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

1836-1840] Scholar of Balliol 47
Miss Ward, a favourite niece of Dr. Arnold. He has
since been known as a learned writer on the history of
Medicine. The following letter, written while the giver
was unknown, shows the feeling with which the gift
was received:OXFORD, January 31, 1837.
DEAR SIR,
I gratefully avail myself of your wonderful and unexpected goodness. I do so with the less hesitation as I am
persuaded from the letter with which it was accompanied
that it was really meant. It will give me the opportunity
of obtaining what I have long wished for and could not otherwise have had.
May I venture to hope that I shall one day have the
pleasure of thanking personally my unknown benefactor.
Should I fail in the ensuing contest (and I feel persuaded
such will be the result) I trust he will believe that this want
of success has been owing to no deficiency of exertion on my
part. With the most sincere gratitude for your kindness,
and the manner in which it was offered,
Believe me to remain, my dear Sir,
Ever yours most truly and respectfully,
B. J.
Should I not hear from you to the contrary, I will leave
a letter for you at the Post Office on March I, directed to
X. Y. Z.
May God bless you for your kindness to me. I never
thought much about religion till a few days before your letter
came, [and] it has left an impression which I trust I shall
never forget.
Many years afterwards (in I867), when Professor Jowett
was corresponding with Dr. Greenhill on the subject
of,Plato's Timaeus, he referred with characteristic gratitude to this long-past kindness, adding that he had