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"The papers tell you of all the University news, which has of late been a great article there; what with the King of Naples, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Townshend, &c. The other day the Chancellor's medals were adjudged to the new Bachelors, who were Apthorp* and Castley †, both of Jesus-college; Castley Senior Wrangler. There were six other candidates, all of great merit. Dr. George ‡, after examining one of them in Demosthenes, harangued some time on that orator; on which Meredith, of Trinity, the Senior Westminster, went up and told the Provost, they were not to examine him but the lad, and he desired to take him now himself!

"The Earl of Strathmore §, a Scotch Peer, is admitted at Pembroke, and is a pretty young fellow. I have a private pupil, an American; and Jamaica is like to do me more credit than Barbadoes did. They are sitting at St. John's for Fellowships; I fear Monins will yield to Abbot ||.

"The Master goes to London in a few days; and enters on waiting at Court the beginning of April, as my brother does at Whitehall at the same time; and we propose to dine one day with the Master at the Chaplains' table. Your friend George Lynch¶ is well and behaves well; is so good a kind of man, and so much esteemed among us, that we are very sociable with him, and hope to have him one of us in very good time. Harvey** is a very regular, industrious, and good lad, deserves our notice and favour as often as we can show it. One Lorton, a friend of Herring, was admitted a few days ago, and my pupil a little before. We have three Kenricks††; and expect the two Stanleys very soon. *East Apthorp, D.D. memoirs of whom will be found in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. III. p. 94; vol. VII. pp. 11, 503.

Thomas Castley, Fellow of Jesus, B. A. 1755, M. A. 1758. He was for many years Chaplain at Castletown in the Isle of Man, and Master of the Grammar-school there, at which nearly all the next generation of Manks clergy were his pupils. His wife died at Castletown, May 18, 1804; and he at Islington, near Liverpool, in 1808, aged 78.-His son, of the same names, and also a Fellow of Jesus-college, proceeded B.A. in 1787, as eighth Wrangler, and M.A. 1790. He was presented by that Society in 1808, to the Rectory of Cavendish in Suffolk, where be still resides; and announced for publication in 1810, "Essays and Dissertations in Philology, History, Politics, and Common Life.

William George, D. D. Provost of King's.

John the ninth Earl, who married the great heiress Miss Bowes, and died in 1776, aged 38.

Richard Monins (of whom before in p. 698) and William Abbot both became Fellows of St. John's. The latter was Senior Wrangler in 1754, and proceeded M. A. 1757, B. D. 1764. He was collated by Archbishop Drummond in 1767 to the Prebend of Fridaythorpe in the Cathedral of York, and was the oldest member of that church at his death, which took place at Ramsgate, Jan. 15, 1826, at the age of 93.

See before, p. 612.

** Richard Harvey, B. A. 1758, M. A. 1761.

tt John, Matthew, and Jarvis, sons of Matthew Kenrick, Esq. Commissioner of Stamps and of Bankrupts, and nephews to Scawen Kenrick, D. D. of whom in Masters's History of Bene't-college, p. 326. Jarvis Kenrick, B. A. 1759, M. A. 1763. Matthew Kenrick, LL. B. 1762, LL. D.

Clagett* writes seldom; I have heard nothing of him since he left us after our audit. He is the same worthy, friendly, pleasant sort of man he ever was. Duncombe is an excellent correspondent and a most valuable friend; I hear from him every week, and enjoy a very improving and entertaining correspondence with him. For society and conversation I am often obliged to look abroad, as it is not always confined to the walls of Corpus Christi college. We have one or two very agreeable clubs, consisting of some of the cleverest M. A. in the University, of which I will tell you when we meet. Being ever, dear Sir, "Your sincere friend, J. SHARP."

6. " Aug. 29, 1755. The old House will ere long be very populous, for we can scarce provide apartments for our Members. Since the commencement, we have admitted the Hon. Mr. Scott, brother to the Earl of Deloraine, now resident with us as a Fellow Commonert. He was sent here by Lord Anson, his guardian, and recommended by Mr. Charles Yorke. Since this we have had the son of the late Mr. Brock Rand admitted ; and yesterday came the worthy Mr. Stanley, and entered both his sons in the good old House, to which they bid fair of being as great a credit as their father and grandfather before them §. The Master informs me, that Mr. Webb, Member for Haslemere |, proposes to send his son quickly to Bene't; and he has offered to recommend me as his private tutor. Thus flourishes the ancient House. We have this vacation repaired the library, had the books put into better condition by a binder in the College; and when the 1776. He died Rector of Blechingley in Surrey in 1803, and was father of William Kenrick, Esq. the Welch Judge, who died in 1829, and of whom in Gent. Mag. vol. XCIX. ii. p. 565.

* William Clagett, Fellow of Bene't, B. A. 1749, M. A. 1753.

+ The Hon. John Scott was a Commissioner of Bankrupts and died in 1788, aged 50; see Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, by Wood, vol. I. p. 410.

Also named Brock, and proceeded B. A. 1760, being sixth Wrangler, M. A. 1763. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 106.

§ The grandfather was William Stanley, D. D. Dean of St. Asaph, Archdeacon of London, and Master of Bene't from 1693 to 1698. He was a nephew of Bishop Beveridge, and, having been a native of Hinckley, has a long memoir in the History of Leicestershire, vol. IV. pp. 742-744. His son, the Rev. Francis Stanley, was for a few years Vicar of Shoreditch (where he preceded Archdeacon Denne), and afterward Rector of Hadham in Hertfordshire. The grandsons Richard and Francis entered at Bene't in 1755; they both took their B.A. degree in 1760, when they ranked together as second and first Senior Optime; Richard M. A. 1763, was a barrister; elected Recorder of Hertford 1780, and died holding that office, and being a Senior Bencher of the Inner Temple, at Much Hadham, Aug. 5, 1810. Francis, M. A. 1763, was presented to the vicarage of North Weald in Essex, in 1764, by Dr. Plumer, and to the rectory of Eastwick in Her fordshire by the son of the same patron, in 1781. The latter he resigned about three years before before his death. Having succeeded to the family estate at Much Hadham on his brother's death, he died there, April 18, 1827, aged 90. Philip Carteret Webb, Esq.

whole is finished they are to be new classed, &c. The library and chapel look very smart to the garden; the former new slated, and with new windows. These particulars relating to the whole House, will, I dare say, be not unacceptable to you, who will not forget your former relation thereto; but be as zealous as the worthy Archdeacon in its service. Have you found time to read through the second part of our History? The account of Dr. Scawen Kenrick I find has given offence; and, as we suppose, the cause of it may easily be accounted for, as well as the first author. At my leisure I have made some MS. observations on the book, have continued the Catalogue of Names, am writing a copy of the College Statutes, with a list of the Fellows in their successions in each Fellowship, with other things towards another MS. volume.

"When I have the pleasure of seeing you, I shall tell you a great deal about Norwich. I was at their new assembly twice. The apartments were designed by the Master of Caius *; but there is a room in them sacred to the Corporation, and other jolly fellows, no other than a combination-room, well stored with pipes, port, and tobacco, for which you pay one shilling at your admittance. The ladies were very brilliant; but disgusted me a good deal with their Norfolk dialect, the very reverse of what is elegant and harmonious. We were last week at Ely on a visit to the good old Prelate † there, who looks very well, and received us very graciously. We met Soame Jenyns there, and were invited to supper, though we were in the first part of the evening at the Ely Assembly in our canonicals; but to describe this truly bread and cheese club would require Hogarth's pencil. We met there Mr. Gooch and his lady, and others of the Ely Clergy. The tickets are one shilling; for which you are entitled to as much tea and coffee, or ham and chicken, as you please. They play very low. The Rev. Mr. Watkins, a large Minor Canon, was there in his night-gown. He never plays beyond threepences; and keeps store of the small silver coin for prompt payment."

"How Barnadiston's People here seem to

7. From a letter dated Nov. 29, 1755. interest stands at Lambeth I cannot tell. wonder at his staying so long at College in such circumstances, and begin to set him down for a College living. His income is very considerable from the pupils, the College being very full, within one or two of threescore. Mr. Burnaby, one of the Clerks of the Treasury, admitted his son Fellow Commoner with us a few weeks ago, when the Master was so kind as to recommend me for his private tutor."

8. "Corpus Christi college, Camb. Feb. 13, 1756. At our audit it was unanimously, agreed to face the Hall of the College with * Sir James Burrough, Knt. + Dr. Green.

stone, after the manner of some other Colleges. The historian presented a plan for that purpose; but within these few days his working brain has projected another, which is no other than making a new court of the Pensionary one; that building to be removed to the west end of the Chapel, and a new building to run across from the kitchen side, which is to be lengthened. By this means, he says, we shall have more apartments for our increase of members; and the scheme will not cost more than a quarter of what the plan before his History would have amounted to. In this case, the Master's Lodge, as on one side of the Court, is to be new fronted. We talk of beginning to case the kitchen side by Lady Day. I was surprised the other morning at going to the garden to find the great man in a night cap and a great coat, measuring with poles set up round the Pensionary. You are to know, perhaps, that our Historian indisputably pays his addresses to Miss Conny Cory, of Freeschool-lane, granddaughter of the celebrated antiquarian Master Cory, the quondam Rector of Landbeach."

9.

*

"March 12, 1756.

"Our new Bachelors are now contending for the Chancellor's medals. Webster is a candidate, and superior to any of them in academical learning; but, as this matter is to depend on the knowledge of languages and composition, the Etonians and Westminsters will be formidable competitors.

"Mr. Gray, our elegant Poet, and delicate Fellow Commoner of Peter-house, has just removed to Pembroke-hall, in resentment of some usage he met with at the former place. The case is much talked of, and is this. He is much afraid of fire, and was a great sufferer in Cornhill; he has ever since kept a ladder of ropes by him, soft as the silky cords by which Romeo ascended to his Juliet, and has had an iron machine fixed to his bed-room window. The other morning, Lord Percival and some Petrenchians, going a hunting, were determined to have a little sport before they set out, and thought it would be no bad diversion to make Gray bolt, as they called it, so ordered their man Joe Draper to roar out fire. A delicate white night-cap is said to have appeared at the window; but finding the mistake, retired again to the couch. The young fellows, had he descended, were determined, they said, to have whipped the butterfly up again.

"At Bene't, Mr. Masters, in the midst of as much mortification, opposition, and disappointment as ever, has sat for his picture. Numbers resort to it; and he is allowed to be neighing on the very canvas. Many people inquired if there is not a miniature piece for a lady's watch, others of a copper-plate

John Webster, of Bene't; see "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. 615. This extract (observes Mr. Denne) ascertains the date of the portrait by Kerrich, supposing it to be what is mentioned in Urban's Obituary.

for the History; and others why an old abbey, or a distant prospect of Free-school-lane, is not drawn near him.”

[There is a letter of the Rev. John Sharp in 1765, relating some particulars of Dr. Johnson's visit to Cambridge in that year, printed in Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LV. p. 178; see also vol. C. i. 295.]

Rev. SAMUEL DENNE to Rev. John Denne. "DEAR BROTHER,

Vauxhall, Feb. 17, 1757.

"I was not at home on Tuesday, or I would have returned an immediate answer to that part of your letter which relates to the man who was formerly an Anabaptist. I have communicated it to my father, who is of opinion that, unless the young fellow's scruples can be removed, and he convinced in his conscience that immersion is not absolutely necessary, the Archbishop cannot dispense with the form. You must, however, consult his Grace on the affair. My father does not apprehend how the ceremony can be decently performed at Maidstone, as you have no proper place for dipping in the Church, and your river is so much exposed, and therefore thinks you ought to look out for some small church contiguous to the river; but, for my own part, I am of opinion it will be most advisable to let his Grace determine the place and manner.

"My mother told you, that I had officiated as Chaplain to Mr. High Sheriff*. We had a city dinner. Our company consisted chiefly of persons who had done honour to their country in that office, inhabitants of Southwark and Bermondsey; and, as far as I can find, I shall meet but few gentlemen at the Assizes who do not live in the neighbourhood of London. There are so many merchants, &c. who are proud of appearing before my Lords the Judges, that the country gentlemen are not afraid of being fined for non-attendance.

"The evening papers will probably tell you the unanimous opinion of the Judges concerning Mr. Byng's sentence, that it is a legal one. If this be true, he seems to be in imminent danger. Lord Md's character as a lawyer is not a little sullied by an affair which happened last week. Lady Ferrers appeared in the Court of King's Bench to swear the peace against her Lord; upon which a motion was made by her Counsel, for an attachment to bring his Lordship into Court. Upon this the chief demurred, as thinking he had no power over a Peer of Parliament till the opinion of the House of Lords should be known. It was by them adjudged that, in all cases where the peace is violated, not only the King's Courts, but every Justice, has a power of securing the persons of Peers. The other Judges, especially Foster, were much chagrined at seeing the dignity of their Court questioned by one who ought to have supported it. I am, most sincerely yours, S. DENNE." * Sir Joseph Mawbey, of Kennington, Bart. Sheriff of Surrey.

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