320
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. m. JUNE, 1917.
boys went to Eton and thence to the Uni-
versity. Jeffrey was admitted to Peterhouse
in 1708.* John entered Eton in 1712, f
and proceeded to the University (Cam-
bridge ?), graduating B.A. in 1716 and
M.A. in 1720. He became tutor to the
Duke of Bedford. J Harwood does not
appear to give the date of William's entry
at Eton. From Eton he went to Peter-
hou&e, where he was admitted on April 10,
1716. He graduated B.A. in 1719, and
M.A. in 1723. If Mr. Washington was his
first official tutor, he seems later on to have
been a pupil of Jeremiah Markland, the
learned classical scholar, to whom, many
years afterwards, he rendered pecuniary
assistance.]!
In due course Hetherington proceeded to take Orders, and the Duke of Bedford pre- sented him to the living of Dry Dray ton, near Cambridge, where he seems to have remained until the year 1753. A later Hetherington is mentioned as Rector of Drayton in 1819.[j
An interesting relic of Hetherington at Drayton is an autograph letter from him to the Duke of Bedford in 1748, which shows that he had the entire confidence of his patron, and that he was quite at home in his old University. The occasion of the letter was a prospective vacancy in the ChanceUorship. The Tories wanted a Prince. ' The Whigs were anxious that the Duke of Newcastle should be appointed. In a letter to the Duke of Newcastle the Duke of Bedford states that he had sent Hetherington to Cambridge about this matter, and remarks : "I was sure I could trust him, as well with regard to his honesty, as his abilities." He had received from Hetherington the following letter, dated
- Peterhouse Admission Book, ed. Dr. T. A.
Walker.
t ' Alumni Etonenses,' p. 293. ,
j Ibid., p. 293.
Admission Book : " Gulielmus Hetherington, Middlesexiensis, in Schola Etonensi institutns, annosque natus 17, petente Tutore suo censetur jam admissus in ordinem Pensionariorum [sed ea lege ut brevi se sistat in Collegio et examinatoribus se probet] sub Tutore et Fide-jussore suo Magistro Washington.
" Aprilis 20. Probavit se exa.minatoribus."
y J. Nichols, ' Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century,' iv. 294, note. The Master of Peterhouse informs me that the College Library has recently received from the Principal of Brasenose " a valuable gift of books formerly belonging to Jeremiah Markland, with MS. notes by him."
H E. Carter, ' History of Cambridgeshire," p. 176.
July 17, 1748 (Newcastle Papers, 32,715,
f. 426) :
MY LORD,
I receiv'd the Honour of Your Grace's Com- mands by Mr. Butcher* on fryday Night at Drayton ; upon which I went over on Saturday morning, & waited on the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Pariss of Sidney College. I acqxiainted Him, that I had received a Message from Your Grace, by a Special Messenger, wherein you are pleased to order me to take some opportunity of Assuring Him, in your Name, that his Majesty had not alter'd his Mind, since He sent a Message to the last Vice canchellor [sic], in relation to the Choice of a Chancellor of the University, upon a Vacancy : and that it would be disagreable to his Majesty to have any of his Familey [sic] elected, without his consent & approbation. I likewise Added, that as Fourteen days were allow'd by Statute, It was hoped, a sufficient Time would be given, that the Election might be the more Publick & General. The Vice Chancellor ask'd me, if I expected a particular Answer to this Message ? I told Him, No ; I could not say, I did ; b\it only left it with him to consider of. I immediately waited on the Bp. of Ely, who is Head of Caius, <t on Dr. Smith, Head of Trinity College ; and likewise on the Master of Queens, Christs, & Clare Hall. They All seem'd very well pleas'd, with the substance of my Message, saying it was what they wanted & wish'd for, to fix & confirm the timorous & wavering : The Tories having given out, that his Majesty's last Message was only a Temporary Thing, & that the King had chang'd his Mind before he went abroad. I was ask'd if I had no Letter to shew, some of Them wishing that such a Message had been in writing, to prevent any mistakes. I am well aware how Nice a subject this is, & therefore will not presume to offer one word, by way of Hint, or so much as wish, from my self ; leaving it entirely to Your Grace's own Judgment.
There is, my L' 1 , a Noble Spirit in our University at present, and all the Friends of the Administra- tion seem very warm & zealous in this affair, nattering themselves that they shall carry the
lection in favor of the D of N , if there is
no surprize, by appointing a very early Day for the Election.
I will endeavour to send Your Grace a List of all the Voters, as soon as I can procure one, that any Doubtful persons may be property applied to, from Above.
I have endeavour'd to Obey Your Grace's commands as well as I could, & Hope I have no ways exceeded my Commission.
I am, my L d , with all possible respect,
Your Grace's most Dutiful, most oblige & obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAK HETHERINOTON. Dry-Drayton July y e 17 th 1748. P.S. The Master of Trinity & Queen's desir'c me to present their Duties.
2 d postscript. I have this moment, as I cam< out of Church, received the enclosed Letter fror the Vice Chancellor. Will your Grace excuse my troubling you with the Letter itself, for cannot possibly make an abstract of it : methinks, if I have any Guess, He has a mind
- Agent to the Duke of Bedford.
