Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) also read the Bible in the original Hebrew. Lady Tennyson (1813–1896) writes in her journal in 1867:
“A.” (meaning her husband Alfred) “is reading Hebrew ( Job and the Song of Solomon and Genesis). He talked much of his Hebrew. He brought down to me his psalm-like poem ‘Higher Pantheism.’”
John Bright’s (1811–1889) sublime oratory was avowedly based on the Bible; from it, not from the classics of Paganism, came the inspiration of his highest eloquence. The memorable party nickname, “The Adullamites,” which he conferred on the Liberal seceders on the Franchise Bill in 1866, shows his familiarity with the details of Bible history and the readiness with which he could adapt his knowledge to political illustrations. How minutely he knew the Old Testament is apparent to any reader of his speeches.
Hence among the Puritans there were many earnest admirers of “God’s Ancient People,” and Cromwell himself joined in this admiration. It was by this Biblical Hebrew movement that public opinion in England had been prepared for a sympathetic treatment of the idea of a readmission of the Jews into England.
The Conference between Manasseh Ben-israel and Oliver Cromwell (1655)
Solomon Alexander Hart, R.A. (1873)
Dr. Samuel
Cradock Dr. John
Owen Dr. Thos.
Goodwin Oliver
Cromwell John
Thurloe Sir John
Glynn Hugh
Peters Manasseh
Ben Israel
From the painting at the Jews’ College, Queen Square House, London