Untitled - Electric Scotland

1842-50] A. G. BUTLER S REMINISCENCES 147
exterior. And when the time came, two years after, for
him to remove to Carlisle, the flood of loyalty and affection
rose to its height.
" One more scene, and these reminiscences, too long
already, must come to an end. It was, I think, the day
before his departure when we were to present him with a
testimonial. The head of the school, Goschen, 1 in a truly
eloquent address, had assured him of our gratitude, our
affection, and last, not least, our high hopes and expecta
tions for him in the future, when he rose to say to us his
last words. It was a perfect speech. Still, after nearly
forty years, I can recall many of the tones and gestures
\vith which he stirred and thrilled and carried us along, as
he dwelt on the great work begun by Arnold, which he
had striven, however imperfectly, to carry on. He could
remember, he said, how often in old days he wished that
he had been a Rugbeian, and what a privilege he felt it to
have become one in his manhood. There was indeed a
spirit in the place
from which he had learned far more
than he had ever taught, and from which he had derived
lessons which would abide with him during his life, and
after life was over. And then he bid us remember that,
after all, the welfare of the school depended mainly on
ourselves, not merely the welfare which is proved by large
numbers and University honours, but the higher welfare,
\vhich consists in making the school a place where God is
feared and loved. In comparison with this, he said in
conclusion, perish the honours, perish
the intellectual dis
tinctions, which can be but the lot of few ! It was the
high tone and high character of the School which were its
real, imperishable greatness, and which he prayed might
long continue.
Such topics were, of course, only natural on such an
1 Now the Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, M.P.