The Next Morning Before Nine O'clock We Were Told That Mr. Rogers,
The Poet, Was Downstairs.
I could not imagine what had brought him
out so early, but found that Moore, the poet, had come to town and
would stay but a day, and we must go that very morning and breakfast
with him at ten o'clock.
We went and found a delightful circle. I
sat between Moore and Rogers, who was in his very best humor. Moore
is but a wreck, but most a interesting one.
LETTER: To Mr. and Mrs. I.P.D.
Nuneham Park, July 27, 1847
My dear Uncle and Aunt: . . . I must go back to the day when my
last letters were despatched, as my life since has been full of
interest. On Monday evening, the 19th, we went to the French play,
to see Rachel in "Phedre." She far surpassed my imagination in the
expression of all the powerful passions. . . . On Tuesday Mr.
Bancroft went down to hear Lord John make a speech to his
constituents in the city, while I went to see Miss Burdett-Coutts
lay the corner-stone of the church which "the Bishop of London has
permitted her to build," to use her own expression in her note to
me. In the evening we dined there with many of the clergy, and Lord
Brougham, Lord Dundonald, etc. I went down with the Dean of
Westminster, who was very agreeable and instructive. He and Dr.
Whately have the simplicity of children, with an immense deal of
knowledge, which they impart in the most pleasant way. Saturday,
the 24th, we were to leave town for our first country excursion. We
were invited by Dr. Hawtrey, the Head Master of Eton, to be present
at the ceremonies accompanying the annual election of such boys on
the Foundation as are selected to go up to King's College,
Cambridge, where they are also placed on a Foundation. From reading
Dr. Arnold's life you will have learned that the head master of one
of these very great schools is no unimportant personage. Dr.
Hawtrey has an income of six or seven thousand pounds. He is
unmarried, but has two single sisters who live with him, and his
establishment in one of the old college houses is full of elegance
and comfort. We took an open travelling carriage with imperials,
and drove down to Eton with our own horses, arriving about one
o'clock. At two, precisely, the Provost of King's College,
Cambridge, was to arrive, and to be received under the old gateway
of the cloister by the Captain of the school with a Latin speech.
After dinner there is a regatta among the boys, which is one of the
characteristic and pleasing old customs. All the fashionables of
London who have sons at Eton come down to witness their happiness,
and the river bank is full of gayety. The evening finished with the
most beautiful fireworks I ever saw, which lighted up the Castle
behind and were reflected in the Thames below, while the glancing
oars of the young boatmen, and the music of their band with a merry
chime of bells from St. George's Chapel, above, all combined to give
gayety and interest to the scene.
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