Page:Historical account of Lisbon college.djvu/70

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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF LISBON COLLEGE.

educational establishment, or possibly himself instituted some such establishment. Indeed humility of mind and heart was the prevailing feature of his character through life; and it was with evident feelings of regret, that in 1729 he received the news of his promotion to the Presidency of the College at Lisbon. He lacked, however, that vigour and firmness which are not less necessary in the head of a College than piety and virtue. Aware that abilities for government were possessed by his predecessor to which he could lay no claim, he obtained the consent of Bishop Giffard to resign his office into the hands of him from whom he had received it, and thus at the end of three years he gladly delivered over to his predecessor, Father Jones, his letters of nomination. He returned to England a second time in 1732, having previously been elected by the clergy Canon of the Chapter.

From the time of Father Jones second appointment to the Presidency of the College until his death five years later, 1737, he continued to display in the government of the House those same qualifications which had previously distinguished him, and if to have deserved well of the College is an encomium merited by any President, it certainly may be pronounced of Father Jones. Besides the rebuilding of the College, another event of great and permanent advantage happened during his tenure of office, which will ever awake in the memory of every son of the College the pleasantest and fondest recollections.

This was the donation by Mr. Francis Nicholson of a country house, vineyard, and other lands, on a spot called Pera on the south side of the Tagus, which is so familiarly known as the Quinta. If the value of a gift may be measured by the joy and delight which it imparts, then may this donation be said to be priceless, for it is not possible to estimate the intense pleasure of which it has been the source to every succeeding generation of Lisbonians not only whilst in the actual enjoyment of its beauties and attractions, but perhaps even more by the pleasing recollections which even the very name of the Quinta brings crowding back to the memory in after