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Memoir of Francis Hodgson
Bishop Samuel Butler to Francis Hodgson, 16 July 1837
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Vol. 1 Contents
Chapter I.
Chapter II. 1794-1807.
Chapter III. 1807-1808.
Chapter IV. 1808.
Chapter V. 1808-1809.
Chapter VI. 1810.
Chapter VII. 1811.
Chapter VIII. 1811.
Chapter IX. 1811.
Chapter X. 1811-12.
Chapter XI. 1812.
Chapter XII. 1812-13.
Chapter XIII. 1813-14.
Vol. 2 Contents
Chapter XIV. 1815-16.
Chapter XV. 1816-18.
Chapter XVI. 1815-22.
Chapter XVII. 1820.
Chapter XVIII. 1824-27.
Chapter XIX. 1827-1830
Chapter XX. 1830-36.
Chapter XXI. 1837-40.
Chapter XXII. 1840-47.
Chapter XXIII. 1840-52.
Index
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Calwich Abbey: July 16, 1837.

My dear friend,—All well. Awful thunderstorm yesterday burst over us while laying the foundation-stone of Middleton church—flash and crash together—ʹάμʹ ʹέπος ʹάμʹ ʹέργον—wet to the præcordia in an instant—peppered with hail. Hundredth Psalm well sung; thunder playing bass most gloriously; prayer offered by the Bishop; then, trowel in hand, he began to spread the mortar, when all at
238 MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON.
once down came the scaffold with himself and friends, a height of about 12 feet, among lapides quadratos and cæmenta. Nobody hurt on the scaffold, two under it not materially so. Picked up, covered with mud and glory; got back; changed dress; arrived at Calwich to dinner none the worse for fall or wetting. Mr. Harward will send a plain account to the ‘Derby Mercury,’ lest somebody else should send an ornamental one. The scaffold was not struck with lightning. None of the party on it were killed, and brought to life again by swallowing a hundred boxes of Morison’s pills. Of the spectators, not more than every third man had his bones broken, and they were set immediately by the new patent cement for china.

Truly yours,
S. L.