Wednesday Sept 14.
Agreed—that we are to drink tea with the Peyton’s this evening. A bore; but more tolerable than if we were to drink tea with them tomorrow, when my dreams lead me to Malvern.
Comparing scripture with scripture. Reading besides Self control[1] which Henrietta has borrowed from Mrs. Martin. It is formed on the model of Clarissa Harlowe;[2] but the heroine is more immaculate than even Clarissa, & more happy finally!— The book is well-written & interesting. A combination of fortitude & delicacy always interests me in a particular manner.
B H A & I to the Bartons! Met there Mr. Allen Cliffe & Mr. Jefferson .. again!! I wished to hear Mr. Allen Cliffe dissert on the Dublin university that I might report him to Mr. Boyd. No! he wd. abuse my picture, until my hopes of his entering on another subject, were gasping! They were rediviva! After a little while, I had an account of the Bishop’s examination, prior to his ordination. “What is the meaning of the word catholic?” “What is the meaning of the word paraclete?” “I have heard a high character of the Dublin University with regard to Divinity: and you justify it”.
Flagrant!-- Abominable! If any thing is “justified”, it is Mr. Beverley’s opinion![3]
Well! Mr. Cliffe talked on—& called Homer “rigmarole” & “stupid stuff”,—& expressed an opinion, that “any stupid fool cd. be an elegant classical scholar” while a degree of “ability” was requisite for the mathematics. I have heard a low opinion of the D university with regard to the classics; & he justifies it!— I observed (how cd. I do otherwise?) that “as Mr. Cliffe must speak from observation & experience, I was quite convinced & ready to admit the fact of all the classical scholars ofDublin University being stupid fools”[.]
Mr. Cliffe is no exception to my general observation on young men. Vide September the 12. He rode with us to our gate. Half past ten, when we got home: & I employed the last moment of my sitting up to speak of going to Malvern tomorrow. Well received by everybody.
1. [Mary Brunton], Self-Control: A Novel, 2 vols. (Edinburgh, 1811).
2. The heroine of [Samuel Richardson’s] Clarissa; or the History of a Young Lady, 7 vols. (London, 1748).
3. Robert Mackenzie Beverley (1798–1868), who had published several pamphlets attacking the corrupt state of the Church of England.