" Old Cole "
THE Rev. William Cole, a Cambridge don of the eighteenth century, was not a man to talk about his soul. In true English fashion he inclined to suspect the sincerity of those who gave expression to religious emotion. Upon his tomb- stone, however, he opened his heart and described himself as a member of the Society of Antiquaries and the " Chief of Sinners." His great friend, Horace Walpole, said of him that he was " as true a Roman Catholic as it is possible for a Protestant to be." One would not, however, go to Horace for a spiritual verdict.
The volume of the Journals, now being published (with a fascinating introduction by Miss Helen Waddell) will enable the reader to judge for himself of the mind and personality of the man still known in his university as " Old Cole." Those of us who read with delight last year the diary of his visit to Paris, will rejoice to meet him again in his own country. Behold him, therefore, jotting down all his doings and some of his thoughts as rector of Bletchley. He was not born to be a country parson. Seventeen happy years of college life have left their mark upon him. He has been used to read and write in a fine library, to worship in King's Chapel, to stroll in stately gardens, living for the most part to " myself after the monkish manner." He was, however, a very conscientious man, and he did his duty by his congregation according to his " high and dry " lights. Believing in the efficacy of the Sacraments he administered them whether it suited his health and convenience to do so or not. He held Dr. Johnson's Creed without sharing his deep and overflowing piety. Towards the poor he had a strong sense of duty and of indulgence, he regarded them as children to be corrected at times, but never condemned. Towards his equals he-had the sense of superiority so natural to a scholar, maintaining towards his bishop the intensely critical attitude which oddly enough seems to characterize the high churchman of all periods!
Here is the poor bishop as Cole saw him—" The Bishop's rungain, awkward, splay-footed Carriage and Yorkshire Dialect 'is a full Indication of his humble Education and mean Extrac- tion." He adds, " I never heard him mentioned but with the utmost Disrespect."
The neighbouring clergy Cole is inclined to patronize.
Indeed, some of them do seem to have been odd and unfor- tunate people. Mr. Lord, for instance, has " 12 children grown up and hanging upon him in a small living where he over-built himself a too Good House." The eldest had an Aversion for the Church," and " Taking to Sporting and the occupation of a Poacher, he lived idly with his Father and Mother." As this young man, however, was " tall and handsome and good natured," he was,
" suffered to marry my neighbour Cartwright's Sister, the most suitable match that ever was made in Point of Tempers. They equally living on Horseback, in the Fields, by the sides of Rivers, or anywhere but in their House at Muraley where their father has established them in a farm after failing at Baldock in a Malting." •
Another parson is described as having a lurid past at the university. He used to be " an Haranguer among the younger scholars in the profane stile and ridiculing religion."
The Kitchen Company we meet are great fun. There is Tom, Mr. Cole's personal servant, still a young lad, and Jem, his much younger brother, who conies to help him. Tom has no faults and is described as so kindhearted that he would hurt no one even by words. He is, however, often employed to thrash Jem who is an engaging young scamp, " spoilt," according to his master who occasionally notes in his diary that he has " cudgelled " him himself for being so long on errands. On one awful occasion, he gets drunk, although so very young. His father has the same failing, and Cole is anxious to nip the tendency in this immature bud. Both boys had attended their master to a meeting of the Justices. Jem " followed us not Home ; so that I sent Tom on one of the Coach Horses to look for him who found him on the Road ; and when he got off his Horse was not able to stand : so he well whipped him and put him to bed."
Tom and Jem, however, have very good times, as have the maids. Tom invites his special friends to supper, and Jem and his sister get a present of money from their master to spend at the fair where there is a lottery which attracts all the servants. Tom has a music master, and Jem takes lessons at school ! We hear a good deal about the rectory animals also. " My favourite little fat Dun Horse " figures constantly in the narrative, while a new coach horse is des- cribed in passing as " a plain ugly toad 1" We are expected to be sad when Molly, the maid, engaged in frivolous flirtation in the garden, forgot to put the parrot to bed and gave him cold, and when she spilt the boiling grease over " the Parlour Cat " and " nearly killed " her we are horrified, and hope that puss never again so far forgot her position as to sit by the kitchen stove.
When Jem heard Mr. Cole was to leave Bletchley " he cried all night," thinking to be left behind. His master, of course, took him with him. The reader also need fear no immediate separation. Another volume is coming out very shortly. We shall follow " Old Cole " to his " good natured little house " at Milton, near Cambridge, about which delectable town so many " good natured little houses " smiled and smile.
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