My Dear SirNote re Marischal college
Yesterday I was truly gratified by a sight of your hand writing before I proceeded to break the seal of your Epistle, inasmuch as I had begun to think, that you had forgotten me. On perusal of your very acceptable letter however, I found that you were feeling no less surprised at my silence, particularly, on the subject of James's success in obtaining a Bursary at Marischal College Aberdeen.Now my friend, you must have forgotten that the Bursary which he enjoys, was presented to him by the Patron, Alexr Ramsey nearly 4 years ago & that naught was required, either on his or my part but his waiting on the Senates of the College on the first day of Nov – with Sir Alex's Presentation in his hand and after undergoing a short Examination, as to his acquirements in the Greek & Latin Languages to be matriculated (as the Phrase is) in the College Register. He lives with William – and that he may not be left to himself 'to read or not to read' as inclination prompts I have procured for him a Private Tutor, who not only takes care that his Exercises in Greek & Latin are carefully prepared but that time is appropriated for his advancement in knowledge of the French Language – and of accounts and the Minor branches of mathematics.
The Senior Curator of Marischal College advised that the College was founded in 1593, with the museum established by 1786. He also passed on the query to the University's Special Libraries and Archives, who advised that a Gilbert Ramsay of Barbados mortified the sum of £400 sterling to Marischal College in 1714 for the support of four students and appointed a Sir Alexander Ramsay of Balmain and his heirs and successors as patrons of the mortification. This might be the bursary that is mentioned in the letter you have.
Now, back to the letter.
I certainly heard some time ago, thro' G. Ogilvie, that the Bishop of Durham had done (I will say) himself credit by preferring you, to the vicarage of Stockton, that the Bishop of Carlisle had been equally mindful of Mr. Mark and that your son –in – law had also got a preferable appointment in the Church for that which he formerly held in the neighbourhood of Newcastle.[Note:
Now says I to myself, says I, ' if one half of what is reported to be true, W. Newby will, I am sure communicate the cheering information, under his own hand, that I may rejoice with him, and his family, and bless God for raising up to him & them, friends, both able & willing to do them service '. No such Communication being made to me I hesitate about putting forth an Epistle congratulatory until having read in the British Magazine (which my brother occasionally shares with me) your name & designation, as the New Vicar of Stockton. (altho I looked in vain for the names of the other Revd. Guillaum I determined on abstaining no longer from penning my gratulatory effusion, and praying (as from my heart I do) that when the time comes for your quitting the scene of your Meritorious Labours, as a school master, you may have Grace and strength given you as “the vicar” that is “the ambassador for Christ” to win the Parishioners of Stockton to your blessed Master's service.
The next few words were written in Greek, see illustration]
As best as I can make out the writing
“teaching as children of the earth”
The next paragraph is a comment on the new parish of Stockton to which he believes that his friend W. Newby has been appointed.(See the note at the end re the Stockton vicar).
But are not the Stocktonians a race of Evildoers? And will you not be subjected to hourly disquietude – by reason of their proneness to confusion & every evil work? But alas, to what part or portion of the British Empire can the peaceable subject & sobersided Christian betake himself where he will not be exposed to popular discontent & tumult! Yet "whether the people will hear, or whether they will forbear" having taken part in our Saviour's Ministry – we are bound thro “evil report & good report” – to the unflinching discharge of our Duty – If a Heathen could say “Malis displicere laudare est” the Minister of Christ will be false to himself as well as to his office if he is overawed by the continually shifting Opinions as well as practices of his fellow Man. Mark the operandum of Abdiel, drawn by Milton ages since.Note “Malis displicere laudare est” comes from Peraldus' “On the Principles of Erudition” and before that, from Seneca.Servant of God! Well done – well hath thou fought the better fight, who single hast maintained against revolted multitudes – The Cause of truth in word mightier than they in arms.
It means something like “to displease evil is to praise”.
“mark the operandum of Abdiel” – meaning, “see the deeds/actions of Abdiel” – in Paradise Lost.
We are grateful to have had the Latin translations from Deirdre Woulfe, a personal friend of a friend of ours in England
That whole paragraph needs a bit of explanation. Obviously these two men are well–read and would have shared the study of Greek, Latin and the Bible, so George Welby would have recognised the quotations.
Abdiel was one of the angels in heaven under the command of Lucifer, the archangel. Abdiel was the only angel who challenged Lucifer's statement that he is not a created being; that he is equal with God. Abdiel attacked Satan with a sword and drove him out of Paradise. After challenging Lucifer, Abdiel flew away, refusing to have anything more to do with the wicked archangel, thus becoming the only angel in Lucifer's legions to leave. The last sentence is from Milton's 'Paradise Lost' Book 6.
The letter continues
This my friend, is enough to excite in us that honest fortitude “no less acceptable to God — than to all good Men which will support us, in every danger and carry us triumphant to the Haven where we would be!”He then puts in another quote in Greek
– and now to the 'fiery trial' which awaits you summoned as you are by your Ecclesiastical superior to mount the pulpit – not creep into the 'Dock' – before the Judges of the Land — what have you to do but fearlessly to proceed according to the Plan of Discourse, which you have submitted to me. The only difficulty which suggests itself to me is the superabundance of Matter that lies before you on which a volume might be written, instead of a single sermon. Your labour will therefore, swiftly be confined to condensing and that in such a lucid order as before the audience whom you have to address – bewildered Heathen, however great their powers of intellect might be – were not properly speaking Wisemen said one of the most illustrious of their number.
“I am not a wise (or learned) man, but I am a philosopher”
it is Christ who is the “Power of God & the wisdom of God” –so that we need not marvel that the world by the soi–disant Wisdom knew not God – for he alone is “God who is in Christ reconciling the world to himself.”.Note this latin tag can mean any of these thingsIt would be presumptive in me to tender you any personal aid – satisfied as I am that you have only to fill up the outline – or skeleton, already prepared and you will do yourself credit by the Discourse. With a very few Exceptions, my father's manuscripts are in the hands of my Brother, at Abdn (Aberdeen) and I am sure that (as in my own case) their matter, with reference to your case would be disappointing. The Preliminary Discourse, prefixed to the “Eight Discourses” (as they are entitled) of the late Archdeacon Daubeny might suggest some thoughts illustrative of your text – but be of good courage, commence blotting paper as soon as you can – shove it into a drawer – and heed it not for weeks – then fall to it as the Composition of a stranger, and have no mercy upon it – until you mould it secundum artem and reduce it worthy of yourself and the occasion of delivery.
I am truly glad to think that Mr. George's health is so far confirmed that you now confidently look forward to his joining Mr Mark at Witten; but let me recommend to the latter a sanction of another sort – viz a good wife, such in all respects as his own good mother for what is teaching – that is feeding the mind without some one to feed the body – that it also may profit withal? But profit it will neither bring to Master nor to Scholar so long as the management of the household is entrusted to hired servants – SAT VERBAM SAP.
Now back to the letter again, sharing family news.
We have this day blessed be God, been much relieved by accounts from Bombay intimating that Charles who on the 3rd August had been thrown from his horse and seriously stunned by falling on his head was on the 22 at his desk again! The first accounts were very alarming, as they had bled him until he could not stand – now thank God, tho still weak he is able to resume in part his customary labour. His brother John is fairly established in Liverpool, under the firm of “John Skinner & Co” – and has every prospect of doing well, and now that my paper is come to an end I am so far glad that I have no room to say a word on the all engrossing subject of politics & chickanery!! From the complexion of the members already returned the Whigs are completely triumphant. Now therefore is their tale today to the people “thus far and not one step farther” and to put down with might and main every man or association of them, whose object is not reform but revolution – let them show this disposition and every one of his Country will support them, if not, our Doom is sealed. May God avert it prays your truly grateful as well as faithful,
I Skinner.
Our historian friend in England shared this information with us.
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He is talking about the Reform Act. There was a general election in 1832 – parliament was dissolved on 3 December. I didn't think that elections would have been so fast after a dissolution! Of course (as you know!), elections took place over a couple of weeks which is why he says “from the complexion of the members already returned...”. The new parliament met on 29 January 1833, and indeed it was predominantly Whig.
The final sentence, which is written along the side of the paper.
Make Mrs Skinners and my best wishes acceptable to Mrs Newby and your son and may all the comforts – spiritual & temporal of the great Lord of Love & Peace be yours.
This is an amazing letter because of the length and content, he has covered every piece of the paper, on four sides, including all around the address panel. I cannot imagine someone corresponding like this nowadays, and certainly not by the mobile phone SMS text system. It would not be acceptable, too long a message and it would take too long to enter on the keypad.
Note about the addressee.
I found this information on the GENUKI Website for Barningham Parish.
The Rev. George Newby was a native of the village, his father being the proprietor of the Barningham Boarding Academy. He was educated for some time in his father's school, and then went to St. Bees' College, Cumberland. In 1806 he was appointed Master of Witton–le–Wear Grammar School, and sub-curate of the parish. He conducted that establishment with marked success, winning the esteem and affection of his pupils; and, in 1821, an elegant silver cup, subscribed for by gentlemen who had been his pupils, was presented to him at the Turk's Head Inn, Newcastle. In 1832 he was presented to the Vicarage of Stockton where he laboured most assiduously among the poor, and assisted them so extensively from his own purse, though his stipend was not large, that his charity became proverbial. In 1844 he was appointed to the Rectory of Whickham, in the county of Durham, but died two years afterwards, at the age of 67. To perpetuate his memory, his parishioners, friends, and former pupils subscribed a sum of money, with which was founded a scholarship in Durham University, and a monument erected in the church of Witton-le-Wear.
Also by a coincidence, I have recently read Nigel Tranter's final book published before his death in 2000 “Hope Endures”, and there is this mention of the College noted in the first paragraph of this letter.
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When Charles Stewart was brought over to Scotland from Holland to claim the Scottish throne
“Next day the journey began from Garmouth the first stage some sixty miles south by east to Aberdeen. The divines more or less dismissed the provost and baillies, and took the royal party through the city to Marischal College, the former Cathedral of St Machar”.
unquote
This would have been a couple of centuries before this 1832 letter, and we found this all very interesting.