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

Letters, 1860-i86y

357

To A. P. STANLEY.
FRESHWATER, ISLE OF WIGHT,
[January, I862].
I am so glad that you are going with the Prince of Wales.
I have received from Lingen a document that fills me with
astonishment. It is most kind, generous, thoughtful to take
so much trouble about me. It will be one of the happiest
recollections of my life that I have received such a testimonial.
But, my dear friend, I cannot accept it.
I. No one ought to take money from others who is not in
absolute need of it, or without a definite public object.
2. I am far from wishing to feast upon a grievance or go
in for being a martyr (don't suppose this), but I am afraid of
lowering the position in which you and others have placed me,
far beyond my deserts.
3. I should not feel on equal terms with my great friends
and should feel pained at my poor friends if they gave me
money.
Yet I really feel the greatest contentment and satisfaction
in the matter. I shall never complain again, but work on
cheerfully. If anything is done for me, well; and if nothing
is done, well too. Taking the whole of my life I am sure that
I should do wrong in accepting a sum of money: it is not
worth while. I should never feel disinterested and could
never be equally thought so again....
To A. P. STANLEY.
March 9, I862.
MY DEAREST FRIEND,
The greatest trial that you could ever have in this world
has come at last. I wish I could be with you; it grieves me
to think of what you must suffer when you receive this
packet. May you have strength to bear it.
' p. 306. vol. ii. p. 75. Most of the letter
2 For Stanley's answer to this has been published in the volume
letter, see Life of Dean Stanley, of Dean Stanley's Letters, p. 325.