Memoir of Francis Hodgson
Charles Webb Le Bas to Francis Hodgson, 25 June 1845
My dear Mr. Provost,—My remarks on Hildebrand were written purely from my somewhat
imperfect recollections of his history, and without any reference to books. I
have since, however, perused a very striking and instructive paper in the ‘Edinburgh Review,’ touching that same
gigantic mind, which you, most probably, have likewise seen. If not, I would
recommend you to lose no time in procuring it. It is, I believe, in the very
last number, and, I have very little doubt, is the production of Stephen, ![]()
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of the Colonial
Office. In some respects it confirms my own view of the character of
Gregory VII., for it gives him full credit for an
unclouded persuasion of the truth of his Theocratic System, and of the perfect
legitimacy of his own pretensions. How any man, or any set of men, could form
such a theory, with the Scriptures open before them, it is next to impossible
for us at this day to imagine; and yet the 350 extant letters of
Gregory seem to indicate that he had no more doubt
about the matter than of the Divine origin of Christianity itself. The reviewer
is further of opinion that, whatever mischiefs may have been inflicted on
society by this stupendous system, the evil was not altogether unmixed; and
that, in the absence of some such antagonist force, the reign of brute violence
might have been perpetual, and the greater part of the European population
might have remained in a state of serfdom, to this very hour. But, be all this
as it may, the name of Hildebrand ought never to be
mentioned by a teacher of history, without pointed condemnation of the system,
whatever allowance may be made for the man. His atrocious and vindictive
ill-usage of the emperor ought, more especially, to be visited with unsparing
reprobation.
Sir James Stephen (1789-1859)
The son of James Stephen (1758–1832); educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and
Lincoln's Inn, he was a member of the Clapham sect, colonial official, and professor of
modern history at Cambridge (1849-59). He was the father of Leslie Stephen
(1832-1904).
