhoheardit(thepedagoguehimselfnotexcepted)thatremissionwasunavoidable.

L.hasgivencredittoB.sgreatmeritsasaninstructor.Coleridge,inhisliterarylife,haspronouncedamoreintelligibleandampleeniumonthem.TheauthoroftheCountrySpectatordoubtsnottoparehimwiththeablestteachersofantiquity.PerhapswecannotdismisshimbetterthanwiththepiousejaculationofC——whenheheardthathisoldmasterwasonhisdeath-bed——"PoorJ.B.!——mayallhisfaultsbeforgiven;andmayhebewaftedtoblissbylittlecherubboys,allheadandwings,withnobottomstoreproachhissublunaryinfirmities."

Underhimweremanygoodandsoundscholarsbred——FirstGrecianofmytimewasLancelotPepysStevens,kindestofboysandmen,sinceCo-grammar-master(andinseparablepanion)withDr.T——e.Whatanedifyingspectacledidthisbraceoffriendspresenttothosewhorememberedtheanti-socialitiesoftheirpredecessors!——Younevermettheonebychanceinthestreetwithoutawonder,whichwasquicklydissipatedbythealmostimmediatesub-appearanceoftheother.Generallyarminarm,thesekindlycoadjutorslightenedforeachotherthetoilsomedutiesoftheirprofessionandwhen,inadvancedage,onefounditconvenienttoretire,theotherwasnotlongindiscoveringthatitsuitedhimtolaydownthefascesalso.Oh,itispleasant,asitisrare,tofindthesamearmlinkedinyoursatforty,which,atthirteenhelpedittoturnovertheCiceroDeAmicitia,orsometaleofAntiqueFriendshipwhichtheyounghearteventhenwasburningtoanticipate!Co-GrecianwithS.wasTh——,whohassinceexecutedwithabilityvariousdiplomaticfunctionsattheNortherncourts.Th——wasatall,dark,saturnineyouth,sparingofspeech,withravenlocks——ThomasFanshawMiddletonfollowedhim(nowBishopofCalcutta)ascholarandagentlemaninhisteens.Hehasthereputationofanexcellentcritic;andisauthor(besidestheCountrySpectator)ofaTreatiseontheGreekArticle,againstSharpe——M.issaidtobearhismitrehighinIndia,wheretheregninovitas(Idaresay)sufficientlyjustifiesthebearing.AhumilityquiteasprimitiveasthatofJewelorHookermightnotbeexactlyfittedtoimpressthemindsofthoseAnglo-Asiaticdiocesanswithareverenceforhomeinstitutions,andthechurchwhichthosefatherswatered.ThemannersofM.atschool,thoughfirm,weremild,andunassuming.NexttoM.(ifnotseniortohim)wasRichards,authoroftheAboriginalBritons,themostspiritedoftheOxfordPrizePoems;apale,studiousGrecian——ThenfollowedpoorS——,ill-fatedM——ofthesetheMuseissilent.

FindingsomeofEdwardsrace

Unhappy,passtheirannalsby.

Comebackintomemory,likeasthouwertinthedayspringofthyfancies,withhopelikeafierycolumnbeforethee——thedarkpillarnotyetturned——SamuelTaylorColeridge——Logician,Metaphysician,Bard——HowhaveIseenthecasualpasserthroughthecloistersstandstill,intrancedwithadmiration(whileheweighedthedisproportionbetweenthespeechandthegarboftheyoungMirandula),toheartheeunfold,inthydeepandsweetintonations,themysteriesofJamblichus,orPlotinus(foreveninthoseyearsthouwaxedstnotpaleatsuchphilosophicdraughts),orrecitingHomerinhisGreek,orPindar——whilethewallsoftheoldGreyFriarsre-echoedtotheaccentsoftheinspiredcharity-boy!——Manywerethe"wit-bats,"(todallyawhilewiththewordsofoldFuller,)betweenhimandC.V.LeG——,"whichtwoIbeholdlikeaSpanishgreatgalleon,andanEnglishmanofwar;MasterColeridge,liketheformer,wasbuiltfarhigherinlearning,solid,butslowinhisperformances.C.V.L.,withtheEnglishmanofwar,lesserinbulk,butlighterinsailing,couldturnwithalltides,tackabout,andtakeadvantageofallwinds,bythequicknessofhiswitandinvention."

Norshaltthou,theirpeer,bequicklyforgotten,Allen,withthecordialsmile,andstillmorecordiallaugh,withwhichthouwertwonttomaketheoldCloistersshake,inthycognitionofsomepoignantjestoftheirs;ortheanticipationofsomemorematerial,and,peradventure,practicalone,ofthineown.Extinctarethosesmiles,withthatbeautifulcountenance,withwhich(forthouwerttheNireusformosusoftheschool),inthedaysofthymaturerwaggery,thoudidstdisarmthewrathofinfuriatedtown-damsel,who,incensedbyprovokingpinch,turningtigress-likeround,suddenlyconvertedbythyangel-look,exchangedthehalf-formedterrible"bl——,"foragentlergreeting——"blessthyhandsomeface!"

Nextfollowtwo,whooughttobenowalive,andthefriendsofElia——thejuniorLeG——andF——;whoimpelled,theformerbyarovingtemper,thelatterbytooquickasenseofneglect——illcapableofenduringtheslightspoorSizarsaresometimessubjecttoinourseatsoflearning——exchangedtheirAlmaMaterforthecamp;perishing,onebyclimate,andoneontheplainsofSalamanca:——LeG——,sanguine,volatile,sweet-natured;F——dogged,faithful,anticipativeofinsult,warm-hearted,withsomethingoftheoldRomanheightabouthim.

Fine,frank-heartedFr——,thepresentmasterofHertford,withMarmadukeT——,mildestofMissionaries——andbothmygoodfriendsstill——closethecatalogueofGreciansinmytime.