The Life and Letters of John Gibson Lockhart
Chapter 23: 1853-54
John Gibson Lockhart to Henry Hart Milman, 21 March 1854
“Rome, Casa Serny, March 21, 1854.
“My dear Milman,—I am
ashamed of not having sooner acknowledged a very kind and interesting epistle
from the Deanery; but as I have been quite idle, you will readily understand
and excuse. My health has had many ups and downs; when tolerably well I have
tried to do something (occidentally and orientally), but in general I have been
too unwell for such matters. At this hour I am better by much than usual, and
hope to keep so during my homeward travels. I do not, on the whole, think I
have been improved by foreign drugs, and sigh for home comforts—oh, how
deeply!
“I had only yesterday a
complete leave of absence as to Duchy of Lancaster, but this does not alter my
programme, as I must, whatever order I may take about future modes of
existence, go to Sussex Place, for a little while at all events, to settle
about surrender of house there at Michaelmas, &c. I have no notion where I
shall plant me, or how ![]()
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occupy my time, but
if, as I would fain still hope, I am to be capable of some work, I know myself
too well not to attempt to a certain extent a resumption of the old habits.
Many jobs may suggest themselves by-and-by for filling up a few hours daily in
an otherwise objectless existence. I rather think the temptation of society,
and especially friendship, will prevent me from fixing at any considerable
distance from London: nous verrons.
Even if you be (as I hope) the new bishop, you won’t be without a
town-house any more than a comeatable palace in the country. I am sorry to see
that good little Jenkyns is no more;
also not a little so at the sudden departure of poor Talfourd. Manning is poorly in looks, but charming in converse, and I see
a good deal of him very quietly; also of my namesake William Lockhart (son of L. of St. Mary’s Hall by a Miss Jacob), who has given up a fair fortune
to be a monk of some new order—a fine, handsome, amiable young man; and I
may say the same of a Herbert Vaughan, a
priest too, though secular, eldest son of a rich Welsh squire, another
handsome, elegant, good-natured, young English gentleman, gone the way of
Newman! The Cardinal,
Manning, and a Dr. English
preach, it seems, in pretty regular succession at a church near me here, and I
have attended them all frequently—Manning with real
delight as well as pain—Wiseman
with unmingled aversion and disgust.” (An extremely severe expression of
opinion, or ![]()
| 384 | LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART. | |
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prejudice, follows, but need not be quoted.)
“My tender homages wait on your lady. I quite enter
into her and your distress on the loss of Lady
Milman, for whom, though meeting her but rarely, I had always a
very particular liking as well as respect. Truly grieved I am for Sir William, and ever yours affectionately,
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“Beds black with bugs,
Monks fat as slugs,
Beggars groaning,
Thieves atoning,
Leering models, lounging artists,
Strutting, strumming Bonapartists;
Mutton young, and stinking mullet,
Wine sharp enough for Rossi’s gullet.
Fancying these, make speed to Rome,
Curse beef and beer, law, truth, and home;
For me, I’d jump at once to ——,
Before returning.
“J. G. L.”
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Richard Jenkyns (1782-1854)
Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was elected master in 1819; he was
vice-chancellor (1824-28) and dean of Wells (1845).
Alexander Lockhart (1788-1832)
Son of William Lockhart; he was educated at St. Mary Hall, Oxford and was rector of Stone
in Buckinghamshire (1822).
John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854)
Editor of the
Quarterly Review (1825-1853); son-in-law of Walter
Scott and author of the
Life of Scott 5 vols (1838).
Martha Lockhart [née Jacob] (1798 c.-1872)
The daughter of William Jacob MP (1761/2-1851); she was the second wife of Alexander
Lockhart, rector of Stone in Buckinghamshire.
William Lockhart (1819-1892)
The son of the Rev. Alexander Lockhart (1788-1832) and cousin of John Gibson Lockhart;
educated at Exeter College, Oxford, he was the first of the Tractarians to go over to
Rome.
Cardinal Henry Edward Manning (1808-1892)
Educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford (where he was tutored by Herman Merviale),
he converted to Catholicism under the influence of John Henry Newman (1851), becoming
archbishop of Westminster in 1865.
Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868)
Educated at Eton and Brasenose College, Oxford, he was a poet, historian and dean of St
Paul's (1849) who wrote for the
Quarterly Review.
Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and Fellow of Oriel, he was a leader of the Oxford
Movement before becoming a Roman Catholic in 1845.
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd (1795-1854)
English judge, dramatist, and friend of Charles Lamb who contributed articles to the
London Magazine and
New Monthly
Magazine.
