The life and correspondence of Thomas Arnold

Front matter

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Preface

The sources from which this work has been drawn have necessarily been exceedingly various. It was in fact originally intended to be actually composed by different writers, as in the instance of the valuable contribution which, in addition to his kind assistance throughout, has been furnished to the earlier part by Mr. Justice Coleridge ; and although, in its present shape, the responsibility of arranging and executing it has &llen upon one person, yet it should still be clearly understood how largely I have availed myself of the aid of others, in order to supply the defects of my own personal knowledge of Dr. Arnold's life and character, which was confined to the intercourse I enjoyed with him, first as his pupil at Rugby, from 1829 to 1834, and thenceforward, on more familiar terms, to the end of his life.

To his family, I feel that the fewest words will best express my sense, both of the confidence which they reposed in me by entrusting to my care so precious a charge, and of the manifold kindness with which they have assisted me, as none others could.

VI PREFACE.

To the many attached friends of his eariier years, the occurrence of whose names in the following pages makes it unnecessary to mention them more particulariy here, I would also take this opportunity of expressing my deep obligations, not only for the readiness with w^hich they have given me access to all letters and information that I could require, but still more for the active interest which they have taken in lightening my responsibility and labour, and for the careful and most valuable criticism to which some of them have allowed me to subject the whole or the greater part of this work. Lastly, his pupils will perceive the unsparing use I have made of their numerous contributions. I had at one time thought of indicating the various distinct authorities from which the chapter on his "School Life at Rugby" has been compiled, but I found that this would be impracticable. The names of some of those who have most aided me will be found in the Correspondence. To those many others, who are not there mentioned — ^and may I here be allowed more especially to name my younger schoolfellows, with whom I have become acquainted chiefly through the means of this work, and whose recollections, as being the most recent and the most lively, have been amongst the most valuable that I have received — I would here express my warmest thanks for the more than assistance which they have rendered me. Great as has been the anxiety and difHculty of this undertaking, it has been relieved by nothing so much as the assurance which I have received through their cooperation, that I was not mistaken in the estimate I had formed of our common friend and master, and that the influ-

PREFACE. VU

ence of his teaching and example continues and will continue to produce the fruits which he would most have desired to see.

The Correspondence has been selected from the mass of letters preserved, in many cases, in almost unbroken series from first to last. One large class — those to the parents of his pupils, — I have been unable to procure, and possibly they could not have been made available for the present work. Another numerous body of letters — those which were addressed to scientific or literary men on questions connected with his edition of Thucydides or his History, — I have omitted, partly as thinking them too minute to occupy space wanted for subjects of more general importance ; partly because their substance or their results have for the most part been incorporated into his published works. To those which appear in the present collection, something of a fragmentary character has been imparted by the necessary omission, wherever it was possible, of repetitions, such as must necessarily occur in letters written to different persons at the same time,— of allusions which would have been painful to living individuals,— -of domestic details, which, however characteristic, could not have been published without a greater infringement on privacy than is yet possible, — of passages which, without further explanation than could be given, would certainly have been misunderstood. Still, enough remains to give in his own words, and in his own manner, what he thought and felt on the subjects of most interest to him. And though the mode of expression must be judged by the relation in which he stood to those whom he ad-

Vlll PREFACE.

dressed, and with the usual and just allowance for the familiaritj and unreservedness of epistolary intercourse, yet, on the whole, the Letters represent (except where they correct themselves) what those who knew him best believe to have been his deliberate convictions and his habitual feelings.

The object of the Narrative has been to state so much as would enable the reader to enter upon the Letters with a correct understanding of their writer in his different periods of life, and his different sphere of action. In all cases where it was possible, his opinions and plans have been given in his own words, and in no case, whether in speaking of what he did or intended to do, from mere conjecture of my own or of any one else. Wherever the narrative has gone into greater detail, as in the chapter on his ** School Life at Rugby," it has been where the Letters were comparatively silent, and where details alone would give to those who were most concerned a true representation of his views and actions.

In conclusion, it will be obvious that to have mixed up any judgment of my own, either of praise or censure, with the &cts or the statements contained in this work, would have been wholly irrelevant. The only question which I have allowed myself to ask in each particular act or opinion that has come before me, has been not whether I approved or disapproved of it, but whether it was characteristic of him. To have assumed the office of a judge, in addition to that of a narrator or editor, would have increased the responsibility, already great, a hundredfold; and in the present case, the vast importance of many of the questions discussed — the insufficient time and

PREFACE. IX

knowledge which I had at command — the almost filial relation in which I stood towards him — would have rendered it absolutely impossible, even had it not been effectually precluded by the nature of the work itself. For similar reasons, I have abstained from giving any formal account of his general character. He was one of a class whose whole being, intellectual, moral, and spiritual, is like the cloud of the poet,

^^ Which moveth altogether, if it move at all,"

and whose character, therefore, is far better expressed by their own words and deeds, than by the representation of others. Lastly, I would also hope that the plan, which I have thus endeavoured to follow, will in some measure compensate for the many deficiencies, which I have vainly endeavoured to remedy in the execution of the task which I have undertaken. Some, indeed, there must be, who will painfully feel the contrast, which probably always exists in the case of any remarkable man, between the image of his inner life, as it was known to those nearest and dearest to him,.and the outward image of a written biography, which can rarely be more than a faint shadow of what they cherish in their own recollections — the one representing what he was — the other only what he thought and did ; the one formed in the atmosphere which he had himself created, — the other necessarily accommodating itself to the public opinion to.which it is mainly addressed. But even to these — and much more to readers in general — ^it is my satisfaction to reflect that any untrue or imperfect impression of his thoughts and feelings

X PREFACE.

which may be gathered from my account of them, will be sufficiently corrected by his own representation of them in his Letters, and that the attention will not be diverted by any extraneous comments or inferences from the lessons which will be best learned from the mere record itself of his life and teaching.

May 14th, 1844.

University College, Oxford.

Contents

Pace

Chapter I. Early Life And Education

Birth.— Edacation at Warminster and Winchester. — Character and pursuits as a boy. — Associations of his childhood in after life. — Letter from Mr. Justice Colb- BiDGB.— Education at Oxford. — Corpus Society. — Early friends. — Tucker. — Cornish. — Dyson. — Keble. — Pursuits. ^-Attic Society. — Religious doubts on his ordination . 1

Chapter II. Life At Laleham

Election at Oriel. — Fellows of Oriel. — Marriage and settlement at Laleham. — Formation of his religious character and belief. — Early objects of ambition. — Love for Laleham. — Occupations and views as private tutor.— Letter from Mr. Price. — General pursuits. — Lexicon and edition of Thucydides.— Articles on Roman History in Encyclopedia Metropolitana. — First acquaintance with Niebnhr's history, and with German literature. — First visit to Rome, and friendship with Chevalier Bunsen. — Early interest in social and theological subjects. — Independent views. — First volume of Sermons. — Election to the Head-mastership of Rugby. — Prediction of Dr. Hawkins . 25

Xll CONTENTS.

LETTERS.

1. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Choice of a profession . 52

2. To Rev. G. Cornish. Leaving Oxford . . .54

3. To Rev. J. Tucker. Oxford friends.— Religious stoie • 54

4. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Occupations at Laleham . 56

5. To Rev. G. Cornish. Interest in India. — Pupils. — ^Re-

ligious state 58

G. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. On his style . . .60

7. To Rev. J. Tucker. Eocledastical History.— State of

the religious world.— Ireland . . • .61

8. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Christiui year. — Roman

History 62

9. To Rev. J. Tucker. Pupils. — Intercourse with poor.

— Tour in Scotland and the Lakes.— West Indian slavery 62

10. To W. W. Hull, Esq. Niehuhr.— Pupils ... 64

11. To Rev. J. Tucker. Aristotle's Politics. — Prophecy. —

Daniel.— English Reformation . . . ,65

12. To Rev. G. Cornish. Tour in Italy. — Contrast of

lower orders in England and Italy . . . .66

13. To the same. Prevalence of intellectual activity united

with moral depravity. — Roman Catholicism . . 67

14. To Rev. E. Hawkins. Edition of Thucydides . . 68

15. To Rev. J. Tucker. Pain at having given offence by

opinions on inspiration . . . . . .69

16. To Rev. E. Hawkins. Doubts about standing for the

Head-mastership of Rugby. — Expulsion at public schools 71

17. To Rev. G. Cornish. Views in offering himself as a

candidate for Rugby 72

18. To Rev. E. Hawkins. Election at Rugby . . . 72

19. To Rev. J. Tucker. Intentions at Rugby. — Church

Reform 73

20. To Rev. F. C. Blackstone. Hopes for Rugby. — Church

and State. — Reform 75

21. To Augustus Hare, Esq. Rome. — Bunsen. — ^^ Guesses

at Truth."— Bohemia 76

22. To Rev. J. Tucker. Protest against supposed world-

liness 77

CONTENTS. Xin

Pace 28. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Intercourse witli friends. —

Dyson. — Love for Laleham . . • • .78

24. To Bey. F. C. Blackstone. Laleham and Rugby . . 79

25. To W. W. Hull, Esq. First volume of Sermons —

Leaving Laleham 80

26. To Rev. J. Tucker. Laleham and Rugby. --First volume

of Sermons 81

27. To Rev. G. Cornish. Settlement at Rugby . 82

Chapter III. School Life At Rugbt

State of opinion on English Public Schools. — His qualifications for tiie situation of Headmaster of Rugby. — Difficulties. — Changes. — Fixed principles of education. — His relation to the public— To the trustees. — To the assistant masters. — To the school. — His view of Christianizing public schools. — Peculiarity of public schools. — General mode of dealing with it. — I. Discipline of the school. 1. Punishments. 2. Fagging. — Influence of the Sixth Form. 3. Removal of boys.— II. Instruction. — Religious spirit -—Stimulus to exertion. — Respect for industry. — View of academical distinctions. 1. Importance of classics. 2. Modem History, modem languages and mathematics. 3. Lessons in the Sixth Form. 4. General effect of his intellectual teaching.— III. The school chapel.— Services.— Communion. — Confirmation.— Sermons. — IV. Personal intercourse with the boarders in his own house, and with his scholars generally.— V. General results of his head-mastership at Rugby.— Letter from Dr. Moberley . . 83

Chapter IV. Oenbral Life At Ruoby

Intellectual advance on coming to Rugby.— His views and writings. — I. Piractical element.— Interest in public and national life. — Vehement language on political and ^lesiastical subjects.— Conservatism.— Jacobinism.— Popular

XIV CONTENTS.

principles. -^Liberal principles. — II. Speculative element — Design of three great works. 1. History of Rome. 2. Commentary on the Scriptures. 3. " Christian Politics," or " Church and State." — Private life at Rugby. — Domestic circle. — Friendships. —Intercourse with the poor. — Life at Fox How 174

Chapter V. Life And Correspondence, August 1828 — August 1830

Hopeful view. — First volume of his edition of Thucydides. — Essay on the social progress of States. — Pamphlet on " the Christian duty of conceding the Roman Catholic claims " • 223

LETTERS.

1. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Entrance on his work at

Rugby 226

2. To Rev. F. C. Blackstone. First impressions of Rugby 227 d. To the same. Differences of opinion . . . .228

4. To Rev. J. C. Hare. " Defence of Niebuhr."— Pamphlet

^' On Roman Catholic claims." — Estimate of the past.

— Spirit of chivalry 229

5. To Rev. Dr. Hawkins. Pamphlet " On Roman Ca-

tholic claims." — Toryism. — Ignorance of the Clergy . 231

6. To the Parent of a pupil holding Unitarian opinions • 233

7. To Rev. G. Cornish. Domestic happiness. — Pamphlet.

— Schism 234

8. To Rev. F. C. Blackstone. Idolatry — how far appli-

cable to the Church of Rome 236

d. To Rev. J. Tucker. Thoughts of emigration to Australia 237

10. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Death of his father-in-law.

— School. — Latin vei*se and prose. — Thucydides. — Pamphlet 239

11. To Rev. H. Jenkyns. Thucydides. — True principles

of philology 241

12. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Libel in John Bull. — Re-

spect for Episcopacy 242

13. To F. Hartwell, Esq. Interest in school . .242

CONTENTS. XV

Page

14. To Rer. G. Cornish. School. — French Revolution of

1830. — Guizot. — Niebuhr. — Grande Chartreuse. — Venice. — Padua. — Tyrol. — Old Testament. — School Sermons 243

15. To Rev. Dr. Hawkins. Church— -in what sense a

society. — ^French Revolution of 1830. — Belgian Revolution 246

Chapter VI. Life And Correspondence. — September 1830 To December 1832

Alarm at the social condition of the lower orders in England. — Wish to rouse the Clergy.— Attempts to influence the Useful Knowledge Society. — Establishment of the " Englishman's Register." — Thirteen letters in the " Sheffield Courant." — Want of sympathy. — Evangelical party. — Wish for Commentary on Old Testament. — Second volume of Sermons, with Essay on Interpretation of Scripture . 250

LETTERS.

16. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Want of sympathy. — Public

affairs. — False reports of his proselytising his pupils.

— Conservatism 256

17. To Susannah Arnold. Public affiairs. — Duty of the

Clergy. — State of the lower orders.— Record newspaper 259

18. To Rev. Augustus Hare. Public affairs. — Old Testa-

ment Prophets. — St. Paul and St. James.— Want of a Magazine for the poor ..... 261

19. To the Archbishop of Dublin. Proposal of setting up a

newspaper 263

20. To Chevalier Bunsen. Death of Niebuhr. — Italy.—

First news of French Revolution. — Interview with Niebuhr. — Church Reform, and Reform Bill. — Dread of warlike spirit in France 264

21. To John Ward, Esq. Englishman's Register. — Aris-

tocracy. — Reform Bill. — National Debt. — Monopolies. — Corn Laws.— Political excitement . . 267

XVI CONTENTS.

P^

22. To the Archbishop of Dublin. Failure of '' Englishman's

Register" 2G9

23. To W. Tooke, ^q. Refusal of an offer of preferment

—Useful Knowledge Society.—'^ Cottage Evenings " 270

24. To Mrs. Fletcher. On the death of her son . . 273

25. To Rev. F. C. Blackstone. Inringism. — Gift of tongues.

— Coming of " the Day of the Lord." —Whigs and Tories 273

26. To W. W. Hull, Esq. Contrast of private happiness

with pyUic distress. — Cholera. — Work on the Evi* dej^^ 274

27. To Rev. J. C. Hare. Philological Museum. — Religion

and voXftTtxn 276

28. To the Archbishop of Dublin. Farewell on his leaving

Oxford. — Danger of public schools. — Church reform 276

29. To W. W. Hull, Esq. Essay on Interpretation of Scrip-

ture. — ^Right use of the Second Commandment . 277

30. To Rev. G. Cornish. Rydal.— Intercourse with friends.

^Archbishop Whately. — Essay . .278

31. To the Lady F. Egerton. On the conversion of an

Atheist 279

32. To the same. On the same 282

33. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Rydal. — Newspapers. —

Sheffield Courant — School composition . . . 284

34. To Rev. J. E. Tyler. Society for the Promotion of

Christian Knowledge. — Uselessness of miscellaneous information for the people 285

35. To J. Ward, Esq. Domestic Life. — Intercourse with

poor. — ^Useful Knowledge Society .... 287

36. To ihe Archbishop of Dublin. Wish for a Comment-

ary on ihe Bible 288

37. To ihe same. Idea of a Commentary without Secta-

rianism.— Death of his sister Susannah • . . 289

CONTENTS. XVll

Chapter VII. Ufe And Corsespondence, January 1833 — September

PMe

Fears for the Church Estahlishment — Pamphlet on ihe ** Principles of Church Reform."— Outcry occasioned hy it. — Settlement of his own views.— Preface to Third Volume of Thucydides. — ^Fragments on <' the State and the Church." — Third Volume of Sermons.— Purchase of Fox How.— Return to Roman History. — Influence over his Scholars 292

LETTERS.

38. To Rev. J. Heam. New Year's Day in Westmore-

land. — Intolerance 303

39. t To W. K. Hamilton, Esq. * Rome, and the towns

of Italy. — Gloomy prospects .... 304

40. To the Archhishop of Dublin. Pamphlet on Church

Reform. — Reasons for writing it ... • 304

41. To the same. Reasons for his coming to Westmore-

land. — Commentary.— -Magazine . . . • 305

42. To Rev. J. Tucker. Farewell on his going to India.

— Recollections of Oxford. — Gloomy views of Europe and England 307

43. To an old pupil, (a.) Advice on living in uncongenial

society 308

44. To Rev. Dr. Hawkins. Remonstrance against a charge

of haste and ignorance in his writings • 309

45. To the same 310

46. To W. Smith, Esq. Unitarians. — In what sense

Christians 312

47. To Chevalier Bunsen. Political opinions. — Jacohinism.

-- Economists. — Toryism. — Historical Liberty. — Reform Bill.— Articles and Lituigy . .315

48. To the Archhishop of Dublin. Calumnies . , 318

* The naniM of hii lAlfham pupils in thii table of Contents an marked by a t, which was inadvertently omitted in the correipondeiice itself. VOL. I. b

XVlll CONTENTS.

49. To Rev. J. Hearn. False Tiew of what is Christian

doctrine 318

50. To Lady Cavan. The right use of the Fourth Com-

mandment 820

51. To J. T. Coleridge, Esq. Description of Fox How . 322

52. To a pupil. Want of devotion and reverence . . 323 58. To W. W. Hull, Esq. His hirthday.— Pamphlet —

Confirmation.— Cricket-matches .... 324

54. To Rev. Augustus Hare. Pamphlet. — Not latitudi-

narian 825

55. To Rot. G. Cornish. The same. — Westmoreland and

Warwickshire 326

56. To Rev. J. C. Hare. Bunsen. — Third Volume of Nie-

huhr. — Roman History 327

57* To Mr. Sergeant Coleridge. Birth of his youngest daughter. — Bunsen's letters. — PolitiGal excitement. —Whately.— Oxford Party— Church of England.— Christ the only ohject of religions affection. — Church and State. — School. — Allan Bank. — Teaching his Daughters , . 328

58. To Jaeoh Abhott. Interest in America. — Young

Christian. — Unitarianism 332

59. To the Archbishop of Dublin. Translation of the New

Testament. — Grounds of Roman Catholic Relief Act. — High Churchmen. — On party spirit • . . 334

60. To W. W. Hull, Esq. Health.— Confession.— Faith.

— Uncertainty of Life. — Death of his friends, Lowe and Augustus Hare 336

61. To Rev. F. C. Blackstone. Fixing of views. — Moun-

tain scenery. — School 387

62. To Rev. J. C. Hare. On the death of Augustus Hare 338

63. To Rev. Dr. Hawkins. Tracts for the Times. — Episco-

pacy not essential 338

64. To Rev. J. C. Hare. Declaration for the admission of

Dissenters to the Universities. — Unitarians.— > Petition against the Jew Bill 840

65. To W. W. Hull, Esq. Abstract of his work on the

Identity of Church and State . . .342

' Thii fiagment, from the nune of the penon addreiwd having been lott, wai nccidentallj joined in the text to the end of the preceding letter.

CONTENTS. xix

Pace

6G. To W. Empson, Esq. Irish establishment — Colleges

and halls 3id

67. To Roy. Dt. Longley. False hopes of reaction. — School.

— Pupils in Westmoreland 345

68, To the Archbishop of Dublin. — Bespect for Episco-

pacy. — Church and State. — Sermons on the Evi-

. dences. — Mechanics' Institute 346

6d. To a former landlord. — Adyice under painful illness. —

Forgiveness of injuries ...... 348

70. To Mrs. Delafield. On her 77th birthday . . .350

71. To Cheyalier Bunsen. Boman History. — lUyrians.—

Physical history. •— Trades' Unions. -— Letter on Christian Sacrifice. — Abbott's works. — America . 350

72. To an old pupil (a.) Bight use of University distinc-

tions. — Beserve 352

73. To T. F. Ellis, Esq. Coarse of study desirable for

Orders 354

74. * To H. Highton, Esq.* Bugby Magazine . . 356

75. To Bev. J. Heam. New Poor Law. — Name of

Christ 357

76. To Mr. Justice Coleridge. On his elevation to the

Bench. — Church government. — Wordsworth. — Coleridge's *^ Letters on Inspiration "... 357

77. To Bev. J. C. Hare. Plan of a theological review . 358

78. To Bev. F. C. Blackstone. Influence over pupils. —

Church government 360

79. To Bev. Dr. Longley. Fifth Form.— Number of the

school.— * School-grammar. — Expulsion. — Entrance.

— Examination 361

80. To Chevalier Bunsen. Want of sympathy.— voXmxi. —

Hymn-book. — High Church party. — Evangelicals. — Whigs. — Philosophy of parties. — Interest in school 363

81. * To C. J. Vaughan, Esq. Interest in old pupils. —

Advice to learn German.— Advice for reading . 366

82. * To A. P. Stanley, Esq. Oxford.— Popular and libe-

ral principles. — Tory reaction .... 368

* The names of his former Bugby pupils, where not otherwise specified, are marked with a *.

XX CONTENTS.

83. To the Archbishop of Dablin. Origin of Ciyilization.

— Influence of Greek philosophy. — Odium . . 870

84. To an old pupil (a.) Value of veneration.— Calumnies 372

85. To Sir T. S. Paalej, Bart. Compamtiye advantages of

private and public education 374

86. t To H. Strickland, Esq. Advice for a tour in Asia

Minor 375

87. To Mr. Justice Coleridge. Calumnies.— Example of

Burnet. — Aristophanes. — Pindar. — Homer. — Pupils. — Oxford and the London University . . 376

88. To Rev. Dr. Hawkins. Heads of houses and convoca-

tion.— Clergy and Dissenters .... 378

89. To a pupil. Advice with regard to sceptical doubts . 379

90. * To H. Hatch, Esq. Consumption .... 383

91. To the Rev. F. C. Blackstone. Want of leisure. — De-

fects in existing books. — Liberty and Toryism . 383

92. To Mr. Justice Coleridge. Separation from friends . 385

93. * To C. J. Vaughan, Esq. Hatch. — Intercourse with

poor. — Pheedo of Plato. — Livy .... 386

94. To Chevalier Bunsen. Polybius. — Hannibal's Passage 387

95. * To J. P. Qell, Esq. Interest informer pupils . 389

96. To Mr. Justice Coleridge. Rugby in the holidays. —

Rugby Magazine. — Pupils. — Phndo. — Coleridge's Table-talk 389

THE LIFE

THOMAS ARNOLD, D.D.