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

1836-1840] Lord Hobhouse's Reminiscences

53

brought into specially close companionship with Jowett
when both were undergraduates 1:'I went to reside at Balliol in Oct. I837, being then under
eighteen years old; and I made acquaintance with Jowett,
who was a Scholar of the House, and had commenced his
residence a year before. I do not remember how our acquaintance began, but it must have been very soon after my arrival;
probably through Northcote (Lord Iddesleigh), an old Eton
friend, who won a Scholarship a year later than Jowett. The
Scholars dined at a separate table; and, not being one, I missed
that stimulus of intimacy which is got by companionship at
meals. On the other hand, I was thrown in with Jowett in
this way. The top floor of the staircase on which he lived
was shared between his rooms and those of a man of his own
standing named Vaux. This Vaux was very fond of taking
to his rooms some congenial soul, or it might be more than
one, to imbibe tea, and indulge in talk de omnibus rebus. He
often so received me; and occasionally his neighbour Jowett
would come in; and, again occasionally, Jowett would make tea
for us, or for me alone, in his own territory 2.
'So there sprung up, quickly as is the case with lads,
a mutual attraction, and such intimacy as our natures and

1 I am bound to insert here the
words in which Lord Hobhouse
deprecates the publication of the
contribution so kindly made by
him; although I think the reader
will agree with me in considering
his doubts unnecessary. 'Reviewing my intercourse with Jowett
I cannot think that anything
I have to say is fit for publication
or for more than casual talk
across a tea-table. It is pleasant
enough for me to conjure up old
pictures shining in the soft light
of other days; but to those who
have not that light the case is
different. I conceive that my

remarks are worthy of the blessed
repose of the waste-paper basket.
But of that you, who are writing
the biography, are the best judge,
and not I. So I will throw such
light on your subject as I can.'
-L. C.
2 His poverty was so evident,
that A. H. scrupled even to accept
his invitations to tea, but his
doing so gave B. J. manifest
pleasure. 'It was difficult to
draw him away from his studies,
but when once you had him out
of his shell he was pleasant to
talk to.' (From conversation with
Lord Hobhouse.)-L, C.