On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
was delighted to discover this similarity of classical taste between my pastor and myself . The sight of these books was indeed delightful to me—though at the moment I was not aware of the fulness of the relief that they promised me . I afterwards discovered , and I record it here lest I should forget the fact , that this reverend gentleman , who was appointed to be my examiner , was as much afraid of me , as I was of him ; he was apprehensive that , if he set me to construe an ode of Horace ,
and I should be unable to construe it , he should be also as unable to set me right ; for he , like many others , as I have since ascertained , possessed the reputation of much greater erudition than had really fallen to his lot . When he came into the study , I took a great deal of pains to look as if I had not been looking upon the table , and I think I succeeded . We went into another room to tea , and after tea the important work of examination commenced . I trembled a little , but not so much as I should have done if I Jiad not seen Smart's Horace and Duncan ' s Virgil on the table in the next room .
• I think I can remember the examination almost word for word ; therefore , with the reader ' s leave , I will set it down as it occurred . My pastor was the first to speak , and he began by saying in a very pleasant and gentle voice , — " So , young gentleman , I find that you are desirous of undertaking the office of the ministry , and for this purpose you are a candidate for admission into College . I suppose you are aware that the directors of that institution , being sensible of the great
importance of a learned ministry , make a point of requiring all young men who seek to be admitted there , to undergo a previous examination as to their classical attainments . ' * It was well fur me that I had seen Smart ' s Horace and Duncan ' s Virgil in the next room , or I should certainly have betrayed symptoms of great agitation . As it was , however , I replied with much self-possession , — I am perfectly aware of it , sir /' * In all affairs of this kind , there is nothing like putting a good face on the matter . I was , indeed , astonished at mv own boldness ; but I
found that it answered . My examiner , without hesitation , replied smilingly , — In your case , of course , the examination must be a mere matter of form ; for considering the high reputation of the school at which you received your education , and the excellent character which you sustained there , no doubt can exist as to your competency , only I must be able to say that I have had proof of your classical knowledge . Now the directors of this college , in order to fix the standard of proficiency
high enough , require that a young man , before he is admitted , be able to construe Horace . " w I was just on the point of taking Smart ' s Horace out of my pocket , but my pastor hastily rising up , said , " I will fetch a Horace out of the next room , and perhaps you will be kind enough to do me the favour to construe a line or two . " 4 He was soon back again , bringing with him , not Smart ' Horace , but the Delphin Horace , and presenting it to me open at the first ode of the first book , he said— " Read where you please . " * I accordingly began , and very boldly proceeded with the first ode , construing it with as much accuracy and elegante as I could . I had not gone very far , when my examiner graciously and kindly interrupted me , saying— " That will do , sir , perfectly well ! admirably well ! You
Untitled Article
870 The Autobiography of a Dissenting Minister .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1834, page 870, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2640/page/52/
-