Usher, James, D.D., Archbishop of Armagh (1580-1656, æt. 76). As a child he showed a remarkable attachment to books, and he became a great student as he grew older. He was the subject of universal admiration for his great erudition and wise and noble character. He was a firstrate man, and played a conspicuous part on many stages. His constitution was sound and healthy.

F. Arnold Usher; was one of the six clerks of the Chancery in Ireland, and a man of parts and learning.

U. Henry Usher, also Archbishop of Armagh, was highly celebrated for wisdom and knowledge.

g. James Stanihurst; was three times Speaker of the House. of Commons in Ireland, Recorder of Dublin, and Master in Chancery. He was highly esteemed for his wisdom and abilities.

u.

James Stanihurst; was a philosopher, historian, and poet. B. Ambrose Usher, who died in the prime of life, was a man of very extraordinary powers; he had attained great proficiency in the Oriental tongues.

[2 U.] The Archbishop was taught in his childhood by two

blind aunts, who knew the Bible by heart, and so contrived to teach him to read out of it.-Ingenious, persevering ladies!

James Usher was, therefore, a remarkable instance of hereditary ability associated with constitutional vigour, and apparently of a durable type. Unluckily for the world, he married an heiress,-an only daughter,-who appears, like many other heiresses, to have inherited a deficiency of prolific power, for she bore him only one daughter. Welch, John (1570-1623, æt. 53). He was profligate in his

youth, and joined the border-thieves, but he repented and
grew to be extremely Puritanical. The flesh upon his
knees became "callous, like horn," from his frequent
prayings upon them. He was
He was "grievously tempted'
throughout the whole of his life, and prayed and groaned
at nights. His constitution was robust, and he underwent
great fatigues. Married the daughter of John Knox* (see
above), and had three sons by her. The eldest son was
accidentally shot when a youth.

[S.] The second son was shipwrecked, and swam to a desert

island, where he starved and was afterwards found dead,
on his knees, stiffened in a praying posture, with his hands
lifted to heaven.

S. Josias Welch, the third son, was “a man highly favoured of
God,.... and commonly called 'the Cock of the Con-
science,' because of his extraordinary talent in awakening
and arousing the conscience of sinners." He was ex-
tremely troubled with doubts about his own salvation
He was still young when he died.

Whitaker, William, D.D. See under NOWELL.*

u. Alexander Nowell,* D.D.

Wilkins, John, D.D., Bishop of Chester. See under Dod.* g. John Dod.*

Witsius, Herman, D.D. (1636—1708, æt. 72). Born in Friesland, a premature child. Was always puny in stature, but had vast intellectual abilities. Was Theological Professor at Utrecht. His fame was European. Till within a little before his death he could easily read a Greek Testament of the smallest type by moonlight.

[g.] A most pious minister.

u. The learned Peter Gerhard.

[2S., 3s.] His family consisted of two sons, who died young, ard of three remarkably pious and accomplished daughters.

4

CHAPTER XVI.

SENIOR CLASSICS OF CAMBRIDGE.

THE position of Senior Classic at Cambridge is of the same rank in regard to classical achievement as that of Senior Wrangler is to achievement in mathematics; therefore all that I said about the severity of the selection implied by the latter degree (see pp. 16-21) is strictly applicable to the former. I have chosen the Senior Classics for the subject of this chapter rather than the Senior Wranglers, for the reasons explained in p. 197.

The Classical Tripos was established in the year 1824. There have, therefore, been forty-six lists between that time and the year 1869, both inclusive. In nine cases out of these, two or more names were bracketed together at the head of the list as equal in merit, leaving thirty-six cases of men who were distinctly the first classics of their several years. Their names are as follow: Malkin, Isaacson, Stratton, Kennedy, Selwyn, Soames, Wordsworth, Kennedy, Lushington, Bunbury, Kennedy', Goulburn, Osborne, Humphry, Freeman, Cope, Denman, Maine, Lushington, Elwyn, Perowne, Lightfoot, Roby, Hawkins, Butler, Brown, Clark, Sidgwick, Abbott, Jebb, Wilson, Moss, Whitelaw, Smith, Sandys, Kennedy.

It will be observed that the name of Kennedy occurs no less than four times, and that of Lushington twice, in this short series. I will give the genealogies of these, and of a

few others of which I have particulars, and which I have italicized in the above list, begging it at the same time to be understood that I do not mean to say that many of the remainder may not also be distinguished for the eminence of their kinsmen; I have not cared to make extensive and minute inquiries, because the following list is amply sufficient for my purpose. It is obvious that the descending relationships must be generally deficient, since the oldest of all the Senior Classics took his degree in 1834, and would therefore be only about fifty-seven at the present time. For the most part the sons have yet to be proved and the grandsons to be born.

There is no case in my list of only a single eminent relationship. There are four, namely Denman, Goulburn, Selwyn, and Sidgwick, of only two or three; all the others have four or upwards.

APPENDIX TO THE SENIOR CLASSICS OF

CAMBRIDGE,

Out of 36 senior classics (all bracketed cases being excluded) since the establishment of the Tripos in 1834, 14 find a place in the appendix; they are grouped into 10 families. The Kennedy family has supplied I in 9 out of the entire number of the senior classics.

Bunbury, Edward H.; senior classic, 1833.

gF. Henry, 1st Lord Holland, Secretary-at-War.

gB. The Right Hon. Charles James Fox; illustrious statesman. gB. The 2d Lord Holland; statesman and social leader.

See

Fox, in STATESMEN, for other relationships, including that of the Napier family.

[F.] General Sir H. E. Bunbury, K.C.B., author.

Butler, Rev. H. Montagu, D.D.; senior classic, 1855; Head Master of Harrow.

F. Rev. Dr. George Butler; Dean of Peterborough, previously

Head Master of Harrow. He was senior wrangler in 1794, at which time there was no University test for classical eminence; however, the office he held is sufficient proof of his powers in that respect also.

[G.] A man of considerable classical powers and literary tastes ; was master of a school at Chelsea.

B.

The Rev. George Butler; Head Master of Liverpool
College; 1st class, Oxford.

B. Spencer P. Butler; barrister; wrangler and 1st class in classics, Cambridge.

B. The Rev. Arthur Butler; Head Master of Haileybury College; 1st class, Oxford.

Denman, Hon. George, Q.C. M.P.; senior classic, 1842.

F.

G

Ist Lord Denman; Chief Justice Queen's Bench. See in
JUDGES.

Physician; a celebrated accoucheur.

GN. Sir Benj. Brodie, Bart.; eminent surgeon. See BRODIE, in SCIENCE.

Goulburn, Henry; senior classic, 1835. It was he who obtained

the extraordinary distinction described in p. 22 (where I also have made a mistake in his pedigree). He died young. F. Right Hon. H. Goulburn, Chancellor of the Exchequer. [B.] Also an able classical scholar.

U. Edward Goulburn, Serjeant at Law; a man of well-known high accomplishments and ability.

US. Rev. E. M. Goulburn, D.D. Dean of Norwich; formerly Head Master of Rugby; eminent preacher.

Hawkins, F. Vaughan; senior classic, 1854; one of the youngest at the time of his examination, yet is reputed to have obtained one of the largest number of marks, upon record. Francis Hawkins, M.D., Registrar of the College of Physicians.

F

U.

u.

Edward Hawkins, D.D., Provost of Oriel College, Oxford.
Sir Cæsar Hawkins, Sergeant Surgeon to Her Majesty.
This is the "blue ribbon" of the profession, being the
highest post attainable by a surgeon.

GB. Charles Hawkins, Sergeant Surgeon to George III.
GF. Sir Cæsar Hawkins, 1st Bart., Sergeant Surgeon to George IIL
GU. Pennell Hawkins, Sergeant Surgeon to George III.
น. Halford Vaughan, Professor at Oxford.