EXTRACTS FROM DIARY. 109 of Devon speak of the 'healthy hills of Offwell,' thus agreeably confirming the bishop's rightful appropriation of Pliny's eulogy. The year 1826, which was a marked one in the bishop's career, opens thus cheerfully: 'Feb. 2. Completed my fiftieth year, the college its five hundredth. Dined in hall. The society in a very flourishing state, and in excellent discipline. The fellows united, and the most cordial harmony subsisting.' The 15th June was kept as a jubilee in Oriel College, to celebrate this five hundredth anniversary 'from the foundation: the notice of which festive occasion stands thus in the diary: 'Preached at the commemoration service in St. Mary's Church. Presided at the dinner in the library. One hundred and forty guests. The whole passed off extremely well.' Almost immediately after we read thus: July 24. Received Lord Liverpool's letter offering me the deanery of Chester.' Dr. Copleston's course had been so independent, and his opinions so little accommodated to those of persons in power, that his preferment seemed to be no very probable contingency; and now that it unexpectedly came, we cannot but suppose that while he accepted the offer with proper and graceful acknowledgments, he nevertheless felt as one who takes what the common voice has pronounced to be his due. Let us, at the same time, give credit to the minister who, in making this selection, may be well thought to have put aside the adverse con sideration of party. The following sentiments, written by a distinguished friend, were entertained by other persons of consideration, who were at that time conversant with public affairs, as well as interested in the fortunes of Dr. Copleston. The news of your preferment gave me the more pleasure because I was beginning to fear that there was a deliberate intention on the part of Lord Liverpool to proscribe you altogether. I had some reason, too, for the suspicion beyond the mere fact of your having been hitherto passed over. I am heartily glad to find that it was groundless, or what perhaps is the fact that the Prime Minister has altered his mind. This much is certain :-That no man ever owed his promotion more entirely to his own abilities, industry, and character. There was no great disposition to advance you; but public opinion has at last carried you that point, which, if justice had been done, you ought to have attained and passed by long ago. Not that I think that you are not obliged to Lord Liverpool for this tardy and inadequate acknowledgment of your merits. There is no doubt but that he might, with perfect impunity, have passed them over altogether. A general good character enables a man to indulge his resentment in any particular act of revenge and injustice. He has chosen some objects of favour well, and many from apparently disinterested motives. He has received his full share of credit for this honest distribution of patronage, and if in your case he had preferred gratifying his own dislike, or that of some offended colleague, your personal friends would have been indignant; but the rest of the world would have looked wise, and said, ' no doubt he has his reasons.' Some addle-pated Tory would have heard that the provost' of Oriel was a great Grecian, but a dangerous man.' As Chester is not a very good thing I do not wish DEANERY OF CHESTER. 111 you health to enjoy it, but rather that course of preferment of which I trust it is only the first step. They cannot decently refuse to advance you in your turn. Deans, I think, reside a little, but not much, unless they please. Pray recollect that is on your road from Oxford to Chester. Believe me, Ever sincerely and affectionately yours, D. There is such a generous and touching frankness about the following communication, that it is impossible not to wish to give it a place; nor have I any fear of displeasing the representatives of the amiable writer, when I thus insert it without formally asking permission to do so. Jan. 1, 1827. If you ever heard, or should hear, that my name was mentioned to Lord Liverpool for the post you now so ably fill, I beg of you to bear in mind that there is no dean in his Majesty's dominions rejoices half so much in his deanery as I do in seeing you at the head of our chapter rather than myself; not only because I perceive how much more good you do than I ever could have effected, but because your being sent to us has given me an opportunity of cultivating your regard—a blessing I appreciate from my heart. But, alas! I think there is little chance of my enjoying it long. I am by no means low spirited at the thoughts of being called hence, though I shall leave many behind me closely entwined round my heart. Ever, my dear Mr. Dean, Your most respectful and faithful servant, and (I may, I hope, add) Your affectionate friend, T. T. TREVOR. 112 TABLET IN THE CHURCH OF ST. OSWALD. Dr. Copleston was installed on the 5th of September; and on the 5th of November following, preached the sermon which was subsequently published by desire of the bishop and the chapter. Within sixteen months, the Dean of Chester was removed to a higher post; but that short space sufficed for more than one work of piety and munificence connected with his cathedral. I may mention in particular the stone screen or partition which now separates the chapel or church of St. Oswald-originally the south transept-from the main body of the cathedral; an arrangement somewhat startling to ecclesiological ears, no doubt, but abundantly accounted for by the peculiar and perhaps singular circumstances of the case. In grateful remembrance of their benefactor, the parishioners of St. Oswald caused a tablet to be placed on this screen, bearing the following inscription: This Tablet is raised by the parishioners of St. Oswald: to express their the Right Reverend Lord Bishop of Llandaff, late Dean of Chester, who erected this Screen at his own expense. It was completed A. D. 1828. I add the following document, in order to com ATTACHMENT TO ALMA MATER. 113 plete the notice of this transaction. It is in the form of a vestry resolution by the parishioners of St. Oswald. 'Resolved unanimously, That this meeting, duly appreciating the unparalleled generosity of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Llandaff (as dean of the cathedral church of Chester, in the year 1827), in erecting the elegant partition between that and the parish church of St. Oswald, at the expense of 600l. and upwards, expresses the sense it entertains of the obligation it is under to his lordship, and in the name of the whole parish returns its most sincere thanks. Resolved further, that this resolution be transmitted to his lordship by the chairman.' New interests in life, and new connexions, had now commenced, and were soon to withdraw Dr. Copleston altogether from the university; but they could not withdraw his thoughts and regards, which were still given to his Alma Mater, when occasions arose in which her welfare or reputation was concerned. Some of these in after years were not without their attendant pain; but the one that I now notice, occurring just on the eve of his elevation to the bench, was altogether of an agreeable nature. In assisting to place the present professor in the Savilian chair of astronomy, I believe it will be generally allowed that Dr. Copleston not only served his friend, but also the best interests of science. I have been favoured by Mr. Baden Powell with some letters referring to this transaction, and select from them one, which not only confirms what I have said |