Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

ib. 1. 39 seq.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

1765. Powell's support of Paley for the Latin essay

1773. Jebb's account of the reception of his scheme for

an annual examination

1774. Alarm and controversies called forth by it
1756. Powell's sermon on the vices incident to academi-

cal life

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

NOTES.

The notes signed with Wm. Cole's name are taken from his transcript of this history in the British Museum (MS. Cole, Vol. XLIX.).

"The following History of St John's College, composed by the late worthy and revd. Mr Tho. Baker, fellow of the said House, was given 5 by the author to the late worthy Edward earl of Oxford and Mortimer, with a considerable number of his other MSS., and composed a part of what was then called the Harleian Library, now lodged in the British Museum. That Mr. Baker had a design to publish it, is evident from what he says in his preface, p. lv. of Bp. Fisher's Funeral Sermon on IO the Countess of Richmond. When we recover such a fund of old history, in regard to a most flourishing society, we are more apt to regret the loss of the more modern part, than to be duly grateful for what is already prepared for us: thus was I going to lament, that a person so ably qualified to have drawn out the history of his own times, should leave 15 off with Bp. Gunning's mastership, in King Charles the 2d's reign. But when we consider the force of prejudice and party, of which Mr Baker in his life time felt its full weight, and even since his death cannot escape the rage of it, no doubt he acted prudently to stop where he did.

20

'The MS. from whence I copy the following history, is a folio, containing 441 written pages, and about an hundred blank pages at the end: it is bound in red morocco leather, and elegantly gilt, at the expence of the late Dr. Newcome, master of the college, who had it copied from the original in the British Museum, and gave it to the college. It seems 25 Dr Newcome had a better opinion of the value of it, and the worth of the author, than his successor, who could speak of neither with patience or moderation: and tho' a learned, ingenious and worthy man, yet was full of invincible prejudices and obstinate partialities. The MS. was procured for me by the rev. Mr Beadon, late fellow of the college, and orator 30 of the university, who asked the present master, Dr Chevallier, vice chancellor, with whom I have not the honour of acquaintance, for leave that I might have it to Milton, in order to copy it, and who as readily, as politely obliged me with it, in the last week in June 1777, and for as long a time as I pleased.

35

'Mr. Beadon is chancellor of St. David's, archdeacon of London, rector of Stamford-Rivers in Essex, of the gift of the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, the earl of Clarendon, and of Orset in Essex also, of the patronage of Bp. Terrick, to whom he was chaplain. Mr Richard Beadon B.D. is brother to Mr. Beadon, rector of North-Stoneham near Ports

mouth in Hampshire, who was also fellow of St. John's College, and being tutor to Lord Bute's son, at the time of Mr. Fuller, the rector's death, the living falling to the crown, by the lunacy of the patron, Mr. Fleming of Stechworth, in Cambridgeshire, the earl procured it for Mr. Beadon: otherwise, I had a chance for it. 5

'The late master, Dr. Powell's opinion of this book, I have already hinted at: a more particular account of it may be seen in my vol. 31. p. 25.

'The MS. is written in a uniform, but no very liberal hand, and seems to have been copied from the original very exactly', by some of the mar- 10 ginal references being written, as Mr. Baker entered them, from want of room, from the bottom to the top of the page. I shall follow my original as minutely as I am able, and wherever I put on the margin any thing of my own or other than Mr Baker's, I shall religiously mark it with the initials of my own name, Wm. Cole.

15

'At present I have no time to draw up an account of Mr. Baker's life to prefix to this history: in many of my volumes are scattered, detached pieces which would serve for that purpose. At more leisure, if God spares me life and health, I have inclinations, were my abilities equal to it, to write the life of a person, whose character thro' every stage of 20 life, notwithstanding the prejudices of party men, was justly imitable; and of whose learning, worth and abilities I have ever entertained the most exalted ideas. I was too young, when he was going out of this world, to have had the pleasure and advantage of his acquaintance: and esteem it an inferior kind of happiness to have often seen him in his walks 25 about the university, and at last attended his funeral in the chapel of his college.'-WM. COLE. [See Cole's notice of Baker in Brydges, Restituta IV. 409.]

1Mr. George Ashby told me, that it was copied for Dr. Newcome, by an Italian. I am afraid, since I made the index, that this Italian has made 30 many blunders, especially in persons' names.'-WM. COLE.

[blocks in formation]

'No doubt the preceding verses were made by Mr. Baker on Dr. Hugh
Ashton, the founder of the fellowship he enjoyed: and I think he had
a picture of him, taken probably from his monument, either here or at 35
York, and which I have seen, either at St John's college lodge, or
at Dr. Zach. Grey's.'-WM. COLE.

[blocks in formation]

Baker is

His first 40

A worthy friend of mine, who designed a view of Yorkshire.
not mentioned in Drake's Eboracum as helping that work.
letter to Thoresby is dated 7 Mar. 1799; he there seems to speak of
his history as unfinished (Thoresby's Corresp. II. 230).

P. 7 1. 14. I sought for access to the treasury, that was then not very easy
for me to come at. In the treasury is a paper book in 4to., in a vellum
wrapper, very dirty and much stained, containing a note of things 45
taken out of the treasury and returned 1561-1787. From 20 Oct.
1686 J. Boughton sen. bursar begins to take out documents which

« PreviousContinue »