: a commonplace way: and so the ordinary affairs of the University ran smoother when he had ceased to be ViceChancellor but he gave to the office the impress of his own individuality. It would be a misfortune for the University if every Vice-Chancellor took a similar view of his functions; but it may be well that from time to time the office should be held by a man of striking originality, self-sacrificing industry, and great strength of will, even if these are joined to an entire disregard for the ordinary methods of conducting business.' When his term of office came to an end Jowett's feeling was one of great relief. The burden had become intolerable, and he longed to return to his literary work, which had fallen much behind. The failure, partial or complete, of some of his plans, such as those for the drainage of the Thames Valley and for printing a series of Greek texts, was a great disappointment to him; he had not accomplished what he most desired. That the changes in which he had been successful were not approved by every one; that some shook their heads over the Theatre and were astonished to see an actor the guest of the Head of the University was a matter of less moment. To such criticism Jowett was quite indifferent. He had no regrets in looking back on what he had done. By the undergraduates he was regarded with enthusiastic admiration, and no Vice-Chancellor has been more popular with them. He had sympathized with their amusements, while endeavouring to make them more elevating. They did not understand his motives, for they spoke of the 'Bohemian element' in his conduct of office, but they felt that he had in various ways made Oxford more delightful to them. When delivering his last Latin speech on quitting office, he dwelt on some general topics which were always in his mind-on the increasing beauty of Oxford, in which no one rejoiced more than he, for he wished Oxford men, wherever they might wander, to remember their old home the gardens, the river, the shady trees, where they had spent happy hours;-on the devotion of Oxford Tutors to their pupils, which was bearing noble fruit; -on the loss of many friends who had rendered great service to the University. And, looking forward, he expressed the hope that Oxford would fulfil the highest mission of a University, by cherishing the truth which is everywhere and always one and the same-that by bringing together Religion, Philosophy, and Science she would make them better friends, and remove the misconceptions which arise from ignorance and prejudice. Loss of friends: The Archbishop; Miss Jowett; H. Smith; Toynbee; Spottiswoode Notes-Jowett's hospitality-The College-Professor Marshall-Mr. Farmer-Aristotle's Politics-Gordon-Ireland-Jowett at Emerald Bank-With Ruskin-Visit to Davos-Old age. L IKE that which immediately preceded it, the first year of Jowett's Vice-Chancellorship was saddened by the loss of many friends. On December 3, 1882, the Archbishop of Canterbury died. He was a Fellow and Tutor of the College when Jowett came up in 1836, and the friendship which began then was never broken in spite of wide differences in religious opinions. A few days before his death Jowett went to see the Archbishop at Addington. 'It is very kind of you,' said Tait, 'to come and see me.' It is very kind of you,' Jowett replied, 'to see me. great deal of good in your life, and you have had many trials.' 'Not such great trials as you have had,' Tait answered; 'but I know that what you wrote was only written out of a love of the truth. May the Spirit of God grow and increase in you.'-'I said, "I shall always take an interest about your girls as long as I live." He said, "God bless you, my dear friend." I replied, "I shall never forget your last words." "Pray with me," he said; and I repeated the Lord's Prayer and a text of Scripture. I wished him good-bye. He also said 'I have often thought of that sermon which you preached, It is finished."" Before the year closed he had to mourn the death of his sister. Though for more than two years she had been paralyzed, and almost deprived of speech, Jowett keenly felt the final severance, for the last remaining link with his own family was now broken. He writes thus of her death (December 22): Το "This day at about three o'clock in the morning my dear sister Emily died. She was aged sixty-seven years, but though paralyzed appeared to be much younger. Two days ago, I saw her better than she has been during the last two years. the last she was in the habit of reading Dante, Milton, Petrarch, Shakespeare, and before her illness she usually played Beethoven or Handel for an hour or two a day. This, and visits to the poor, and in former years the care of our mother, was her way of life. She shrank from society, though she had a few friends for whom she had an intense regard, and who had an intense regard for her. She was seized with a fit at about 11.30 on Wednesday evening. A little before she read M. Arnold's poem on the Canary in Macmillan, and said, "How beautiful!" This must have been the last intellectual effort she ever made. 2 'She was a saint in private life, who never thought of herself. All her days were devoted to my father and mother, and she made life possible and easy for them. For though intelligent 1 From Jowett's memoranda. The sermon is No. xix. in College Sermons, published in 1895. 2 'Poor Matthias,' which ends thus: 'Fare thee well, companion dear! Fare for ever well, nor fear, and educated people, they were unable to take care of themselves.' These bereavements, which were not unexpected, and came in the fullness of time, were followed by others which touched him more closely in his University work, and were as unexpected as they were calamitous. On February 9, 1883, Professor H. J. S. Smith died after a short illness. Of him it is unnecessary to speak. His genius and accomplishments, his grace and gentleness, his sound judgement, his brilliant conversation, are a tradition in Oxford, and have been recorded in a series of biographical memoirs, including one from the Master's hand. No greater misfortune could have befallen Jowett at this period of his life than the loss of such a friend. In all matters regarding the University he looked to Smith more than to any one else for advice and help. For no one was more thoroughly acquainted with the affairs of the University; no one knew better what could be done and how to do it. What Jowett suggested, he could throw into an acceptable shape. His calm judgement and persuasive manner were an admirable corrective of Jowett's ceaseless energy: he possessed in an extraordinary degree the gift of conciliation, and could say the happy word which quells a rising storm. 'He was the most gracious man I ever knew,' Jowett said of him. But Smith was not only the wise counsellor, he was the familiar friend who had been associated with Jowett in many common acts of hospitality. There was hardly any large gathering at the Master's Lodge at which he was not present, and whenever he was present he was the life of the party, charming in his conversation and possessing an inexhaustible fund of amusing stories, which he told with admirable grace and effect. |