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MASTERSHIP OF DR. JEUNE.

465

out under his auspices and by his zeal and energy. He was probably the ablest man of business in his day at Oxford.' Mr. Gladstone once said that he had known two clergymen who, in his opinion, if their professional duties had allowed it, were quite capable of discharging the functions of a Chancellor of the Exchequer. The two were Dr. Hannah of Brighton and Dr. Jeune. Sitting with him on the first Hebdomadal Council, Jeune discovered that Pusey also had great business talents. Pusey, on the other hand, found that 'Jeune is not the sort of man some of our friends have thought him; he is a person of clear and strong, if somewhat narrow, faith, and brings an acute and powerful mind to the support of positive truth.' Jeune's somewhat hard and unimaginative Liberalism, however, had placed him in resolute antagonism to the Via Media and high church movement. Preaching in St. Mary's on St. Luke's Day, 1846, he attacked Pusey's sermon on Absolution of eight months before, and accused him of Romanism, taking up himself the untenable ground that the solemn formula in the Visitation of the Sick refers to the removal of Church censures only. Pusey replied the following Advent with his sermon The Entire Absolution of the Penitent. It is curious to read in a letter from Newman to the Rev. R. H. Froude, of Nov. 7, 1833, 'Mr. Jeune of Pembroke joins heartily: he has been converted by Jeremy Taylor on Episcopacy.' Jeune was Vice-Chancellor 1858-62. In January, 1864, Lord Palmerston suggested his name for the deanery of Lincoln, and a few months later, on June 27, he was consecrated Bishop of Peterborough. He died at Whitby, of heart disease, after a brief episcopate (whose dragoon-like vigour had contrasted with the mild rule of Bishop Davys), Aug. 21, 1868, and was buried in his cathedral church. Magee succeeded him.

1

During the twenty years of his Mastership, Dr. Jeune lifted a small and poor College into a leading position. Whereas in 1843 there were only two matriculations, in the year after he became Master there were twenty-eight, a number exceeded only at five Colleges. In 1848 only three Colleges had a larger entry. As a reformer he went on his way like a Roman road, equally regardless of obstacles and of scenery. The Rev. E. R. Orger, above quoted, writes:

1 The Rev. Compton Reade writes: 'I was at the Gaudy when Jeune was congratulated on having the nomination to the see of Gloucester. He looked glum and held his tongue. Next day it transpired that, with his usual incaution, he had told that Palmerston had made him the offer. The news reached the Times and was announced. But Pam had not asked the Queen, and as she saw the Times, Her Majesty refused.' Jeune's ambitions proceeded from a consciousness of his ability to be useful.

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466

DR. FRANCIS JEUNE.

'In carrying out his plans he disregarded, it was said, the letter of statutes when it stood in his way, as well as the personal feelings of those who suffered from his measures. I was often reminded of this in meeting, who always spoke with great bitterness of the way in which he had been ousted of his scholarship. He had one of the few open ones, and there seemed no prospect of his giving it up. He was within his rights, he maintained; but he was somehow compelled to resign. The Master used to acknowledge that he had an indifference to the opinion of others when he felt he was right. He showed himself above rules and restraints in other ways. Dr. Stanley was Canon of Canterbury when I went there in 1855. He told me that the members of the first University Commission were often surprised and annoyed by finding that what had been discussed at their meetings had become known and was matter of common talk. The matter used to be traced to Dr. Jeune; and, when he was remonstrated with, he took a bold line and said: "I did it on purpose, to intimidate them." In reference to the opponents of University Reform, he once spoke to me of Dr. Hawkins, the Provost of Oriel, as "their clever man." It was perhaps a bolder feat to send about his business Le Grand, the magnificent French cook of the College. Mr. Orger continues: In reference to the undergraduates his influence and teaching were very stimulating. In my time the only lecture we had with him was a Hall lecture on Sundays and Saints' Days. He lectured on one of the Epistles of the New Testament. His manner was altogether original; he said very startling things, and this, combined with the rapidity with which he spoke and his foreign intonation, making it difficult to follow him, gave his lectures an exciting effect. Many of the men were shocked by some of his sayings and by what was called his irreverence. I fought many battles on his side.

'He used to distinguish some of the men by the freedom with which he spoke to them. This took place particularly at Collections. He would ask unusual questions, and then take a man aside for a talk, in which he would speak in the most interesting way, and with a want of reserve which was flattering.

'He used to point out to us marks to aim at in after life. Mitchinson told me that he found him once reading a book on Botany, and said to him: "You take an interest in that? Resolve to succeed Daubeny." The highest point he directed me to was not above the rank of Archdeacon. He practised no disguise as to his own ambition. It was amusing to see his excitement when a vacancy occurred among the Bishops.

DR. FRANCIS JEUNE.

467

'He belonged at bottom to the Evangelical school, but added a freedom of thought which was unusual in it. He had no sympathy with the "Oxford Movement." He used to speak very freely of Dr. Pusey. He spoke to my father about his "impudence" in the way in which he alluded to his suspension in the first sermon which he preached after it had expired. And he said to me once: "Pusey labours under an ignoratio elenchi. He never proves his point, but something like it." In parting with St. Aldate's by sale to the Simeon Trustees, he was influenced partly by dislike of the ringing of the bell at seven o'clock, his dinner hour, and by theological preference. The Bishop of Oxford (Wilberforce) told me that the Master had "done him." He was prepared to have the living purchased, but it was managed in the other way. I believe, however, that the Trustees appointed an admirable man. 'I think on the whole that the Master was not popular. We were afraid of him, but proud of him at the same time.'

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The Rev. PHILIP HEDGELAND, Prebendary of Exeter (matr. 1846), writes I remember Hatch (who in such a subject was surely an expert) saying of Jeune in 1858, "He is the broadest man I ever knew." Jeune almost went out of his way to affect cynicism. Rolleston told me that, when he saw Jeune after getting his "first," the Master's congratulations were summed up with," Remember, as long as you succeed I am your friend." He did not really mean this, as I can prove by another story. For some domestic reasons I asked leave to go out of residence for a term. He was reluctant, and I have now his letter in which he says, If pecuniary matters have anything to do with your wish to remain in the country, I think I can undertake to remove the difficulty."

In the same way the Rev. WILLIAM DE QUETTEVILLE (Fellow 1851-62) writes:-'I cannot say how much I owe to Jeune's unceasing kindness to me from the time I matriculated. He was a man who was not well known by many; but he was firm in his friendships, and had the kindest of hearts beneath a somewhat stern exterior. Wherever he went he left his mark. . . . I have heard that the clergy in the diocese of Peterborough were learning to appreciate him.'

Of similar tenour are the words of the late SAMUEL FLOOD JONES', Precentor of Westminster (1869), Priest in Ordinary to the Queen (1869), Vicar of St. Botolph, Aldersgate (1876), President of Sion College, ob. 1895-who matriculated in 1848 :-' Jeune used to call

1 Precentor Flood Jones lies in the south cloister of the Abbey, where the feet of the children of the choir' pass daily over his head. He devoted his life and high talent to the elevation and reverent rendering of the musical services. In all the great national ceremonials of which the Abbey is the scene his fine presence and melodious voice were for many years prominent.

468

DR. JEUNE'S SUNDAY LECTURE.

us to a lecture in Hall on Sundays, which prevented men going to University sermon or churches. Some, by protest or favour, were allowed absence; but those who attended were sometimes a little startled at a flippancy in the Master's dealing with sacred subjects. I learnt much from him however, and I treasure his memory as one of my kindest friends. He was rough sometimes at first—as when he asked a youth whom I took to him for matriculation "if he had any brains or was quite a fool." Yet there was that thorough frankness and good nature in him, and that readiness to condescend even to the weak, that while I was at Pembroke, and ever after when I saw him, I found him one of the truest and most real of men.'

Dr. Jeune's lectures on the Epistles to the Corinthians took the place of a Saturday lecture read by his predecessor, Dr. Hall, which one who entered in 1841, the Rev. WILLIAM LANGLEY POPE, D.D., told me had been given up just before his time. Jeune's lecture was from noon to one on Sundays. The Rev. GEORGE GAINSFORD, the respected Vicar of Holy Saviour, Hitchin, who entered in 1848, writes: It was given in the Hall, and the Bible clerks had to prick the names. It was a point with many men, who were not in the habit of attending University sermons, always to go when Dr. Pusey preached. Dr. Pusey, as is well known, was very lengthy, whereby men attending his sermons did not get back to Pembroke until past 12 o'clock, too late for the Master's lecture. Then, when they were called to account, they had the satisfaction of saying that they were hearing Dr. Pusey's University sermon, which they considered was a "good score" off the Master. I considered his lectures very profitable, and above all very original, and I had pleasure in attending them, though I never had any kind of sympathy with Dr. Jeune's "broad-low" views.'

HENRY, afterwards Professor, CHANDLER on one occasion asked to be excused the lecture, as he wished to leave the College at twenty minutes before one. The Master, however, met his petition with a peremptory and inexorable refusal. As Chandler had never made such a request before, had always carefully prepared his book, and was known to be perhaps the hardest reader in College, he was deeply mortified and hurt. On Sunday the Master was evidently on the lookout for him, for he called him up and desired him to translate a passage, which he did. He then retired to his place, and the lecture proceeded as usual. Suddenly, at twenty minutes to one, the Master drew out his watch, looked at it, and then, to the surprise of every one, said he did not propose to continue the lecture any longer that morning. Jeune thus maintained his consistency, and Chandler kept

DR. FRANCIS JEUNE.

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his appointment. The Master always felt a prophetic interest in Chandler's career and a deep pride in his success. One day, when he was in for the Schools, Jeune saw him in the quadrangle leaning against some railings which then guarded the north-west corner of the grass plot. How had he done? Not well, I fear,' Chandler said. 'I feel dreadfully nervous about the result.' 'Nervous, nervous ! ' replied Jeune, in his quick, blunt way. 'You should not be nervous. Do you know what nervousness is? Nervousness is only vanity'.' He did not himself know the feeling. The Rev. GEORGE WILSON KEIGHTLEY, Rector of Great Stamford (matr. 1844), speaks of Jeune's insensibility to music. His duties as Master lay lightly on him. The Rev. EDWARD BARTRUM, D.D., Head-master of St. Edward's School, Berkhamsted (matr. 1852), says:

'Asked to state the duties of the Head of a College, he replied that these were to write a few letters, and to see a few young gentlemen in the morning. What then are the duties of a Dean of a Cathedral? "All the duties," was his answer, "of the Head of a College except writing a few letters and seeing a few young gentlemen in the morning." I well remember his saying to me that no man begins life till he is fifty. I think he was about fifty at that time, and was expecting that promotion to a higher post which came in due course. One of our men who had certainly over-read himself told the Master, in the presence of a number of undergraduates, that he (Dr. Jeune) hoped and wished to be, but never would be, a Bishop.... He was regarded as a man of unusual ambition, and it was a common saying in Oxford that when a new Bishop was made, his name would begin with a J; he would be a Jeune, a Jacobson, a Jackson, or a fourth whose name I cannot recall.'

Dr. Jeune's last sermon before the University, I am credibly informed, was on the text 'If they have called the Master of the House,' &c. (St. Matt. x. 25). Old Pembroke men, and any who remember the famous Pembroke triumvirate, will appreciate the audacity of the allusion. His handsome, strong, French-looking face, once compared to Fechter's, is depicted in the portrait by Tweedie which hangs in the Hall.

'Bishop Jeune's Memorial Prize' of £40 may be competed for by such licensed curates of the diocese of Peterborough or in the Island of Jersey, and such graduates of Pembroke College, as have not been in Holy Orders more than ten years. The subject is appointed by trustees, and the dissertations must be 'in harmony with the late Bishop's published statements,' which are to be especially gathered from his Charge and Sermons 2.

1 Prof. Chandler repeated these anecdotes to the late Vicegerent, the Rev. R. G. Livingstone, now Rector of Brinkworth, from whom I had them. 'The

2 Published by Messrs. Seeley & Co. The subject for 1891 was,

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