Fonsie Mealy's THE LIBRARY HOWTH CASTLE September 22nd & 23rd, 2021

131 fonsiemealy.ie Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 defeated conservatives. See JFA Mason, “Charles Lloyd, Bishop of Oxford 1827-1829, and his family”, Oxoniensa , LXV, 447-451 (2000). – 9 June 1816. A gossipy letter to Gaisford, who is in Leiden attending a book auction, updating him on ecclesiastical affairs and mutual acquaintances. “A poem of Coleridge’s [Kubla Khan] has been published, unequalled in its absurdity by anything now extant …” – 5 July 1816. Another, similar; “what Chitchat I can find for you, I send you” – and there is plenty of it. – 5 June 1817. More gossip for Gaisford, who is now in Paris, mostly regarding the flurry following the Speaker’s announcement of his intended resignation. – 22 Jan 1820. “I am confined to my room by a sore throat and cold, with much fever, living on mutton broth and unable to move …” – 24 May 1821. He has heard that in a discussion on the Craven Scholarships Gaisford “treated the Regius Professor of Divinity with more roughness than is generally supposed to be consistent with the courtesy of society”, and urges him to redress the matter. – 22 [Jan?] 1822. More about the “Craven Squabbles” and a vitriolic denunciation of the Vice-Chancellor’s conduct – “extraordinarily gross … so miserable a reptile” etc. “And now… to say something touching the Dame in question …” – 2 Dec [1824]. More university gossip. Grave illness of Elmsley (Peter Elmsley, classical scholar at Christ Church, died 8 March 1825). – 9 May 1825. Gossip, as usual, especially about the new Canon of Christ Church and his impending nuptials. – 12 Nov 1827. Re affairs of the University Press and Bodleian. Difficulties of the Librarian (Bulkeley Bandinel) in cataloguing owing to shortage of staff. – 10 Dec 1827. University news: the Royal Society, Copleston, Collingwood … – 13 Dec 1827. On the importance of introducing published texts of classical works with a proper preface. – 15 Dec 1827. Forwarding a letter from Joseph Parker re dispatch of a quantity of books. – 18 Dec 1827. Detailed response to Gaisford’s comments on his edition of the New Testament incorporating the Canons of Eusebius. – 22 Jan 1828. Comments on the new government, biblical texts, and the possibility of buying the 60 volumes of records of the Roman Inquisition, which Buonaparte “among other exports from Rome carried off”. – 9 April 1828. Looks forward to Gaisford’s return to Oxford. “We live, as you say, in strange times …” – 2 June 1828. Asks for a subscription for “poor Kidd”. Quotes from Van Mildert’s speech in the House of Lords: “My Lords, the whole of this business has been painful, dreadfully painful to me, so painful, my Lords, that I can say with truth that I look back with bitterness and anguish on the day which gave me the honor of a seat in this House.” – 25 June 1828. An important letter on the debate in the Lords on the Catholic Emancipation bill. When Van Mildert urged him to speak, he threatened to give a blistering denunciation of the Church of Ireland, “a gross and hideous anomaly … a gross and hideous tyranny.” “The debate, on the whole, was heavy and dull. The great novelty was the speech of His Grace of Tuam [Power le Poer Trench], which in bigotry and want of tact surpassed everything you can imagine …” Describes the struggle of Edward Copleston (Bishop of Llandaff) to get the House to listen to his maiden speech. – 8 Dec 1828. Has just heard of Gaisford’s resignation of his stall at Worcester. Is financially out of the wood. Seeks 50-60 copies of Cranmer’s Catechism. – [10 April 1829]. Transcript in Gaisford’s hand of an article in the Morning Post – a poem denouncing in blistering terms Lloyd’s defence of his “Popish friends” and his claim that Roman Catholics are not Idolators!”