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From The London Quarterly Review.
THOMAS TWINING.*

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now, think that they hold their non-theological attainments in trust for their FIFTY years ago the books whose names flocks; and while Mr. Twining was prestand at the head of our paper would have paring material for his well-known transbeen far less interesting than they now lation of Aristotle, or helping Dr. Burney are, because the mode of life that they in his disquisition on "that most difficult depict would then have contrasted far less of all subjects, the music of the ancients," with that which we live in this day of he would feel no qualms of conscience Church congresses, ruri-decanal synods, because such work did not help to keep and general, if not feverish activity, in-him in touch with his parishioners. For side as well as outside the Established them "he performed the services in a Church. serious and excellent manner than could be said of many of his contemporaries. To place his music at their disposal as completely as Professor Henslow did his botanical lore would have seemed to him as much out of place as to take his choir up to London in days when exhibitions and cheap trips were known. What we do get in these letters is the picture of a very lovable man, full of playful humor, so brimming over with geniality that we can well believe his work among his people was, up to his lights, all that a conscientious parson's should have been; and (which is of more general interest) a picture of English travel in the days when "grand old leisure" still ruled as king in country towns and on highways as well as in the quiet out-of-the-way nooks. Moreover, the travels bring us face to face with a cultured Cantab's view of scenery in days when the love of mountains was only gaining ground. Cowper's protest against the unreal way of looking at and talking about nature was only beginning to bear fruit; and Mr. Twining was somewhat before his time when he could delight in passes like Penmaenmawr, "where the pleasure is mixed and awful."

The view presented in the first of these volumes of a clergyman of the last century is, be it remembered, limited to one particular aspect of his life. The Twining family have always been fond of music and travelling; and it is as a correspondent of Dr. Burney and as a traveller in many parts of England and Wales, not in the least as parish priest or theologian, that we have to do with the rector of St. Mary's, Colchester. As to his pastoral work, about which not a word is said in all these letters, we willingly accept his brother's testimony that "in the performance of all the duties of a clergyman, particularly of the most important duties of the minister of a parish, he was exemplary. He never lost sight of the behavior which became his position. His unaffected piety, the regularity of all the habits of his life, the suavity of his manners, and the serious and excellent manner in which he performed the services of his church-all these circumstances obtained for him the love and confidence of his parishioners." No one will imagine that Mr. Twining, either at Fordham, of which for many years he had sole charge, or at White Notley and St. Mary's, Colchester, which he held together, felt moved to do for his parishioners what the late Professor Henslow did for his. Few clergymen, even

In the first of these volumes, then, we must remember we have not the record of pastoral work, but of the parson's "recreations and studies;" and, read in this light, the book is such pleasant reading, not 1. Recreations and Studies of a Country Clergy-least because of the constant contrast it man of the Eighteenth Century. Being Selections from the Correspondence of the Rev. THOMAS TWIN- affords to our own times, that we are not ING, M.A., Translator of Aristotle's Poetics, formerly astonished at the call for an additional Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Murray. volume. This is chiefly made up of let2. Selections from Papers of the Twining Fam-ters from abroad, not by Thomas, but by ily: A Sequel to "The Recreations and Studies of a his brother Richard, who travelled in the Country Clergyman of the Eighteenth Century, by old approved style with his own carriage Mary's, Colchester." Edited by RICHARD TWINING. and servants, and whose sketches of prerevolution Germany are lively and inter

1882.

the Rev. THOMAS TWINING, sometime Rector of St.

Murray. 1887.

Illi sint omnia curae,

esting. He also went about in Wales, | home rule for wives, and acting out the and has his own views on Welsh travel. precept of Tibullus which he wrote in the He, too, talks of "the stupendous pass of first leaf of her account-book: Penmaenmawr," and asks: "Did you ever roll great stones down precipices? This is just the place to do it; and the vale of Aber is close by, which you should never be guilty of passing." *

Et juvet in totâ me nihil esse domo. She died in 1796, after twenty-eight years of married life; and the next year he began his "holiday tour in England and

Wales."

This sequel contains a very brief sketch of the family, so well known, not only in Letters must always be more lifelike the tea-trade, but also because of the quiet than formal essays; and in that age of but effectual philanthropic work of one of letter-writing people did take the trouble the daughters. Close to Tewkesbury is a to write real letters. Among the Rev. ferry called Twining's Fleet; and Winch- T. Twining's correspondents is Dr. Hey, combe Abbey had John Twining for its Cambridge Norrisian professor, to whom abbot in the days of Edward IV. and V. he sometimes writes in fairly good French and Richard III. "He raised it to the - an accomplishment which has always, rank of an university," whatever that may we fancy, been rare among fellows of mean. At the dissolution, there was a Sidney Sussex. In one of these letters Twining among the monks pensioned off he speaks of a petition signed by a num from Tewkesbury Abbey; and in 1651 aber of clergy to get rid of subscription to Twining helped to hold Evesham against the Parliament. The founder of the mod

and doubting if the plan will go far enough

the Articles, and to alter the liturgy. Like a good Tory, he speaks very slightingly ern family was Thomas Twining, who at of the project, laughing at the rector of the beginning of the last century went up to Fordham, who had signed ("Voilà, n'y London and settled in St. Giles's Cripple-a-t-il pas là un joli petit réformateur?"), gate. He was then doubtless connected in some way with the woollen trade, the staple of his country, and we are not told what led him in 1710 to set up a tea-shop in Tom's Coffee House, in Devereux Court, Strand. As a tea-merchant he prospered, and the growing business has gone on on the same site ever since. He soon built Dial House, Twickenham, at which place his son Daniel's son Thomas was put to school, with the view of preparing him for

the trade. But the idea made him so unhappy, and his unfitness for the life was so manifest, that he was sent to the Rev. P. Smythies, of Colchester. Here Miss Smythies was his fellow-pupil in Greek and Latin, and, four years after he had been elected fellow of Sidney Sussex College, they were married, and he took the "sole charge" of Fordham. The marriage was in every way happy;" her good sense and cheerfulness rendered her a most excellent companion for my brother," says Richard, Thomas being a believer in

Welsh watering-places were very different then from what they are now, and Mr. R. Twining pities the

Welsh squires "who leave their big mansions, and for the sake of bathing, submit to be crammed into a mere dog-hole like Abergele."

even to furnish a little amusement "à nous autres philosophes qui savons imiter la sagesse de Gallio." He writes, too, to Dr. Burney, from whom to him there is a long letter about the Gordon riots. Dr. Burney lived in the same street as Justice Hyde, whose house was completely destroyed. The doctor, who had removed his MSS. and valuable books to a friend's house, thinks "the Oliverian and Republican spirit is gone forth, and religion is a mere pretence for subverting the govern ment and destroying the Constitution." In reply, Mr. Twining quotes the old Lucretian "Suave mari magno; " explaining that "I haven't tasted a bit more of this sugar than just what self has crammed into my mouth whether I would or no. Write at once and tell me how you all have weathered this horrid storm. Good God! what a scene. For my part I believe I shall never get my hair out of the perpendicular again as long as I live! At this time of day, and in a philosophic enlightened age, as it is called! What punishment is too much for an endeavor to inflame a people with religious animosi

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ties? Especially when that kind of spirit | the massacre of Paris would have been
has long been quietly laid, and mankind acted over again by Protestants in the
in general, if left to themselves, have little massacre of London! No; Christianity
or no propensity to that most horrible of does not give any sort of encouragement
all vices called zeal (p. 85). If it had to the cutting one another's throats; but
not been for the army what would have I know this, that the Papist who cuts
become of us? It is still inconceivable throats upon religious principle, bad and
to me how so much mischief has been mistaken as it is, has less to answer for
done, considering that a small number of than the Protestant, who does it in direct
armed men, with proper resolution, could repugnance to all principle, religious and
I suppose disperse very soon the largest moral." The above gives those who read
unarmed mob. Now I'll lay you a wager between the lines a thorough insight into
-I beg pardon, I pledge myself that the writer's character. He is on the level
when the House meets you'll have fine of his age; certainly not above it. To
orations against calling in the military, the subject of liberty both he and his
martial law, etc." He laughs at "the civil |
power,"
," "the power that will be civil to a
mob," and hopes (p. 87) that the "examples
that have been made and will be made
will keep all quiet." "I do think we are
the most discontented, ill-humored, black-
blooded, unthankful people upon earth,
and deserve to be ruled with a rod of
iron. In nine out of ten of us our boasted
love of liberty is nothing but the hatred of
liberty in others and the desire of tyranny
for ourselves. Your true Englishman is
never so happy as under a bad govern-
ment. A perfect administration, could the
experiment be tried, would dislocate with
ennui the jaws of above half of his Majes-
ty's good subjects. Nay, they would
make grievances, though an angel were
minister and an archangel king. . . . As
to toleration, we are children yet; the very
word proves it. Religious liberty can
never be upon its right footing while that
word exists. Tolerate it is a word of
insult. The world, if it last some thou-
sand years longer, will begin perhaps to
find out the folly and mischief and inutil-
ity of paying any regard to each others'
opinions and principles as such; that they
have nothing to do but with action and
conduct. Here are a parcel of fanatical
persecuting Papal Protestants who would
treat all the Papists in the kingdom as bad
subjects and dangerous men, because they
would be so if their conduct was perfectly
consistent with the spirit of their religion,
or rather what was once the spirit of it. It
is curious to reflect, or rather would be if
it were not shocking, that if the populace
had not been opposed, in all probability

brother return in subsequent letters. He, Dr. Hey, and a Yorkshire friend “are in perfect unison that there never can be any peace or quiet in the world till the word liberty is entirely abolished and expunged from all languages. I do really think that no word ever did mankind so much harm."* Writing on the French Revolution, he wishes the king had escaped at Varennes; but he can't quite believe Louis's asseveration that he did not mean to go out of the kingdom: "it may be consistent with his intention of joining his party, for which purpose he would not have had to do more than go to a fortified place near the frontier. What he says about resisting invasion puzzles me most." The king's death he stigmatizes as a deed of complicated injustice, cruelty, and folly." "Burke," he thinks, "pushes some things a little too far; yet his book is in the main right, solid, and irrefragable, meant to oppose and disgrace the wild and dangerous principles of modern reformers, revolutionists, and triers of confusion."

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His remarks about the Treason and Sedition Bills

(1795) are characteristic. Their opponents he takes to
be "people anxiously wishing to promote general con-
fusion, or people willing to risk such confusion to get
into place. Our Bills of Rights, etc., were meant to
Could our ancestors
make us better, ie., happier.
have foreseen that their descendants would use a part
of those rights and liberties to confound all right and
liberty, that the best part of the Constitution would be
employed to overthrow the Constitution itself; would
liberty?. Even in Parliament the doctrine of re-
sistance has been preached; and much ingenuity and
industry have been exerted to prevent the bills from
answering the end intended, if they should pass. I
hope Mr. Pitt will be firm and successful. That way
we have some chance; the other we have none."

they have secured to us so many rights and so much.

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These specious but false theories of gov- abhorred a level as much as according to ernment, he thinks, are due to Locke, "who some she abhors a vacuum, and where in his famous treatise sowed the first seeds cottages are perched about in the most of this madness." Of the charge against romantic and improbable situations, more Marie Antoinette he remarks: "Her real like stone nests than houses," throws him character I do not know; nor can we say into ecstasies. Coming down from Hudwhat is or is not possible to the corruption dersfield into Ealand, "the little falls in of human nature; but will any man in his the river producing a perpetual rustle of senses believe this story upon the faith of water, and the effects varying at every the unprincipled and murderous villains bend of the road, a little gleam of sunshine, from whom we have it? It is too shock-through an opening cloud at the extremity ing to talk of." He is indignant that of a long vale on the left, came stealing Whig magnates should be the avowed along, till by degrees the whole valley correspondents of men like Brissot: "the and the town were illuminated, part of the Tower opens its gates wide for some of surrounding hills still remaining in shade these corresponding lords and gentlemen." and forming a sort of black frame to this Yet he strongly deprecates the idea of bright picture. I never felt anything so going to war, "because we are angry." fine. I shall remember it and thank God He can't imagine the French had any for it as long as I live. I am sorry I did design to attack us. His consolation he not think to say grace after it." Round finds in the thought that "our rulers know Huddersfield and Thornhill Edge, more more than we know. But then, I ask and steeper hills, but the whole way if myself again and again, and am at a loss possible more beautiful, though in rather for an answer, 'If they do know more a different style. Then by way of Bank than has yet appeared, is it not natural Top to Sheffield ("Sootland; I never saw to suppose they would produce these so black a place "). Then eighteen miles stronger reasons for their own justifica- to Worksop before breakfast; this was tion? Meanwhile he preaches for the his usual plan, but it did not always anFrench priests, getting twenty guineas, swer. In the present instance "the road "the best collection in Colchester," and was so execrable that we were tired, sick, the closing passage in his sermon may be and discouraged, and had not spirit even quoted as an instance of his style at its to go through the parks. But to say the best: "Lastly, let us in the true spirit of truth the great scenes of nature that I had Christianity, recommend, not ourselves been seeing left me very indifferent about only, but even our enemies also, to the houses and parks, and even in a great merciful protection of that Almighty Being measure about pictures." And so they who judgeth among the nations; who saw nothing of "the Dukeries " and Sheralone can hide us from the gathering to- wood Forest; and, finding that "Nottinggether of the froward and from the insur-hamshire has few natural beauties," they rection of evil-doers; who stilleth the raging of the sea, and what is still more calamitous in its effects, and almost as much beyond human power to set bounds the madness of the people." His pity "Oh, poor France! and poor king of France! what shall we say to them now?" does not hinder him from enjoying his autumn holiday. In 1792 he took Mrs. Twining a driving tour by way of Matlock for a third visit to Yorkshire. Their first route had been by Huntingdon, where they slept. Next day dined at Stamford; but, as it rained, left Burleigh for the return, and slept at Colsterworth, and admired Grantham spire, "as new-looking as if it was kept all the week in a bandbox."

to

It is delightful to note how each time he finds fresh beauties in this part of the West Riding. Round Todmorden, "the wild tumbled ground, a perpetual wave of smaller hills, where nature seems to have

got back to Newark, and this time did not
miss Burleigh. Soon after his return he
ejaculates: "Oh ! this green trencher of a
country called Essex, where we think it a
sublime thing to look over one hedge and
see another. Well, thank God, it is not
Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, nor Hunt-
ingdon." On this first visit, too, he liked
the Yorkshire people as much as he did
their scenery: "I find whether we stay an
hour or a month with them they are never
incommoded. I envy them their style of
easy hospitality still more than their pros-
pects or their coals." On his second visit
he saw Studley and other show places
round Harrogate; but what struck him
most was a bit of the Calder Valley,
66
where, over Hepton (now Hebden)
Bridge, on the top of a monstrous hill,
is perched the town of Heptonstall, the
road up to it having the appearance of
an absolute perpendicular. The third
journey was made by way of Dunstable,

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