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Memoir of Francis Hodgson
Henry Drury to Francis Hodgson, [1829?]
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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Three Governors have assured me that the prize was mine unanimously, had not Longley accepted; and that no word of disrespect to me was ever breathed; that all my competitors were deemed totally incompetent; but that the abstract idea of a ‘young Cam stranger’ was from the first sure to weigh over any claims, testimonials, or private friendship. And the matter of the election having now past . . . I cannot but congratulate Harrow on the acquisition it is likely to make, in a man at the same time so popular and so able as Mr. Longley, who, in a visit he has been paying me of a week, appears to me to have no other fault, but a predominant love of music. He and I are determined to act together in a most friendly and energetic manner. We are already sworn brothers. I feel no jealousy of him; am convinced, however ill I have been used, all is for the best; and look forward to bright and brilliant days once more for old Harrow.

Longley will introduce all I intended, I believe, and I trust (which I would and declared I should
LONGLEY. KEATE.193
 have done) will gradually get rid of flogging, at least above the fourth form. I have recommended him to do private modern literature twice a week, of nights, with his upper boys. He will alter nothing of the basis of the system. He is to take no private pupils. Under these circumstances I should have lost half my income by my success. He gives up £2,000 per annum and only finds seven boys in Butler’s house.

I suppose the fellowship at Eton was decided yesterday.1 Keate and the masters have been finely hoaxed about the great eight oar. The boys drest up cads to represent them, as Keate threatened expulsion to going on the water before Easter. The boys declared they would go. Accordingly all the masters, on horse and foot, assembled at the Brocas. The boys lined all the hedges and hooted them. The great eight appeared, rowed to Surley Hall, the masters all following, and back again, masters crying out, ‘Lord So and So, I know you.’ ‘Watson, you had better come to shore,’ etc. All Windsor and Eton out. The joke was so well kept up that they returned to the Brocas, the masters still on the bank, and disem-

1 This letter is quoted in part by Mr. Maxwell Lyte in his History of Eton College.

194 MEMOIR OF REV. F. HODGSON.
barked before they were discovered, or an idea formed but that they were Etonians. Keate then declared that there should be no Easter holidays, unless victims were given up. Some twenty of those who lined the hedges were then immolated; but, though most of the masters enjoy the joke, Keate sits in sullen retirement and eats his own soul.

I am going to spend the day at Hounslow, to see the glorious Protestant procession to Windsor. I suppose the Duke of Wellington, who is decidedly aiming at the sovereignty, will lie in ambush at Colnbrook, and make another Bridge of Lodi at Longford.