Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 02.pdf/411

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The Green Bag.

plan, so creditable to its designer, is said to have succeeded most admirably; and Thurlow realized every expectation that the rev erend prebendary had formed respecting his powers of annoyance. At Cambridge he became notorious for the daring he displayed in setting the disci pline of his college at defiance, and in exhibit ing a most supreme contempt for the persons and character of those by whom that disci pline was maintained and enforced. Upon one occasion, having been guilty of some act of insubordination, he was sum moned before the Dean, who, as a punish ment for his offence, desired him to translate a page of the " Spectator " into Greek, and when he had done so to bring the translation to him. The first part of this order Thurlow obeyed; the second he disregarded. He easily performed the task imposed, but to annoy the Dean, whose deficiencies in classi cal learning were notorious, carried it to one of the tutors. When the Dean heard of this he assembled all the resident Fellows of the College, and sent for Thurlow. Upon Thurlow's entering the room, the Dean thus addressed him: " How durst you, sir, carry your translation to Mr. when I de sired you to bring it to me? " Thurlow replied, with the greatest composure, that he had done so from no motive of disre spect to the Dean, but really from a com passionate wish not to puzzle him. The enraged Dean immediately desired him to quit the room, and then, turning to the Fel lows present, declared that Thurlow ought to be either expelled or rusticated. Some one, however, wisely suggested that if pub licity were given to the transaction, the reputation neither of the Dean nor of the college would be much benefited, and that it would be far more prudent to let the matter drop than attract further notice to it. This advice was followed. With this dean Thurlow appears to have been involved in constant warfare. Upon another occasion, when summoned before him to answer some charge that had been

brought against him, Thurlow's demeanor was not quite so respectful as the Dean con sidered befitted their relative stations, and rather sharply reminded him that he was speaking to the Dean of his college. Thur low, in no wise abashed at this reproof, as sumed a mock reverential air, and in every sentence of his vindication took care to insert "Mr. Dean," until the irate dignitary was compelled to dismiss both the accusa tion and the accused. At length, however, Thurlow received a friendly recommendation to withdraw himself from the University, in order to prevent the necessity of a formal expulsion. He left Cambridge without a degree. But Thurlow, though rough, harsh, and violent, was not a bad-hearted man. When he had become chancellor, he sent one morn ing for his old friend the Dean, who had not forgotten, it is said, their enmity. Upon his entry the Chancellor accosted him. " How d' ye do, Mr. Dean?" "I have quitted that office, my lord," said the reverend di vine, rather sullenly; " I am Mr. Dean no longer." " Well, then," said his lordship, "it depends upon yourself whether you be so again. I have a deanery at my disposal to which you are heartily welcome." Crabbe, soon after he came up to London, a poor penniless adventurer, sent a copy of verses to the Chancellor, with a letter im ploring the honor of his patronage. To this application Thurlow made a cold reply, re gretting that his avocations did not leave him leisure to read verses. Crabbe, stung with this repulse, addressed to him some strong but not disrespectful lines, intimat ing that in former times the encouragement of literature had been considered as a duty appertaining to the illustrious station he held. Of this e.fusion the Chancellor took no notice whatever. After Crabbe had, through the discrimi nating goodness of Burke, been relieved from the immediate pressure of distress, he received a note from Thurlow inviting him to breakfast the next morning. He was