1841-42 PUBLIC DINNER AT LANCASTER 199 
lads at the school just as usual and wouldn’t give 
them their holiday till I came to ask for it. So I 
marched across the churchyard, opened the old 
school-door, and was greeted by many eager young 
•eyes as I walked up to the old magisterial dais, 
and there, after greeting my old master, said that, 
as Whewell and I had been scholars in old times, 
it was but fair that those present should participate 
in our day of rejoicing. Upon which the sanction 
was given in the old grave tone, and up rose the 
shout that I have often joined in as the urchins 
rushed into liberty and open air. Mr. Beetham 
and I then walked down to the news-room, 
where many other greetings followed from other 
friends.’ 
On September 17, 1842, he again writes to 
his wife : ‘ I take up a happy pen this morning to 
tell you that the dinner concluded to the highest 
satisfaction of everyone who partook of it and all 
who were concerned in it. I felt too happy for any 
other feelings to interfere, in expressing and mak- 
ing clearly understood all that I wished, and I 
believe ought to have said, in acknowledging this 
spontaneous and general tribute of affection and 
respect from all ranks and parties of my townsmen. 
As we walked in procession to the Town Hall, 
Mr. Whewell and the Mayor, then the M.P. for 
the town and myself, and the rest two and two. 
We were cheered by all the humbler folks, and 
when we sat down to a most princely banquet — 
