Memoir of Francis Hodgson
Francis Hodgson to Henry Drury, 1 September 1811
My dear Drury,—I send this to Walkerne, as I conclude you will have
returned ‘domum atque dulces liberos.’ I
have to thank you very much for your circumstantial letter concerning poor
Matthews. It was unfortunate that I
did not know Tom Hart was present at his
death; as I fear, by expressing what the wrong report in the newspapers
suggested to many readers, I ignorantly offended him. I am truly sorry for the
occasion, and trust he will as soon recover his spirits as can be expected
after such an accident. He was sure to exert himself to the utmost.
Your ‘Fen Gazette’ also reached me and caused
a hearty laugh. I ought to have acknowledged both these letters before. But our
engagements in this country are most numerous. So much so, indeed, that I have
been forced to neglect all my ![]()
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correspondents, and to write nothing for the Review. . . . Thank Mrs. D.
for sending me your frank from Lord B. for the 28th of
August and filling it up with such a delightful mélange.
How joyous is Bland’s return! I have just heard from my cousin that he
arrived (on the 20th I think) at Deal, in a licensed vessel, with a French
passport. How he managed this I have yet to learn; but it is a most glorious
escape. I hear he is looking uncommonly well, and is in very good spirits.
I have heard from Byron, who is at Newstead. The deaths of his mother and of his friend Matthews seemed to press heavily upon him. He
tells me that a prosecution for a libel, published against him (in the
‘Scourge’), is in the
Attorney-General’s hands, and
will be brought forward in November. He begs me to come to Newstead—which
I should much like to do—but I must first attend my mother to Bath or London, whichever she fixes
upon. In October Byron talks of coming to Cambridge to see
Davies
1—of course I should rejoice to receive him
there. You must tell me in your next your fen party. The good news about poor
Hawtrey is delightful.
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MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON.
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My best and kindest regards to Mrs. D. The bell tolls for breakfast, and another will soon
toll for church. So adieu!
Ever yours,
F. H.
Robert Bland (1779 c.-1825)
Under-master at Harrow 1796-1805, where he taught Byron; he was a friend of Byron and of
Francis Hodgson. With John Herman Merivale he published
Translations,
chiefly from the Greek Anthology (1806).
Scrope Berdmore Davies (1782-1852)
Byron met his bosom friend while at Cambridge. Davies, a professional gambler, lent Byron
funds to pay for his travels in Greece and Byron acted as second in Davies' duels.
Ann Caroline Drury [née Tayler] (1786-1864)
The eldest daughter of Archdale Wilson Tayler, who married Henry Drury in 1808; they had
eleven children, including Henry (1812-1863), archdeacon of Wiltshire.
Henry Joseph Thomas Drury (1778-1841)
The eldest son of Joseph Drury, Byron's headmaster; he was fellow of King's College,
Cambridge and assistant-master at Harrow from 1801. In 1808 he married Ann Caroline Tayler,
whose sisters married Drury's friends Robert Bland and Francis Hodgson.
Sir Vicary Gibbs (1751-1820)
Tory MP and attorney-general during the Portland and Perceval governments (1807-12); from
1812 he was a judge in the court of common pleas.
Thomas Hart (1770-1826)
Of Eton and King's College, Cambridge where he was fellow (1793-1817) and vice-provost
(1815-17); he was a friend of Francis Hodgson and Henry Drury.
Edward Craven Hawtrey (1789-1862)
He tutored the sons of the Earl of Shrewsbury before being appointed assistant-master at
Eton (1814), where he was afterwards headmaster (1834) and, following the death of Francis
Hodgson, provost.
Jane Hodgson [née Coke] (1754-1790)
Daughter of the Rev. Richard Coke and mother of the poet Francis Hodgson; she married the
Rev. James Hodgson in 1783.
Charles Skinner Matthews (1785-1811)
The libertine friend of Byron and Hobhouse at Trinity College, Cambridge; he was drowned
in the Cam.
The Monthly Review. (1749-1844). The original editor was Ralph Griffiths; he was succeeded by his son George Edward who
edited the journal from 1803 to 1825, who was succeeded by Michael Joseph Quin
(1825–32).
