This long letter from an Old Etonian student just arrived back at Christ Church, Oxford, provides details of his reception, the books he needs, and the cutlery and crockery he will require. He is noted in later life for his translation of Aesop’s Fables with illustrations by John Tenniel. The University records have him as Thomas James (son of Thomas of Croydon) matriculating at Christ Church on May 29, 1828, aged 19, and graduating B.A. in 1832. He was later Vicar of Sibbertoft and Theddingworth, a role he combined with that of local antiquarian, writing The history and antiquities of Northamptonshire, published in 1864 after his death.
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Transcription
Addressed to: Thomas
James Esq Croydon Surrey
Datelined: Sunday Evening
Ch. Ch. Oxford
Despatch postmark: OXFORD OC 12 1828
My dear Father
Here I am, through your kindness
and liberality at Ch. Ch. Oxford & though not quite so comfortable &
settled as I hope to be , yet not so badly off, considering that in a Mr
Somebody’s rooms I have made a very hearty tea by a good fireside in an easy
chair, & having been minus a dinner, I can assure you that I made
the bread and butter look rather foolish however you will wish to hear a more
detailed account of my proceedings & expectations so to begin. I arrived at
½ past 9 on Friday, at the Angel Inn, having had for companion on the coach
young Briscoe the tutor’s brother, who was tolerably communicative although he
gave me but slender hopes of permanent residence. Having tead I went early to
bed & the first thing after breakfast the morning was to go to Mr Briscoe
who confirming me in my uncertainty, sent me to the Censor Mr Hart , to see if
there was any chance of rooms. He told me that he did not think it in the least
likely that I could be accommodated, but after finding out that you had
formerly dosed him at Dr Irelands he said he would put me in some rooms
for the present to take my chance. The man whose rooms I am now occupying is
unwell but he may probably be back in a day or two & then if there happens
to be a vacancy for the like reason I may be pushed in again, but after all, I
may be obliged to return in the middle of the term, without being able to keep
it.
To make matters worse Williams my
tutor is not here yet but Mr Briscoe has kindly promised to arrange for me as
well as he can till Williams arrives. He advised me to send for my Books &
I of course shall want my clothes but whether it will be worth while anything
else I know not yet nor can I find out. Every body is so much engaged at
present that I can get no advice. I think the less I am encumbered with at
present the better, as I shall have so much moving. The term I believe only
lasts 2 months, so that I shall not have a very long time to battle through. I
had intended to have sent this letter off this evening but being Saturday I
thnk that you would not get it sooner than if it goes to-morrow night. By that
time I may have more to say. I have seen Riddell, Knighton & Curzon for a
minute only. I hope before this reaches you a letter will have been sent off to
say how you are.
Sunday
morning. I hope you will excuse last evening’s pen & writing but I daresay
Anne [ his sister] will read it & I know that she is a good
hand at making out scrawls. I went into Chapel this morning at 8 in a white
surplice. Be kind enough to send the books a list of which I enclose &
any more which are not mentioned which you think I may want, but I wish to have
as few as possible this term. My book horn is in the hall closet. There are
some English books in it which may be taken out – by the bye I think that Box
is too large you had better get a smaller one I wished to have come back myself
to have settled about my books &c but they tell me if I once go away
somebody else may take my rooms. For some time of course I shall not be settled
& cannot begin to read regularly but I come here with good intentions, I
hope firm ones & if in the sequel as is very likely I come off without
public honours yet I am determined to reap as sound advantage from my College
as its system will admit of. I would to heaven that I may always feel as much
in earnest for distinction as I do now but that is hardly likely when the
novelty of my situation falls off wears away. It is useless to repeat
resolutions for our future conduct, as the performance alone is the test of
them. Soundness & sincerity & yet if I may indulge in one more
determination, it is this that I will live as economically as I can with the
character I have here to support but while I keep up the dignity of a gentleman
I will never forget that the liberality & kindness of my father’s character
to all around him has made what would otherwise have been a comparatively easy
expence, a heavy burden to him. Future success & gratitude is the only
repayment he requires, but I hope I as well as others who have felt his
generosity will be able in time to return him whatever has been expended upon
us & which through him will again be the means of making others respectable
& happy.
I must now address a few lines to
Anne concerning one of my wants. I think it better not to send me any cutlery
&c till I am better settled, however you may begin preparing. I think with
regard to plate that I shall want 6 tea spoons, which I should like to be new
with my crest & J or T.J upon them, also 2 salt spoons, 2 gravy spoons, 6
decent spoons, half a dozen large & small knives & forks as they will
do afterwards to set up house with. As there must be some distinguishing
mark on the knives & forks I should like the crest engraved on the ivory
handles. If you like to let me have the solace tea pot & coffee ditto well
& good, if not I will get others here but whatever I have I will take care
of. If you think it worthwhile getting me glass you may but I will write about
that in future letters. At present I only want my Books, Clothes & Desk
which you must brush up as well as you can. I should like sent with my Clothes,
my Nail-brush, pen knife, boot hooks all in my room. Also a soiled-clothes
bag. I send for all these little things as it is much better than paying 3 or 4
shillings a piece for them here. Emily said there was a tea cadd, I should like
that now . I do not want the plate now only I mentioned it that you
might get it ready. I dined in Hall to-day for the first time having gone
dinnerless for the 2 previous days – very good dinner in most splendid
room but bad waiting.
Pray let me hear soon how my dear
father is. I have got his cloak as I thought I should return, but I shall send
it up to town. Tell Papa Forster called in Harley St & wanted to be paid.
You must excuse this letter & believe me my dear Anne your very
affectionate Brother
In a side panel: Dr Anne, In
order that you may more easily find the books I have marked B. for bound, L.
for large, P. for front parlour – some are in Papa’s bookcase – some in my own
room some in a box in the little closet in my room where you will find
paper for wrapping them up in. I have also marked the number of vol of each
work. Send my books & clothes as soon as possible. It is quite
uncertain whether I stay here a week or the whole term, but if any chanage
takes place you shall hear. Put a little paper Indian rubber &c in my desk
(pens I have got) Many pardons I must beg for so many wants but it was
unavoidable.
______________________
A letter
directed to me at Ch Ch. Oxford will find me. The directions at the sides are
meant for Anne. I should like my seal, if Papa does not want it. Excuse
the dirty paper, but I am all on my shifts.
In a side panel:
Scapula Lexicon B.L.P.
Damnii – do – B.L.P.
Hederici – do L.P.
Donnegani – do
Morelli Thesaurus B.L.P
Sophocles 1
Homer 5 B.P.
Aristophanes 5 B.P.
Matthia Greek. Gr. 2.
Livy.6.
Herodotus 4
Latin do. 1.
Gr. Testament 2.
Gr. Plays bound in green, several large &
small
Euclid. P.
Artis Logica Compend. P.
Virgil 2. B
Horace 2. B.
Paley’s Nat. Theol.
Illustrations of Herodotus. Thin red book
Cicero de officiis. B
Clavis Ciceronica
Ainsworth’s Lat. Dict.
Spectator (1 vol. missing)
Xenophon 2 or 3.
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