Year: 1859

My grandfather was appointed rector Of
little village in Nottinghamshire in the year
1888. l am myself an old man, having mem
ories of more or less importance attached to
every year of this century; and | could box,
wrestle, play cricket, and had even made speech
es against the Jacohins before eighteen hundred
was born or thought of.


A clergyman's life was not quite so strict a
matter hundred years ago as II is to-day. The
priests neither cared to rule themselves by so
high a standard as our modern clergy do nor
was it expected of them by their iocks. Mr.
Humes Essays had a great influence among
those younger clergy who thought, and the GUS
toms and laws of 1.-THE town" among those who
did not think. Though this was an evil Of a
tremendous kind, there was one benefit in it
which we are apt nowadays to overlOok-the
clergy had more sympathy with those persons
who would not come Immediately under their
influence than they have under the present sys-
TEN. 1t is thought very shocking now for a
priest to be seen in the theatre and scarcely less
so at the opera house, while, il he were 10 Wis
it Cremorne or Roshervillc Gardens, or High
bury Barn, it is most likely his congregation
would take such offence that they would move
away in a flock as multitudinous and final as
migration of swallows. But in my grandiath-
er's time, priests and actors were found i'll daily
communion indeed, such men as Bishop War
burton and David Garrick were friends even
Mr. Whitetcld desired his people to go to the
comical Ned Shutters benefit, as that celebrated
actor was "gracious soul;'' and the sons Of
other clergymon than DR. Primrose went upon
the stage as Il means of livelihood while every
country rector who came up to town made a
point of seeing Mr. Mossop and Mr. Garrick in
Shakespeare's plays, and of visiting Nauxhall
and Ranelagh.


Just such time of visiting London had come
to my grandfather in the spring Of 1903. He
was then in the twenty fifth year of his age, and
resolved to enjoy himself for time on the
strength of his recent presentation. lie had
never been in town before the nearest approach
he had made to metropolitan pleasures were
such as his restricted allowance had afforded
him during his studentship at Cambridge
Hence it was he was resolved not merely to
have dip, but thorough plunge, into the
amusements of London.


Accordingly he went to Drury Lane, saw Mr.
Mossop in Hamlet" and Mr. Garick in whole
series of characters. lie saw Mr. Barry in
"Richard ILL.," at Convent Gardens. He was
present when Mr. Garrick and Mrs Give ap-
peared in the new play of "'rhe Upholsterer, or
what News ?" and saw the quidnunc of the day
running himself by trembling for the ruin of the
nation. He was at Mr. Shutters benefit in the
BOLD Stroke for Wife," which had not been
acted for so long He went to the entertain
ment at Marylebone Gardens, and the wire
rope dancing and concerts on the Jews harp at
Sadlers Wells. lie drank the waters with the
genteel company at lslington Spa He heard
Handel's "Acis and Galatea" at Ranelagh, Wis
tied the Camel and Dromcdary, saw the moving
figure of the great King of Prussia, and every
other rarity with which the town were amusing
itself.


There was one thing which was a matter of
perpetual unrest to my grandfather; namely,
that he was unmarried. lie had those manners
which are pleasant to ladies, or, as it would
have been expressed in his days, to the sex he
was well made in limb, and somewhat hand
some in feature; of very afIable disposition /;
not given to drinking, gaming, or attending the
cockpit only little partial to the races ready
always either for cards or for dancing indeed,
the sort Of young gentleman ladies were sup
posed to like. Yet he could find no lady an
swering to that standard his eyes and his heart
set up. He wished for one of gay and pleas
ant disposition, yet free from those vices which
the ladies of the plays, novels essays, and me-
moirs Of the age possess, and exhibit so sadly
one, in fact, who did not make the torn her
rule of lifei who would find more delight in
*Though only for once See Lackngton's Memoirs.