82 PRÆTERITA-I

Rev. Thomas Dale,¹ in Grove Lane, within walking distance of Herne Hill. Walking down with my father after breakfast, carrying my blue bag of books, I came home to halfpast one dinner, and prepared my lessons in the evening for next day. Under these conditions I saw little of my fellow-scholars, the two sons of Mr. Dale, Tom and James;² and three boarders, the sons of Colonel Matson, of Woolwich; of Alderman Key, of Denmark Hill; and a fine

¹ [For some account of whom, see the Introduction to Vol. I. pp. xlix., 1.; and compare Ruskin’s Three Letters and an Essay, ibid., pp. 357 seq. The following letter from Dr. Andrews to Mr. J. J. Ruskin may be read with interest here:-

“WALWORTH, May 22, 1830.

“MY DEAR SIR,-I am anxious only that you should believe it was utterly impossible for me to continue my attendances on your son: the regularity of my visits, at first, demonstrated how honourably I would fulfil my engagements, while dire necessity kept at a little distance from me. But latterly, owing to a great increase of the church with other ministerial calls, I could not be regular, neither indeed had occasional and indefinite lessons been sufficient, which they would not have been, could I have continued them. I am gratified to see that you repose confidence in my opinion: the tutor was what I recommended: with reluctance but conscientiously. I say with reluctance because it was painful to me to be separated from Master Ruskin: a boy whose mind requires a peculiar management, and who excited in me a higher degree of interest than I ever felt for any other young gentleman with whose education I was honoured. It was not a little trial to me to contemplate the losing of your own conversation and that of Mrs. Ruskin; but I found it utterly useless to contend against inevitable difficulty; my time was invaded from more than one quarter.

“Permit me to recommend a continuation of his attention to the Greek Grammar -also to read over carefully and often the Alphabetismus Anomalorum in (about) page 149 to 176 of Græcæ Grammaticæ Compendium. Londini Sumptibus G. Ginger ad Insignia Collegii Westmonasteriensis, juxta Scholam Regiam. 1814. That is the famous Busby’s Greek Grammar as used at Westminster School. I copy here from the title, 1814 edition; but any subsequent one is the same.

“As to Latin exercises, he will now or soon be fit for Valpy’s Elegantiæ Latinæ. Both these books may be had immediately at Oxford (if not at Ginger’s, College Street, Westminster, and Law and Whitelaw, Ave Maria Lane). But the Alphabetismus I would get soon.

“A cash balance will be due to you, which can be easily arranged when you return to town.

“I most earnestly hope that the Divine Providence may protect you all in journeying, and convey His blessing in the salubrity of the air and the change of scene till we hear of your happy arrival in town. With very ...[words torn off behind the seal] compts, to Mrs. Ruskin ... family, and love to my dear ... John, I remain most truly yours, with much respect and gratitude,

“EDWARD ANDREWS.

“JOHN J. RUSKIN, ESQ.

“POST OFFICE, LEAMINGTON.”]

² [For references to these schoolfellows, see Vol. I. pp. 385, 394; and for Colonel Matson, below, ii. § 151 (p. 381). Sir Willoughby Jones (1820-1884), Cranmer, Norfolk, succeeded to the baronetcy in 1845.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]