It is evident that his literary work was well remunerated, because a “sum of money amounting to upwards of one thousand Pounds was found in his Room after his decease.” This statement, together with the date of his death (10th June 1735), are clearly part of the design to conceal the authorship of the biography.
In the following pages I have chosen what seem to me to be interesting extracts from Hearne’s Diary, which begins 4th July 1705, and concludes 1st June 1735. I shall give what especially illustrates the conditions of life at Oxford from the beginning of the eighteenth century until the date of the author’s death.
There was plenty of barbarism remaining in Oxford life, for instance, 4th September 1705:—
“The Book called The Memorial was burnt last Saturday at the Sessions house, by the hands of the common hang-man, and this week the same will be done at the Royal Exchange and Palace-Yard, Westminster.” In the same month, however, we find pleasanter record, e.g., the first mention of one who (though I think they never met) became his most valued correspondent.
“Last night I was with Mr Wotton (who writ the Essay on Ancient and Modern Learning) at the tavern. . . . Mr Wotton told me Mr Baker of St John’s College, Cambridge, had writ the history and antiquities of that college; and that he is in every way qualified (being a very industrious and judicious man) to write the hist. and antiq. of that university.”
Thomas Baker, b. 1656, d. 1740, was a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge, but on the accession of George I. he would not take the oath of allegiance and lost his Fellowship. The College, however, treated him with consideration and he was allowed to remain as a commoner-master until his death. He worked indefatigably, and gained the deserved
“reputation of being inferior to no living English scholar in his minute and extended acquaintance with the antiquities of our national history” (Dict. Nat. Biog.).
There is often a pleasant irrelevance in Hearne’s Diary. For instance:—
18th Oct. 1705.—“Mr Lesley was in the public library this afternoon, with some Irish ladies. He goes under the name of Smith.”
I like the following outburst on the value of books:—