Proceed we next to one whose house Porson for a long series of years
frequented with more familiarity and regular intimacy, than that of
almost any body else. The expression of regular intimacy is deliberately
used; for, in this respect, the Professor was particularly wayward.
After visiting at a friend’s house, for perhaps four or five days in
succession, he would abruptly, and without any assignable reason, absent
himself for as many weeks. The individual of whom we are about to speak,
did not in this respect fare better than his neighbours. This individual
was
⸺.
It appears from the scattered memoranda, from which what follows has
been compiled and arranged, that our Sexagenarian’s acquaintance with
him commenced in childhood, but different places of education, and a
different period of residence at the university, occasioned a separation
for many years; the connection was renewed, on again meeting in the
metropolis.
His history in few words is this:
His father was a clergyman, and master of an endowed free-school in
Yorkshire. He received a small number of private boarders into his
house, which, with the addition of curacies, enabled him to live with
respectability and comfort. The fortunes of men often turn upon slight
hinges, and he who has the sagacity to avail himself of the favourable
opportunities which present themselves, without any imputation on his
integrity, is justly entitled to esteem and praise.
The elder Mr. ⸺ was a very good scholar, remarkably quick and
intelligent, and, very differently from the general herd of masters of
seed-shops and seminaries, by courtesy ycleped boarding schools, his plan
of educating his pupils was admirable. He knew the right way, and pursued
it: he was not satisfied with his boys having a sort of smattering of
this book and the other—what they knew, they knew effectually; for their
knowledge was grounded on the most familiar intimacy with grammar. He was
also of a sociable and convivial temper, and exceedingly acceptable to
the gentlemen of the neighbourhood.
Fortunately for him, and, indeed, for his family, he served the curacy of
a village (the name is now forgotten by the writer), where Lord ⸺, who
married the gay, alas! too gay, daughter of Lord ⸺ resided. Lord ⸺ was
at that time a great favourite with the Queen; and, at the intercession
of his daughter, his Lordship applied to her Majesty for a presentation
to a great and popular seminary, for the subject of this article. The
request was granted; and thus the foundation of his future good fortune
was permanently laid. But this was not all the good derived to the family
from this splendid connection.—In process of time, the old gentleman, who
well deserved it, obtained from the kindness of the same noble family,
very valuable preferment. Another son also was enabled from the same
source to appear with great distinction in life, was confidentially and
honourably employed in their affairs, and did at one time at least, if
not now, represent in parliament one of the boroughs in this interest.
But, to return to our immediate subject. He passed through the ordinary
routine of a public school with credit, whence he removed to Cambridge,
acquitted himself with great respectability, became a fellow of the
society, and, at the usual period, entered into orders. He was for
a time curate of the parish in which some of the relatives of that
unfortunate India Captain who perished at sea in the Holwell, resided,
and he preached on that occasion a funeral sermon which he was afterwards
induced to publish. As far as recollection is of avail, the discourse
was in every respect highly creditable to his sensibility and judgment.
A vacancy happening at the public school where he was educated, among
the under masters, he removed thither, and most probably was invited to
do so. After various gradations, he rose to the chief situation, which
he retained till his death. He obtained at different times, different
pieces of preferment, and having always his house full of pupils, in all
probability died opulent.
His connection with Porson commenced at the university, and was only
interrupted by that which breaks all human bonds asunder—a summons
to the grave. Different as they were in the powers of intellect, and
attainments of learning, properly so called, though it is by no means
intended to insinuate, that this gentleman’s talents and learning were
not very highly reputable, yet there was a certain congeniality of mind
and sentiment between him and Porson, which tended to confirm and cement
their intimacy. They took the same decided line in politics; both were
strenuous advocates, at first, at least, of the French Revolution, both
associated intimately with its warmest defenders, and both were alike
sceptical on certain points of ecclesiastical controversy. Of the subject
of this article, it was facetiously remarked by a Barrister, who was
one of his auditors, that having engaged to preach at Lincoln’s Inn, on
Trinity Sunday, he preached against the Trinity. But perhaps by this
remark no more was intended, than that the preacher did not enter very
profoundly into the question, but rather permitted it to escape in a
vapour of generality.
Both these worthies were deluded enough to think Fox the true lover,
and Pitt the decided enemy of his country. But what will not the spirit
of party do? Now, in our opinion, and in more instances than one, Fox
was the enemy of his country. But we are well aware that these may be
called prejudices on the other side; and it is not intended to throw down
the glove for political hostility in this narrative. To show, however,
our candour, the following ingenious nonsense is inserted, which some
have given to Porson, others to ⸺. It is more probable to have been the
production of the former, who had a great talent for splendid trifles;
for trifles they certainly are, even when such a genius sports with them.
ORACULA ECHUS
DE BELLO ET STATU NATIONIS.
Huc ades, huc ades prestò, resonabilis Echo
ἨΚΩ.
Romanam credidi—οἶσθα καὶ ελληνιστι ΛΑΛΕΙΝ
ΛΑΛΕΙΝ.
Forsan & Gallicè, polyglolta, possis loqui?
O QU’OUI.
Et Anglica nostra non sit tibi prorsus igNOTA?
NOTA.
Benè, τετραφωνήσς καγω—si tibi non dis-PLICET.
LICET.
Quid tibi videtur, Dea! de hocce Gallico BELLO?
HELL, O.
Ignoscas, Cara, dicendum Anglicè, O, HELL!
O, HELL!
Scilicet auctor hujus Belli est ipse ΔιαΒΟΛΟΣ.
ὉΛΟΣ.
Et instrumenta Diaboli boni regis Ministri sunt?
I SUNT.
Num isti regis Ministri sciunt quid FACIUNT?
SCIUNT.
Sed nobis, vili Plebeculæ, consilia sua dicere NOLUNT?
NOLUNT.
Audesne tu, Dea! Belli veram dicere CAUSAM
AUSIM.
Equidem pugnari putavi, primò Libertatis aMORE.
ΜΩΡΕ!
Secundò certamen esse pro sacra ConstitutiONE
O NE!
Sic tamen solet ὁ Δεινα crePARE.
A RE.
Periclitari navigium, clamitat ille ναυκΛΗΡΟΣ.
ΛΗΡΟΣ.
Τον βασιλεα, τους Νομους, την Εκκλησιαν, κινδυ ΝΕUΕΙΝ.
NEW WINE.
Non aliter, tamen ille _Sobrius_ DUNDASSUS loqui sOLET.
OLET.
Αλλ’ ἀυτος ὁ Πωρτλανδος τουτους αποδεχεται τους λΟΓΟΥΣ
O GOOSE.
Et ipse WYNDHAMUS devorat dictamina PITTI
PITY!
And even BURKE himself now listens to DUNDASS
ASS!
Hinc in FOXIUM, ἡμιθεον, tantum concitatur ODII.
O, DII!
Qui tamen Patriam, ut aiunt, quàm maxumè adAMAT.
AMAT.
Et enixè tuetur sacra Anglorum JURA.
JURA.
Quàm, ergo, Anglorum Populus ingratus mihi viDETUR!
DETUR.
Ce peuple ne voit pas les miseres de la GUERRE.
GUERES.
Ni l’infinitè des maux qui doit s’en SUIVRE
SUIVRE.
Quot, quæso, sunt mala metuenda pro PaTRIA?
TRIA.
Τις, δεομαι, τουτων ἡ πρωτη συμΦΟΡΑ;
ΦΟΡΑ.
Intelligo: secunda calamitas erit iNEDIA.
ΝΗ, ΔΙΑ!
Και ἡ τριτη, γογγυσμος του λαου απορ’ΡΗΤΟΣ?
ΡΗΤΟΣ.
Και τα λοιπα ταχα, θεα! αμεινον τα νυν ΣΙΓΑΝ?
ΣΙΓΑΝ.
At causas Belli nondum dixisti:—apertè loQUERE.
QUÆRE.
Quræram:—αλλα ψιθυριζωμεν, ει και σοι ΔΟΚΕΙ.
ΔΟΚΕΙ.
Peutêtre, on fait la guerre, en partie, pour plaire AU ⸺?
AU ⸺.
Et sur tout, pour empêcher une reforme DES ⸺?
DES ⸺.
Et pour êtablir un systeme de pure ⸺?
⸺.
Dic mihi, quis erit hujusmodi Belli EVENTUS?
VENTUS.
Scilicet, frustrà tentamus istos subjicere GALLOS?
ἈΛΛΩΣ.
Precamur ergo Deos, ut quam maturimè finiatur certAMEN.
AMEN.
Whoever was the author of the above facetiousness, was indebted for the
idea to a book of no common occurrence, of which the title is “Lusus
Imaginis Jocosæ sive Echus, a variis Poetis, variis linguis et numeris
exculti. Ex Bibliotheca Theodori Dousæ, I. F. Accessit M. Schoockii
Dissertatio de natura Soni et Echus. Ultrajecti. Ex officina Ægidii
Roman. Acad. Typog. 1638.”
The volume consists of poems, in the style and manner of that above
printed, in Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Dutch, German, and English; as
for example:
Echo in Nuptias
Nobiliss. Viri HENRICI Van EEDEN
et Nobil. Virginis DOUSÆ, quæ
maternum stemma ducit e familia
Dominorum Van REEDEN.
Dic age quem thalamo deposcit filia REEDEN?
_Eeden_—num thalamo vota parata? _rata._
Num sponsum moresque probos adamabit? _amabit_
Qualis ei conjunx? res operosa? _rosa._
Quæ pestis procul esse velis? _lis_—optima virtus
Conjugii quæ sit, dic mihi clamor? _amor._
Dicite saxa, thori quæ spes, num fœmina vel mas
_Mas._ At Posteritas quos sibi dicet avos?
_Vos._ Sibi num celebres Downas annectere gaudet?
_Audet_—Quid sponso dicere mane? _mane_—
Num colet Henricus teneram siue labe puellam?
_Ellam_—num magnum credet amare? _mare_—
An mihi tam chari thalami fas dicere civis?
_Si vis_—at Musæ si faveant? _aveant_—
Num candor, doctrina, boni cultura sodalis,
Et probitans illi est unica Thais? _ais._
C. BARLÆUS.
This Caspar, or Gaspar Barlæus was a very learned physician of Antwerp,
of whom Vossius says, “Dubium Poeta melior an Philosophus.” Many of his
works are extant, and highly esteemed. But, to return to our subject.
Let not such of ⸺’s surviving friends as may peruse this article take
offence, when it is asserted that he was not the most profound of
scholars, nor was his taste the finest and most accurate in the world;
but he was certainly an excellent teacher, and many very eminent scholars
have been produced under his guidance. He was far from deficient in
judgment, was possessed of excellent common sense, and was wise enough
to turn his familiar and intimate connection with Porson to excellent
use. Many a lecture on the Greek dramas has smacked sensibly of the
Professor. It is not known that he ever wrote any thing by which (the
sermon above-mentioned excepted) his intellectual powers, or acquired
attainments, can be brought to the test. The oration which follows in the
Appendix was undoubtedly of his composition. As one of Porson’s has been
exhibited, composed by him in very early youth, it should be noticed that
the oration subjoined was produced not a great while before ⸺ changed
this state for a better.
They who are so disposed may there, if they please, enter into a critical
examination and comparison of the Latinity of these two distinguished
personages. We have something else to do. It is not pretended to say
that the author of this last oration was defective in good taste with
respect to literary composition, but it is rather extraordinary that so
protracted a course of scholastic discipline did not create more. One
thing is alike remarkable and certain, and was notorious to the pupils in
almost every division of their classes, that their master had no great
talent for versification. They who have seen the Masters of Westminster,
of Eton, or Harrow, correct verse exercises, must be well aware of the
extreme readiness, facility, and precision, with which a false quantity
is detected, an unpoetical word erased, a better substituted, and every
part of the rhythm accurately determined. Whereas the learned man of
whom we are speaking, made few or no remarks when correcting verse
exercises, and was generally satisfied—with putting a mark under the
mistakes of his _boobies_. This is not intended to depreciate his value
as a schoolmaster. By no means; as a master, he had the more useful and
valuable qualities, though he could not be said to have had much of
poetry in his composition.
It is an old and generally received adage, “a man is known by the company
he keeps.” We will not altogether apply this to ⸺ in the present case,
because it is most willingly conceded that he had a great share of
mildness and benevolence in his temper; and perhaps it might be illiberal
to infer, that his kindness to certain individuals was the result of
an entire congeniality and community of feeling. We trust that it was
not, and more particularly with respect to one person, hereafter to be
mentioned.
Of the subject of this article, little more remains to be said, than that
he died prematurely, and much lamented by an extensive circle of friends
and acquaintance. It does not appear that he left behind him any thing
with the view of publication, though among his manuscripts, particularly
when his long intimacy with Porson is remembered, there must probably
have been many things well deserving of public notice.
Alterum genus est eorum, qui quanquam premuntur ære alieno,
dominationem tamen expectant: rerum potiri volunt, honores
quos quieta republica desperant, perturbata consequi se posse
arbitrantur.