ARNOLD (Thomas, 1796-1842, Headmaster of Rugby from 1828, Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford, 1841-1842, Immortalised in 'Tom Brown's School Days')

Fine long Autograph Letter Signed to my dear Mr MERIVALE thanking him for his letter and saying that it was "most interesting though most distressing. The moment that I had read it, I felt determined, if I was obliged to fill up your Brother's Place as a Master, to endeavour at least as far as in me lay to find a successor such as he would most entirely approve of and therefore I write to ask, whether you could be persuaded yourself to join us at Rugby. I need say nothing of the situation, because you know it well, I will only say that your coming here would be a high gratification to myself personally and I think it would be a credit and an advantage to the School to have a man of your name & high character amongst us. I am not however in a condition to carry my offer into effect before August 1842 - because fully hoping that your Brother's Absence would only be temporary I had made an arrangement with a man to come here for a twelve month, & this arrangement I cannot of course now depart from. But next year, if it suited your plans to join us, I should have the greatest pleasure in welcoming you, and i should also ask you to take the charge of the 5th Form which was your Brother's. I may be asking what is altogether at variance with your views, in that case you must forgive me for troubling you with the matter, but as it was possible that our life here might not be disagreeable to you, I was at least anxious not to lose the chance of getting you amongst us ...", 3 sides 8vo., Rugby, 9th June

In 1841, Arnold was appointed Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford.

Item Date:  1841

Stock No:  40144