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

1854-I860]

Colonization

271

is nothing to be done, but to do nothing,' was his single
rule for meeting all attacks.
His judgement on persons, then and always, was wholly
independent of their opinions; but not of their conduct.
Personal character counted with him for much. For
R. Hussey, Student of Christ Church, Stanley's predecessor
in the Chair of Church History, who was a consistent
High Churchman, he had the most unfeigned respect. He
said of Canon F. C. Cookl, an opponent of Liberalism,
' He is the only person in England, whom I have met, that
could be called really learned.' He was disappointed in
Thirlwall, contrasting his attitude on leaving Cambridge
'multa et praeclara minantis,' with his episcopal charges.
'A man should not be broken down with fifteen years of
being a bishop.'
The time had now arrived when the opening of the
Fellowships, the most important factor in University
reform, was taking full effect. And one result of it,
which was cheering to Jowett, was the colonizing of the
rest of Oxford by Balliol men. He took intense interest
in their work, especially when they became Tutors.
' You will turn those rough undergraduates into First
Class men,' he used to say: 'You must treat them very
much as gentlemen,' and (perhaps thinking of his own
experience) 'Do not assert your authority too soon: let it
come naturally and by degrees.' Also, 'Never speak
of their faults to any but themselves. You are sure to
lose influence if you do.'
Three Balliol men, A. G-. Watson, W. H. Fremantle,
and Godfrey Lushington, had been elected Fellows of All
Souls under the reformed Statute. But in a year or two
an attempt was made to revert to the former system, in
which birth and breeding were preferred to learning and
1 Editor of Aids to Faith.