The life and letters of Benjamin Jowett, M. A., master of Balliol college, Oxford.

242

Lzfe of Benjamin Jowelt

[CHAP. VIII

Chair, when the Commission had applied to the Dean
and Chapter of Christ Church with a view to their contributing to Academical purposes, they had replied that
the most proper object for such benevolence on their
part was the endowment of the Professorship of Greek.
This was in i8541. But after the death of Dean Gaisford
and the appointment of his successor, this virtuous intention was not fulfilled. The cause of such a change of
front is somewhat obscure. So much, however, is tolerably clear. In December, i856, the Chapter were in
the midst of their dealings with the Executive Commission 2, and at the same time Dean Liddell was attacked
by a severe illness, which compelled him to winter in
Madeira. During his absence one of the Canons was
examined before the Commission, aid on his representing
that Christ Church already supported several Professorships in the University, it was agreed that two canonries
should be suppressed, and their emoluments applied to
the improvement of the Studentships as rearranged.
The truth was that the authorities at Christ Church
had become aware of the difficulty of their position
consequent upon the opening of Fellowships and Scholarships in the other Colleges, and by strengthening their
own Studentships sought to improve the relative status
of the College as an educational corporation. Stanley,
although he had been appointed to the Chair of Ecclesiastical History, and was already using his influence on
Jowett's behalf, was not yet a Canon of Christ Church, and
1 Correspondence respecting the to the Dean's illness: 'Christ
Proposed Measures of Improvement Church at the present moment is
in the Universities and Colleges of " full of stirs, a tumultuous city,"
Oxford and Cambridge, I854, p. and they are in the midst of their
46. dealings with the Commission.
2 Jowett wrote to Stanley on This must be very irritating to
December 14, I856, with reference him.'