LETTERS TO ONE OF HIS GREATEST FRIENDS, DR. NICHOLSON
Dr. Nicholson, a native of Barbadoes, was only fourteen years old when his
father, Rev. Mark Nicholson, came to England. [Footnote: I am indebted for
these facts of Dr. Nicholson's life to some printed data kindly sent me by
his daughter.] He was sent to a private school at Bristol, and went on to
Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree. Later on he went to study Oriental
languages at Göttingen; and there he became the pupil of the famous Dr.
Ewald, Professor of Oriental Languages. At the end of his work there Dr.
Nicholson obtained the Ph.D. degree. The Professor and he became close
friends, and a correspondence began between them, on Dr. Nicholson's
departure, which lasted unbroken till the Professor's death. He was
perfectly conversant with Latin and Greek, and also Arabic, while Hebrew
was almost as familiar a language; and as for his knowledge of Sanscrit,
Ethiopian, Gothic, Chaldean, Syriac, French, German, Spanish, Italian,
Danish, it was as perfect as could be. He had, in the truest sense, the
_gift_ of tongues. Sixteen languages, indeed, he had mastered besides his
own. He had, in very truth, a perfect genius for them. And it was no
slipshod attainment with him to learn any one of the sixteen; for by the
time he had mastered a language he practically knew it inside _and_ out.
He loved this study perhaps more than any other, because it gave him a
truer insight into Holy Scripture. Many articles on the Hebrew Scriptures
were contributed by him to _Kitto's Biblical Encyclopaedia_, and there are
many allusions to these in Newman's letters which follow. He translated
Dr. Ewald's _Hebrew Grammar_, and thus it became well known to Englishmen.
[Illustration: DR. JOHN NICHOLSON
FROM A PHOTO TAKEN AT GÖTTINGEN BETWEEN 1855 AND 1860
BY KIND PERMISSION OF MISS NICHOLSON, PENRITH]
Dr. Nicholson lived for forty years at Penrith. He did not care to go much
in society; he was too true a student for that. For the two studies (and
social life _is_ certainly one) are so diametrically opposed regarded as
pursuits, that it is almost impossible to make the day long enough to
devote oneself to both. "Love to study" might very truly have been
recognized as his life motto, even as it was that of one of the greatest
students at Harrow a few years ago, Rev. Thomas Hancock, for both men
cared nothing for fame. Dr. Nicholson was a man of strong religious
tendencies, and though he was in no way narrow in his views of other
religious societies, yet he was decidedly most in touch with the Anglican
Church. As a politician he was a Liberal. Fifty years ago he married the
second daughter of Captain Waring, R.N., and had six children.
He died (in November, 1886), as Rev. E. W. Chapman, Vicar of Penrith,
said, "in perfect peace, with our Lord's Name and our Lord's last words on
his lips. His presence in the town, his loving sympathy with poor people,
his kindly greeting to all who knew him, we shall miss very much...." He
added that "his whole life was spent in the study of Holy Scriptures...."
Francis Newman was his lifelong friend, and the letters which follow will
plainly show that it was a friendship of kindred spirits: the friendship
of two who had a great many interests in common, and were therefore in
close touch with each other.
_To Dr. Nicholson from Francis Newman._
"_17th Feb._, 1843.
"My dear Nicholson,
* * * * *
"I hope you will not bother your little boy with any foreign language too
soon. _Soak_ him well and long in his native English, or he will never
come to any good, I fear. If he sees a father in love with German, he will
of himself quite early take to it. The great difficulty (I should expect)
will be to secure that it may not be too early. Of course you see about
the Anti-Corn Law doings? I think I shall before long be as fanatical as
anyone about it: I rage the more inwardly because I have no vent. I am
eager to sign a solemn league and covenant about total and immediate
repeal, which I suppose and hope they will get up...."
The next letter in order refers to "Berber," a language bearing some
relation to the Arabic, over which Newman was at work with his dictionary.
It also touches on his own ill-health and enforced idleness. It is dated
from Manchester, October, 1843:--
"I have been suffering indisposition which was aggravated in reality by
overrating its importance. My medical adviser said it was organic
affection of the heart; in spite of my great incredulity ... I took other
advice afterwards in Derby, where I went to see one of my sisters, and am
now assured that it was nothing but 'the great sympathetic' that
disordered the heart. I was nearly three weeks in the country and in
idleness, and gained much benefit from it. I spent much indoors time in
learning to use water-colours, and got a nice pony to ride, and was a
great deal in the air, and very early to go to bed; and took no medicines
but tonics and a colocynth pill on occasion. Myself and wife both return
much better. I believe I knocked myself up by excitement of mind over the
Berber and working at my dictionary, At Prichard's advice I have lately
written to Bunsen to ask his aid in getting the dictionary published. I
think it may be of use, as adding one more known language in North Africa
to those already accessible, which are, I believe, Arabic, Coptic, Gheez,
and Amharic."
In June of the same year he says, in respect of Kitto's _Encyclopaedia_:
"Your _Ahasuerus_ shows you to me as an invaluable contributor to him: I
could not have written that (if I had had the learning) without an attack
on Ezra and Esther about the word!... Mr. Jowett has sent me (at Bunsen's
and Prichard's request) the chief part of the transcript of the Berber MS.
in the possession of the Bible S----. I suppose I must do my best now to
get deeper into the language."
In May, 1845, Newman has been greatly interested in translating into
Greek, English verses "to test the _possibility_ of retaining any Greek
accent such as the books mark in singing." He has tried translating "Flow
on, thou shining river" in Greek, so that it might be sung to Moore's own
tune. One does not come across in his letters much reference to music, nor
does it seem as if he had any great taste for it--at any rate, not in the
same way as had Cardinal Newman, who had a real passion for it in earlier
years.
The later part of the letter has to do with the much-vexed question of the
"Maynooth Controversy."
Newman writes from "4, _Cavendish Place_, 12th _May_ 1845":--
"My dear Nicholson,
* * * * *
"I venture to enclose two tunes for the Sapphic metre, Greek and Latin, to
which my sister, at my request, has added an accompaniment. Will you be so
kind as to get Mrs. Nicholson to play the piano while you sing it, and
tell me what is to be said to it? While dabbling in some of these tunes, I
have translated divers scraps of English poetry into Greek,
experimentally, especially to test the _possibility_ of retaining any
Greek accent, such as the books mark, in singing. It seems to me a clear
impossibility, whether emphasis or sharpness of note predominated in the
accent. I have translated 'Flow on, thou shining river' to Moore's own
tune, so as to retain Greek accent _as well as_ quantity in exact
agreement to the music ... the commonest metres puzzle me most....
"I wonder what you think of the Maynooth Controversy? To me it has been so
puzzling a one that I have been heartily glad that nothing obliged me to
express an opinion.
"Some things seem clear to me: (1) That a measure for cutting down the
Church of Ireland, as by Lord Morpeth's Bill, would have been, and would
now be, far better in every respect than this of Sir R. Peel; (2) that the
present is a mode of perpetuating the _sinecure_ Church of Ireland by
paying the Romish, and real Church, out of English and Scotch funds. Hence
it is popular with many Irish Protestants, of which Sir R. Peel _boasts!_"
[Francis Newman seems to forget, in his frequent allusions to
"Protestants", that there was a National Church in Ireland, as in England,
long before the word which sprang into being at the Reformation had found
its feet.]
"If they (the Government) were pleading that a Romanist people ought to be
allowed to support their own Romish clergy, they could justly claim that
we, as a Protestant people, would not interfere on the ground of our
dislike to Romish doctrine. But when they demand to support Romanism out
of common funds, they implicate _us_ in the question, whether (on the
whole) _that_ religion contains more truth or error; and I think they
_force_ those who see it in black colours to urge the No Popery cry. So
far, I am disposed to justify the Anti-Maynooth war. Sir R. Inglis may be
a bigot in his view of Romanism ... but I think he is _not_ 'out of order'
in intruding the religious demerit of Romanism into a parliamentary
discussion. If this measure had been thrown out, I fear Ireland would have
been awfully embittered. Yet I hope the fierce opposition will stop any
future scheme of keeping the sinecure church untouched and endowing the
priests with imperial money.... Thus I halt between two opinions."
In November, 1843, Newman touches briefly upon the Oxford movement thus:--
"You do not seem to know that the _Record_ has been making a fuss this
last month about the Bishop of Oxford's public declaration that he never
requested my brother to suppress Tract 90. All he did was to suggest that
'the publication of the Tracts be discontinued,' which meant that there
was to be no No. 91. The Bishop indignantly disclaims the idea that my
brother had been disobedient.
* * * * *
"I am, for a week past, resting from Berber, having written to M. d'Avézac
in Paris to ask whether a report I heard is true, that he is preparing a
dictionary of it. I have ordered an Amharic grammar, too, and want to
compare them, but I abhor the Ethiopic type!.... I cannot get Kitto to
tell me whether the sale of the _Cyclopaedia_ is satisfactory."
As regards Irish affairs:--
"I have lately spoken at a meeting of the Friends of Ireland, and have
sent to the _Guardian_ newspaper here, [Footnote: Manchester Guardian.] in
reply to their demand that I would specify some plan, a paper on _Fixity
of Tenure_ for the cottiers of Ireland. I feel no doubt that this must ere
long become the great Irish question, of even more interest than the
ecclesiastical one...."
And in March he gives more news of his "Berber":--
"I am again at work at the Berber MS., which I have not touched since the
1st October. The Royal Asiatic Society have accepted my offer to edit it.
At present their pages are occupied with the history of Darius Hystaspis
from the rocks at (I think) Besittoon, near Hemadon--the most curious
document which recent research has brought to light, and, I am told,
confirming in detail the accounts of Herodotus."
The two following letters to Dr. Nicholson deal chiefly with matters
connected with John Sterling (who had recently died) and with Newman's
arrangements for adopting one of his children.
Perhaps most people are familiar with Carlyle's biography of Sterling, but
it may be as well to say here that he was a brilliant writer, a Liberal in
politics, and interested himself keenly in General Torrijos and his group
of Spanish exiles. When at college, at the age of nineteen, he came under
the influence of Julius Hare, his tutor. When he was twenty-six he again
fell in with Hare at Bonn, and here came to pass one of the mistakes of
his life. Chiefly through Hare's influence he took deacon's orders, and he
worked under Hare at Hurstmonceaux for the best part of a year. Very soon
afterwards he began to feel the breach growing wider between his own
convictions and those taught by the Church. He never, consequently, took
priest's orders. Through grievous ill-health his winters were passed at
Bordeaux, in Italy, or at Madeira. He died at Ventnor 18th Sept., 1843.
"While riding to-day I was meditating on the continual strain which the
pulling of my horse made on the left arm, while the right was idle; and it
struck me that this might conduce to the size of the muscles on that side.
Also my wife always leans on the left, as being stronger in her right
arm.... The hardest work I am put to is holding an umbrella against a
fierce wind; and in this my right hand certainly beats my left.... I have
had no bad nights since I left Manchester, except two which I attribute to
an excitement on meeting my sister, whom I had not seen for eight
years.... I mean to return home next Saturday. Since I left you an
important change of prospect in my domestic economy has occurred. I have
accepted the responsible office of guardian to the eldest son (thirteen
years old) of my dear dying friend Sterling, whom I went to see at
Ventnor, Isle of Wight. The lad will come to Manchester next week, and in
future live in our house, and I trust I shall love him as a son. He seems
a very affectionate boy. His mother died about eighteen months ago. I
found my poor friend on the whole stronger than I had expected, yet
steadily declining: long since convinced that his case was hopeless (and
indeed expecting his end sooner than those around him), yet thoroughly
calm and resigned to the gracious will of Him Who had so ordained it. Not
to mourn over talents so high and a will so upright thus prematurely to be
lost to us were impossible, even did I not know how truly brotherly in
affection is his heart to us. He will leave six orphan children. Yet this
calamity is relieved by the tenderness of his brother to them, and by the
existence of adequate supplies for all reasonable wants.... Tell your
little boy that I have to-day been out with a nephew of mine (Johnny
Kennaway) nearly of _his_ age, and he rides a little white pony. It was
almost too spirited for him, and I was once afraid it would run away with
him; but I could not do anything to help him but pull up my own horse
short and call to him to do the same....
"Believe me, my dear Nicholson,
"Your affectionate friend,
"Francis W. Newman."
This letter was written from Escot, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, [Footnote: His
wife's old home.] in September, 1844.
In 1841 Ward of Balliol brought out a very strong pamphlet, and accused
the Reformation of many changes in the English Church; as Rev. J. B.
Mozley says in his _Letters_, it was "a kind of strong interpretation of
No. XC, just as Pusey's ... is a mollifying one, proving that No. XC says
nothing but what our divines have said before." As regards "the statute",
the Hebdomadal Board had early in this year "proposed a new statute" for
the conferring of B.D. degrees.
"_30th Dec._, 1844.
"... I suppose you are busy with _Ewald's_ [Footnote: Dr. Nicholson was
the pupil of Ewald, and the first translator of his _Hebrew Grammar_.]
_Grammar_.... I shall be more at rest whenever circumstances put me into
that direct conflict with current opinion, which I dare not go out of my
way to provoke, and yet feel it to be my natural element. My antagonism to
'things as they are'--politically, scientifically, and theologically--
grows with my growth; and I believe that every year that delays change
more and more endangers destruction to our social framework."
I cannot forbear quoting here from a letter recently received by me from a
distant cousin of mine, Mr. George Grey Butler. He says: "I remember once
at table Mr. Newman saying (when asked his attitude on various public
questions), 'Oh! I am anti-slavery, anti-alcohol, anti-tobacco, anti-
_everything!_' with a twinkle in his eye which caused an outburst of mirth
amongst his listeners."
Rev. J. B. Mozley goes on to say, "Pusey will not take the test," (or
statute) "that he has declared publicly ... Hussey the Professor, Eden,
Baden Powell, and several Liberals, Price of Rugby, are all strong against
it.... Gladstone is very strong, and thinks every exertion ought to be
made against it."
On 7th Oct., 1844, Newman is expecting the arrival of the son of his old
friend, John Sterling. "Edward Sterling will probably come to us to-day;
his trunk is here already. I do not think you know that his father's
earthly career is over.... Sterling's will is like himself. He has so
strong a feeling of the wrong and absurdity of laying responsibility on
people, and yet fettering their discretion, that he has left the fullest
powers possible both to his brother as executor to manage his property and
the other children, and to me over Edward. He has directed £300 a year to
be paid me for Edward.... He was indeed a noble soul, and few know what a
loss it is; but those few rate it high. As Captain Sterling (his brother)
said, he had been accumulating wisdom all his life, and could he have
lived twenty years more to pour it out he would indeed have left behind
him a precious legacy.... Thomas Carlyle wrote a beautiful letter over
him. His little son knows not at all what a father he has lost; and as for
me, I want to tell him, but feel how hard it is."
In 1845 the taxes upon corn had caused great distress in England. But far
worse was the trouble in Ireland; for practically, through the potato
famine, owing to the thousands of acres which were blighted, there were
literally thousands dying of starvation. Cheap food was far more difficult
to get at there than in England, and at length at the close of the year
Sir Robert Peel said he would repeal the Corn Laws altogether. In 1846 the
Bill with this end in view passed through the House of Commons and House
of Lords and became law. But the consequence of this measure was in effect
the signal for Peel's going out of office, and his place was taken by Lord
John Russell.
To return to Newman's letter.
"You perhaps know that the Liberals at Oxford are likely to side with Ward
against the Heads. I do not see what else they can do; and I devoutly hope
that the tangle will be irremovable except by abolishing subscriptions.
Price of Rugby is all in a bristle about it. I much admire his spirit.
Baden Powell protests _in toto_ against the statute."
"_6th Nov._, 1845.
"My dear Nicholson,
* * * * *
"Your news about the potatoes unfortunately is no matter of private
information, but rings through our ears, and I am increasingly doubtful
whether we are to hope for open ports. I believe the League is right in
saying that Sir Robert's _next move_ will be for an absolutely free trade;
but _when_ that next move is to be must depend in part on his colleagues;
and the country must perhaps suffer much before they come over, or he
gains boldness to defy their opposition....
"If you have been reading the _New Prospective_, I dare say you will guess
that the article on 'Church Reform' is mine. I was not sorry to get it
printed, even in such a quarter--(though I know no other periodical that
is free enough to dare to print it. The _Westminster Review_ is not enough
in religious circles),--because I want to send it to Churches of various
grades, and get their opinion. I fear I have expressed myself too
sanguinely of Dissenting Co-operation. They seem to say they will support
_nothing_ that does not go to length of alienating the whole Church
property to secular uses."
On 16th April, 1846, politics are touched on again.
"_16th April_, 1846.
"My dear Nicholson,
"I have sent one or two 'Leagues' of late to my brother-in-law in
Devonshire, thinking that they had in them matter of instruction to
him.... Does not Peel appear of late to have made himself as little as of
old? Yet I rejoice in his obstructing a mere Whig ministry of the orthodox
kind; and although his course has heaped misery on Ireland, nothing less
severe, I imagine, would brace England up to the stringent remedies which
alone can save that country;--nor are we _yet_ screwed to the point!...
"I have finished the Berber MS. as far as the Arabic had been translated,
viz. twenty-eight folio pages: four more remain, of which I cannot
understand either the Berber or the Arabic. I suppose neither could Mr.
Hodgson understand them; for while he professes to have translated the
whole of the Arabic, he has quietly omitted these. I naturally turn myself
to your aid. I have quite ascertained that the Arabic and Berber _do
correspond_....
"I am trying to move my house, i.e. to get into a new shell, further from
the smoke. [Footnote: Newman had not yet left Manchester New College.]
Edward Sterling's little brother, aged five and a half, is now with us;
and especially for his sake I desire to have pure air.... I am sorry to
say she" (Newman's wife) "is becoming more and more afflicted with
rheumatism. I am about to send her to Malvern, where one of her sisters
now is, to try a hydropathist physician there--a regularly educated man.
As she must take little Johnny S. and her own maid, and another to help in
bathings, and look after the child, it is quite a nomad eruption and
waggon-load of Scythians.
"My sister's child, a boy of Johnny S.'s age, fell into the fire six or
seven weeks ago, and was almost burnt to death. The poor little fellow
endured agonies, but is at last nearly recovered.... It seems a wonderful
recovery."
The next letter notifies his election as Latin Professor in University
College.
"_London. 6th July_, 1846.
"My dear Nicholson,
"A few words just to say that on Saturday I was elected Latin Professor in
L. U. C., and to thank you once more for your valuable aid. Hoping Mrs. N.
continues well, and with kind regards to her, and the children,
"I am, ever yours affectionately,
"Francis W. Newman."