land about Synodical Action, &c., and that he is
going to meet him and explain to him certain diffi-
culties and mistakes into which he has fallen with
regard to administering the Oath of Abjuration and
the like matters. How few people, comparatively,
know the influence Father exercises in this way
behind the scenes, as it were. His intimacy with so
many of the Bishops, too, makes his position really
of very great importance. I don't want to magnify,
but the more I think of him, and know how very few
men they are that command such general respect,
and bear such a character with all men for upright-
ness and singleness of purpose, it is very difficult to
know how his place could be supplied when we
throw his legal knowledge over and above into
the scale. I hope he will write : I am quite certain
that his opinion will exercise a great influence on
very many people. Such a speech as this at Mar}'
Church embodies exactly the sense of a considerable



122 Life of yohn Colci'idgc Pattesoii [Ch. iv.

number of the most prudent and most able men of
the country, and his position and character give it
extra weight, and that would be so equally with his
book as with his speech. How delightful it will be
to have him at Oxford. He means to come in time
for dinner on the 14th, and go away on the i6th ; but
if he likes it, he will, I daresay, stop now and then on
his way to town and back. Jem will not be back in
town when he goes up for the Judicial Committee
work, so he will be rather solitary there, Vv^on't he.
I am not, however, sure about the number of weeks
Jem must reside to keep his term. . . .'

The enjoyment of the last few days at Dresden was
much marred by a heavy cold, caught by going to see
an admirable representation of ' Egmont,' the last of
these theatrical treats so highly appreciated. The
journey to Berlin, before the cold was shaken off,
resulted in an attack of illness ; and he was so heavy
and uncomfortable as to be unable to avail himself of
his opportunities of interesting introductions.

He returned to his rooms at Merton direct from
Germany. Like many men who have come back to
Oxford at a riper age than that of undergraduate
life, he now entered into the higher privileges and
enjoyments of the University, the studies, friendships,
and influences, as early youth sometimes fails to do.
He was felt by his Oxford friends to have greatly
developed since his Balliol terms had been over and
the Eton boy left behind. Study was no longer a toil
and conscientious effort. It had become a prime
pleasure ; and men wondered to find the plodding,
accurate, but unciuhusiastic student of three years
back, a linguist and phiJok^gist of no common power
and attainment. Mr. Roundell says ' He had become



1852.] Election of \'i^T) 123

quite another person. Self-cultivation had done much
for him. Literature and art had opened his mind and
enlarged his interests and sympathies. The moral and
spiritual forces of the man were now vivified, refined
and strengthened by the awakening of his intellectual
and aesthetic nature.'

Ever reaching forward, however, he was on his guard
against, as he said, making the means the end. Lan-
guages were his pleasure, but a pleasure held in check
as only subservient to his preparation for the Ministry.
He did not mean to use them to the acquirement of
academical honour nor promotion, nor did he even
rest in the intellectual delight of investigation ; he in-
tended them only as keys to the better appreciation
of the Scriptures and of the doctrines of the Church,
unaware as yet that the gift he was cultivating would
be of inestimable value in far distant regions.

At the University election of 1853, when Mr. Glad-
stone, having alarmed a large proportion of his suppor-
ters at Oxford by his tendencies towards change, was
opposed by Mr. Perceval, Coley sent constant accounts
of the poll, but interspersed with observations on a
sermon of Dr. Pusey's, thus : —

Monday 7.30 P.M.

My dearest Father, — Gladstone's majority is only 124
this evening, Perceval having polled some twelve
men in the day. People say it is a mere farce
keeping the poll open. Squibs, &c., go about, but
not one of them worth the carriage.

Dr. Pusey preached yesterday morning, rather a

relief after friend . He must have been preaching

nearly, if not quite, an hour and a half ; at least he
began soon after 10.30, and I was not back here till
12.15. He preached upon i Cor. x. 16 : not a difficult
sermon to follow, though doctrinal throughout, with



124 Z.?_7t' of John Coleridge Patteson [ch. I v.

the exception of some five minutes plain spoken, and
very beautiful words of advice to his ' younger
brethren.' The subject, however, is comparatively
so familiar that it was easy to understand him. I
hope he will print It, for it would be most valuable
as a collection of witnesses to the truth of the
Real Sacramental Presence. After propounding the
plain orthodox teaching in contradistinction to
Rome and Geneva — I will finish to-morrow. Post
going. J. C. P.

' I was talking about Dr. P.'s sermon, and I
think had just said that after exposing the errors of
Rome and Geneva, he discussed at great length the
question of the literal or non-literal interpretation of
the words " This is my Body." This part of the
sermon was very interesting, not only did he supply
many new arguments for the literal interpretation of
this particular passage, but for the guidance of people
in the interpretation of Scripture generally. Then
he discussed the question which, in spite of its
manifest absurdity, is often put, (and which I suppose
he therefore thought worth discussing) as to whether
even in the most momentous sentence of Holy
Scripture the whole truth is necessarily conveyed in

an insulated passage, (just as Mr. wants

always, according to E. , one text to prove a

doctrine, not knowing, I suppose, that our Lord did
not teach in a dogmatic form). Then he said, " I will
sliow that the doctrine has been taught by the
united voice of the whole Church, from the time of
the Apostles to that of St. Leo, and to this end I will
quote from P'athers of every Church, every age,
every form of ()])ini()ii ;" which he did to the number
of fifty ! I hop(; to see the sermon soon in print,



J 853] His Brothers Accident 125

when you shall have a copy. You remember that he
was suspended for his sermon on the same subject,
which is bound up among the pamphlets at home.'

The letter ends with a report of the poll ; and on
Thursday he writes, ' The poll closed with Gladstone,
1022, Perceval, 898.'

And then proceeds to his great delight in receiving his
uncle, Dr. Coleridge, who had come up to give his vote

In February, while Sir John Patteson was in London,
his son James was the cause of much alarm, owing to
a mistake by which he swallowed an embrocation
containing a large amount of laudanum. Prompt
measures, however, prevented any ill effects ; and all
danger was over before the letter was sent off which
informed Coley of what had happened ; but the bare
idea of the peril was a great shock to one of such
warm affections, and so deeply attached to his only
brother. He wrote the two following letters to his
Father and sisters on the first impulse on the receipt of
the intelligence : —

Shrove Tuesday.

My dearest Father, — I believe I speak truly when I
say that I never in my life felt so thoroughly thankful
and grateful to God for his great mercy, as I did this
morning, on reading of dear Jem's danger and safety.
He is less accustomed to talk about his feelings than
I am, in which I see his superiority, but partly because
our tastes are in several respects different, chiefly
because of his exceeding amiability and unselfish-
ness. I am sure we love each other very dearly.
Ever since his illness at Geneva, I have from time
to time contemplated the utter blank, the real
feeling of loss, which anything happening to him
would bring with it, and the having it brought home
close to me in this way quite upset me, as it well



126 Life of John Coleridge Patteson [Ch. iv.

might. I pray God that no ill effects may follow,
and from what you say, I apprehend none. I have
often thought that it is much better when two
brothers propose to themselves different objects in
life, and pursue them with tastes dissimilar on un-
important matters. They act better upon one
another ; just as I look to Jem, as I have more than
once told him, to give me a hint when he sees a want
of common sense in anything I take up, because I know
I act a good deal from impulse, and take an interest
in many things which are perhaps not worth the
time I spend on them. It is a mercy that I hope I
shall never forget, never cease to be thankful for.
Many and many a time, if it please God, I shall
look to him in difficulties, and remember how nearly
once he was lost to me. I can get away with the
greatest ease for a few days on Thursday if desir-
able, and perhaps old Jem will feel low after this,
when you have left him. I think this very likely,
from what I know of him, and if you think it too,
without asking him if he would like it, I will come
up for some other reason. You will not go, I know
unless he is perfectly well ; but he might, and I think
would, like to have some one with him just at first.
Let me know what you think.

Good-bye, my dearest Father,
Ever your affectionate and dutiful Son,

J. C. Patteson.

Merton : Shrove Tuesday.

My dearest Joan and Fan, — How we must all have
united this morning in pouring out our thanks to
God for Ills great mercy! You will not suspect
me of being wanting in love to you, if I say that the
contemplation of wliat might have,' happened pre-



1S53.] Thankfulness 127

sented such a scene of desolation, such a void, that
it would have required all the strength I possess to
turn to God in resignation and submission to His
will. I have often, very often, thought of that
illness at Geneva, but this brought it home to me,
perhaps closer still ; and I hope I shall never cease
to be mindful of, and thankful for, this special pro-
vidence. Father seems pretty confident that all mis-
chief is prevented ; and Jem wrote six hours after he
took the laudanum, and had then felt no drowsiness
to speak of, and Dr. Watson said there was no fear
of anything happening after hvo hours had elapsed.

I should like to join with you in showing our grati-
tude by some deed of charity, or whatever you think
right. Something that without any show might be
a thank-offering to God for His signal act of mercy.

Ever your loving Brother,

J. C. Patteson.

5.30. I wrote this quite early this morning. I can
hardly think yet what it all means. Now I feel only
a sense of some very heavy affliction removed. Poor
dear Father, and all of us ! what should we have
been without him !

A letter to the brother himself was written under the
same impulse, even more tenderly affectionate, but so
deep and intimate, that it would almost be treason to
give it to the world. The next letter was written soon
after the alarm had passed, but is undated.

My dear Fan, — Yesterday I was unluckily too seedy
with headache to go on the ice, and this morning I
have been skating for half an hour, but the ice is
spoilt. Very jolly it is to be twisting and turning
about once more. I thought of writing to old Jem
to come down for it, as I should think the frost is



128 Life of Jo Jul Coleridge Pattcsoii [Ch. iv.

not severe enough to freeze any but the shallow water
of the floods, but It was not good enough to reward
him for the trouble of coming so far.

The constant sense of his preservation from that
great danger really prevents my feeling so acutely per-
haps as I ought to do the distress of others. I really
think I ought to be less cheerful and happy than I
feel myself to be. I had a pleasant little talk with
Dr. Pusey on Monday : he was recommending me two
or three books for Hebrew reading, but they would
be of no use to me yet ; the language is difficult to
advance far into, and you know my shallow way of
catching a thing at first rather quickly perhaps, but
only superficially. I find my interest increasing
greatly in philological studies. One language helps
another very much ; and the beautiful way in which
the words, ideas, and the whole structure indeed, of
language pervades whole families, and even the
different families, {e.g., the Indo-Germanic and
Semitic races,) is not only interesting, but very useful.
I wish I had made myself a better Greek and Latin
scholar, but unfortunately I used to hate classics.
What desperate uphill work it was to read them, a
regular exercise of self-denial every morning ! Now
I like it beyond any study, except Divinity proper,
and I try to make up for lost time. There are ad-
mirable books in my possession which facilitate the
acquisition of critical scholarship very much, and I
work at these, principally applying it to New Test.
Greek, LXX, &c. But my real education began, I
think, with my first foreign trip. It seems as if there
was not time for all this, for I have Hebrew, Arabic,
&c., to go on with (though this is a slow process),
Pearson, Hooker, 131unt on the Reformation (a mere
sketch which I read in a day or two at odd times),



1853.] ^^^ of DisciLssion 129

Commentaries, Trench's Books on Parables and
Miracles, which are in my room at home, and would
in parts interest you ; he is a writer of good
common sense, and a well read man). But I of course
want to be reading history as well, and that involves
a good deal ; physical geography, geology, &c., yet
one thing helps another very much. I don't work
quite as methodically as I ought ; and I much want
someone to discuss matters with relating to what I
read. I don't say all this, I am sure you know, as if
I wanted to make out that I am working at grand
subjects. I know exceeding little of any one of them, so
little history, e.g., that a school girl could expose my
ignorance directly, but I like to know what we are
doing among ourselves, and we all get to know each
other better thereby. I felt so much of late with
regard to Jem, that a natural reserve prevents so
often mem.bers even of the same family from com-
municating freely to each other their opinions, busi-
ness, habits of life, experiences of sympathy, approval,
disapproval, and the like ; and when one member is
gone, then it is felt how much more closely such a
habit of dealing with each other would have taught
us to know him. . . Nothing tests one's knowledge so
well as questions and answers upon what we have
read, stating difficulties, arguments which we can't
understand, &c., to each other. Ladies who have
no profession to prepare for, in spite of a very large
correspondence and numerous household duties, may
(in addition to their parochial work as curates 1)
take up a real course of reading and go into it
thoroughly ; and this gives girls not only employment
for the time, but gives the mind power to seize every
other subject presented to it. If you are quite alone
your reading is apt to become desultory. I find it

I. K



130 Life of yohn Coleridge Patteso7i [Ch. iv.

useful to take once or twice a week a walk with
Riddell of Balliol, and go through a certain period
of Old Testament history ; it makes me get it up,
and then between us we hammer out so many more
explanations of difficult passages than, at all events, I
should do by myself. He is, moreover, about the
best Greek scholar here, which is a great help to me.
You have no idea of the light that such accurate
scholarship as his throws upon many disputed
passages in the Bible, e.g., ' Wisdom is justified of
her children,' where the Greek preposition probably
gives the key to the whole meaning, and many such.
So you see, dear old Fan, that the want of some one
to pour out this to, for it sounds fearfully pedantic,
I confess, has drawn upon you this grievous in-
fliction.

My kindest love to Father and dear Joan,

Ever your loving

J. C. P.

The Patteson family were not merely a mutual ad-
miration or improvement society, and sometimes these
theories were viewed as the unpractical notions of a
younger brother. Fanny Patteson seems to have
answered him with arguments on the other duties
whicli hindered her from enterinof on the course of
deep study and mutual exchange of discoveries which
he had, more theoretically than practically, been recom-
mending, really more to the abstract young lady than
to her in particular. He replies : —

Feb. 25, 1853.

My dearest Viin, — I must answer your very sensible

well written letter at once, because on our system of

nuitual exj)laiiati()n, there are two or three things I

wisli to notice in it. I-'irst, I never meant that any-



1853.] What to Read 13 [

thing should supersede duties which I am well aware
you practise with real use to yourself and those
about you, e.g., the kindness and sympathy shown
to friends, and generally due observance of all social
relations. Second, I quite believe that the practical
application of what is already known, teaching, going
about among the poor, is of far more consequence
than the acquisition of knowledge, which, of course,
for its own sake is worth nothing. Third, I think
you perfectly right in keeping up music, singing,
all the common amusements of a country life ; of
course I do, for indeed what 1 said did not apply to
Joan or you, except so far as this, that we all know
probably a great deal of which each one is separately
ignorant, and the free communication of this to one
another is desirable, I think.

My own temptation consists perhaps chiefly in the
love of reading for its own sake. I do honestly think
that for a considerable time past I have read, I believe,
nothing which I do not expect to be of real use, for
I have no taste naturally for novels, &c. (without,
however, wishing to deny that there may be novels
which teach a real insight into character). Barring
' I Profuessi Sposi,' which I take up very seldom when
tired, I have not read one for ages : I must except
* Old Mortality,' read last Vacation at Feniton ; but
I can't deny that I like the study of languages for its
own sake, though I apply my little experience in it
wholly to the interpretation of the Bible. I like
improving my scholarship, it is true, but I can say
honestly that it is used to read the Greek Testament
with greater accuracy : so of the Hebrew, Syriac,
Arabic. I feel, I confess, sometimes that it is nice, &c.,
to know several languages, but I try to drive away
any such thoughts, and it is quite astonishing how,

K 2



132 Life of yohn Coleridge Patteson [Ch. iv.

after a few weeks a study which would suggest ideas
of an unusual course of reading becomes so familiar
that I never think of myself when pursuing it, e.g.,
I don't think that after two hours' grind at Arabic
the stupid wrong feeling of its being an out-of-the-
way study comes upon me now, it is getting quite
natural. It comes out though when I talk or write
perhaps with another, but I must try and get
over it.

I believe it to be a good thing to break off any
work once or twice a day in the middle of any reading,
for meditating a little while and for prayer. This is
more easily done at College than elsewhere ; and, is I
hope, a preventive against such thoughts. Then, as
I jog on I see how very little I know, what an
immense deal I have to learn to become ordinarily
well acquainted with these things. I am in that
state of mind perhaps when Ecclesiastes (which I am
now reading) puts my own case exactly before me.
I think, What's the good of it all ? And the answer
comes, it may be very good properly used, or very
mischievous if abused. I do indeed look forward to
active parochial work : I think I shall be very happy
so employed, and I often try to anticipate the time
in thought, and feel with perfect sincerity that
nothing is so useful or so full of comfort as the con-
sciousness of trying to fulfil the daily duties of my
situation. Here of course I need do nothing ; I
mean there is nothing to prevent my sitting all day
in an arm-chair and reading ' Pickwick.' . . . One word
about the way languages help me, that you may
not thmk what I am doing harder than it really is.
These three bear the same kind of relation to each
other (or rather say these five, Arabic, Syriac, Hebrew,
Chaldee, Ethiopic ; but of the last I know nothing



1 853-] Use of Oriental Lang-uages 133

whatever, and of Chaldee only so much as that it Is
a dialect of Hebrew in the same character, and con-
sequently anyone who knows Hebrew knows some-
thing about it), as German to English, e.g., Bahlo^n
(Arab,), Becl (Syr.), Baal (Heb.), are the same
word, as you can see, only written in different
characters, and all mean ' a lord,' so Baal, Beelzebub,
or Baalzebeb. Baal Peor, which means, literally,
' the Lord of the ravine,' viz., the idol worshipped
at the Pass in the wilderness. Consequently, in
reading any one of these languages, the same word
keeps on occurring in all ; and the chief use is of
course that often a word which occurs only once or
twice in Hebrew perhaps is in common use in the
others, and so its meaning is fixed. Add to all this,
that the Syriac version of the New Testament was
made (as all agree) early in the second century, if
not at the end of the first, and thus is the very best
exponent of the New Testament where the Greek
is doubtful ; and the additional fact, that though a
mixture of Chaldee and Syriac was the language of
Palestine in our Lord's time, yet He certainly
sometimes spoke what is now our Syriac (e.g.,
Talitha cumi, &c.), and the importance of it is appa-
rent. Surely to read the language that our Blessed
Lord himself used is no small profit, as well as
delight.

So I think we may each go on in our several
pursuits, each helping each, and each trying to do so
without a foolish affectation of learninof.

My best love to dear Father and Joan,

Ever your affectionate Brother,

J. C. P.

Fenelon has said that in a certain stage of piety there



134 Life of jfoJm Coleridge Patteson [Ch. IV.

is much of self, and Coley was evidently in that stage.
His own figure was the primary object before his eyes,
neither indulged, nor admired, but criticised, repressed,
and by his very best efforts thrust aside, whenever he
was conscious that his self contemplation was self
complacency. Still it was in his nature to behold it,
and discuss it, and thus to conquer and outgrow the
study in time, while leaving many observations upon
self culture and self training, that will no doubt become
deeply valued as the result of the practical experience
of one who so truly mastered that obtrusive self.

The next letter that presents itself is to Mrs. Martyn,
undated ; but as he speaks of his brother's perfect re-
covery, it must have been written during this February.
The following is the conclusion : —

* I fear that Bishop Broughton's death will be a sad
blow to the Australian Church. I took him to be an
older person. The colonial Bishops in his province
will hear the news with a heavy heart. We shall
see now something of the spirit of the Government
by their appointment.

Radicalism is certainly rife in Oxford among a small
but very clever intellectual set of men, who advance
opinions sometimes that I know well to be wrong,
but it is not my place, neither have I wit enough, to
answer them. Very much depends upon what is
done here nozv in the course of a few months.
Depend upon it, the question whether the University
is to command the respect and sympathy of the
country is to be settled now. If we don't show a
disposition to reform abuses, to make all our means
available for useful and honourable purposes, we shall
fall never to rise again. Mcrton is working well,
enire nous, with a secret commission, which I may



1853.] Reforms at Mer ton 135

fairly say does credit to the head and heart of the
majority of the Fellows.'

Accordingly Patteson was one of the most decided
workers for the admission of improvements and reduc-
tion of abuses within his own College, with which
each Oxford foundation was endeavouring to forestall
compulsory reformation by a University Commission.
Mr. Roundell says : —

' His early years as Fellow of Merton coincided with
the period of active reform at Oxford which followed
upon the Report of the Commission in 1852. What
part did the future Missionary Bishop take in that
great movement ? One who worked with him at
that time — a time when University reform was as