Page:Literary Landmarks of Oxford.djvu/123

93 to assist them by advice and by criticism of their compositions. . . . He was a mere boy, in appearance, as well as in age; but in a very short time we discovered that he was quite equal to take part in the arguments of the Common Room. He was fond of conversation on serious matters, and vehement in argument; fearless, too, in advancing his opinions—which, to say the truth, often startled us a good deal. . . . Arnold's bodily recreations were walking and boating. It was a particular delight to him, with two or three companions, to make what he called a 'skirmish' across the country. On these occasions we deserted the road, crossed fences and leaped ditches or fell into them. He enjoyed the country 'round Oxford, and while out in this way his spirits would rise, and his mirth overflowed. Though delicate in appearance, and not given to promise of great muscular strength, his form was light, and he was capable of going long distances and of bearing much fatigue."

There is no record of his abiding-place at Corpus. G. V. Cox, also, has most pleasant recollections, of Thomas Arnold at Corpus. And he speaks most enthusiastically of him as Professor of Modern History in 1841. The audience at his Inaugural Lecture, too numerous to be contained in the usual Lecture-room in the Clarendon, adjourned to