Henry Hallam
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HENRY HALLAM “NARRATIVE HISTORY” AMOUNTS TO FABULATION, THE REAL STUFF BEING MERE CHRONOLOGY “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Henry Hallam HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1777 July 9, Wednesday: During this night Colonel William Barton of the Patriot Militia and 40 men had proceeded ten miles along the Narragansett Bay from Warwick Neck under cover of darkness, staying close to shore to evade British warships. In the wee smalls of the predawn of the 10th in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, they would awake General Richard Prescott and inform him that he was, again, being taken prisoner. Without giving the British general an opportunity to dress, they would hustle him to Providence. Henry Hallam was born. The only son of the Reverend John Hallam, canon of Windsor and dean of Bristol, he would be educated at the Eton School and at Christ Church College, Oxford. NOBODY COULD GUESS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT Henry Hallam “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1799 John Josias Conybeare was awarded an Oxford University Under-graduate prize, for a poem in Latin entitled “Religio Brahmæ.” Henry Hallam graduated at Christ Church College of Oxford University. He would practice law for some years on the Oxford circuit. CHRIST CHURCH LIFE IS LIVED FORWARD BUT UNDERSTOOD BACKWARD? — NO, THAT’S GIVING TOO MUCH TO THE HISTORIAN’S STORIES. LIFE ISN’T TO BE UNDERSTOOD EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD. “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Henry Hallam HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1812 Upon the death of his father John Hallam, Henry Hallam came into a small estate in Lincolnshire. From this point he would devote himself to academic study (what extra money he would need would be supplied by a sinecure posting as Commissioner of Stamps). THE FUTURE IS MOST READILY PREDICTED IN RETROSPECT “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Henry Hallam HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1818 Henry Hallam’s VIEW OF THE STATE OF EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES (London: John Murray, Albemarle-Street). EUROPE’S MIDDLE AGES, I EUROPE’S MIDDLE AGES, II EUROPE’S MIDDLE AGES, III HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1821 Henry Hallam’s HISTORY OF EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. EUROPE’S MIDDLE AGES, I EUROPE’S MIDDLE AGES, II EUROPE’S MIDDLE AGES, III HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1827 Henry Hallam’s THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND FROM THE ACCESSION OF HENRY VII. [1457] TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE II. [1760] (New York: Harper). CONSTITUTIONAL HIST., I CONSTITUTIONAL HIST., II (This work begins at the point at which the author’s 1818 historical study, VIEW OF THE STATE OF EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, had left off.) HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1830 Henry Hallam received the 50-guinea gold medal for history, originally created by King George IV. DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? GOOD. Henry Hallam “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1833 Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “A Dream of Fair Women”: “Do you care to dance?” “One usually does at a ball.” Her amazed look and quick answer caused Laurie to repair his error as fast as possible. “I meant the first dance. May I have the honor?” “I can give you one if I put off the Count. He dances devinely, but he will excuse me, as you are an old friend,” said Amy, hoping that the name would have a good effect, and show Laurie that she was not to be trifled with. “Nice little boy, but rather a short Pole to support — A daughter of the gods, Devinely tall, and most devinely fair” IPHIGENIA was all the satisfaction she got, however. Henry Hallam’s eldest son, Arthur Henry Hallam (the “A.H.H.” of “In Memoriam”) died at the age of 22. HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1834 Henry Hallam’s THE REMAINS IN PROSE AND VERSE OF ARTHUR HENRY HALLAM, WITH A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1838 During this year and the following one, Henry Hallam’s INTRODUCTION TO THE LITERATURE OF EUROPE IN THE 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. HALLAM’S LITERATURE, I HALLAM’S LITERATURE, II HALLAM’S LITERATURE, III HALLAM’S LITERATURE, IV This would be accessed by Henry Thoreau, and he would in 1846 place reminders in his journal in regard to further readings in European literature which he was intending to pursue. HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1843 Henry Hallam issued a volume of supplemental notes to his VIEW OF THE STATE OF EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1849 Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “In Memoriam,” dedicated to “A.H.H.” ARTHUR HENRY HALLAM HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1850 Henry Hallam’s other son, Henry Fitzmaurice Hallam, died. HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1852 Henry Hallam issued a selection of LITERARY ESSAYS AND CHARACTERS FROM THE LITERATURE OF EUROPE. HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM 1845 December 23, Tuesday: Frederick Douglass delivered an address in Belfast, Ireland, “Baptists, Congregationalists, the Free Church, and Slavery.” This address would be reported in the Belfast News Letter and the Belfast Northern Whig. Mr. Frederick Douglass then presented himself, and was received with loud plaudits. He spoke as follows— Ladies and gentlemen, one of the most painful duties I have been called on to perform in the advocacy of the Abolition of Slavery, has been to expose the corruption and sinful position of the American Churches with regard to that question. That was almost the only duty which, when I commenced the advocacy of this cause, I felt inclined to shrink from. Really, any attempt to expose the inconsistencies of the religious organisation of our land is the most painful undertaking. I have always looked upon these churches as possessing, in a superlative degree, the love of virtue and of justice —the love of humanity —the love of God. I had not supposed that they were capable of descending to the low and mean act of upholding and sustaining a system by which three millions of people have been divested of every right and privilege which they ought to enjoy. (Hear.) But, in examining into the character of these churches, I was led to see, that unless the deeds of these ministers were made known — unless the light of truth should be permitted to shine into their dark recesses, there will for ever be a sink of iniquity in the midst of them. The only way of purifying our church from the deep damnation into which she was plunging, was to expose her deeds to the light. But, in exposing these deeds, I do not wish to place myself in the position of an enemy. Let no man rank me among the enemies of the church, or of religion, because I dare to remove the mask from her face, and give the nations of the earth a peep at her enormities. It is for her salvation and purification I do it, and for the redemption and disenthralment of my race. (Hear.) I was exceedingly pleased to hear, at the meeting before the last, that the minister who occupies the pulpit of this house, (Mr. Hodgens,) welcomed me to this platform, within these walls — before these people, to expose the corruptions of the Congregational Church of America. It was a noble act, which must identify that rev. gentleman with the friends of truth. It displayed a conscientiousness of innocence on his part, or, at least, an openness and a magnanimity that are ever associated with innocence —(hear, hear)— and a willingness for self- examination seldom displayed. Innocence, you know, lives in the sunlight —it rushes out into the day— it asks to be examined, and searched, and tried. (Hear, hear, hear.) This is its language. You never hear it crying “Rocks, cover us; and, Mountains, on us fall, and hide us from the face of Truth and Justice!” This is the language of guilt — HDT WHAT? INDEX HENRY HALLAM HENRY HALLAM of those convinced of their own iniquity. Innocence never bolts and bars its meeting-house doors, to shut out the light, nor hides itself behind some “important engagement.” (Hear, and laughter.) It never does any such thing as this. It rushes forth to be seen. Its element is the light. It opens its own eyes and is willing to have the eyes of the world opened on itself. It is glorious, and I love it. The nature of guilt was never set forth more clearly in a few words than by the Blessed Redeemer, when he said, that “it hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest its deeds be revealed.” Eighteen hundred years ago, as it is now, was the reason of this obvious— because God looks on sin with no degree of allowance; and truth will not hold that man guiltless who, in the light of the nineteenth century, upholds American Slavery, in any shape or form whatever. (Cheers.) Before entering on the subject of my discourse at large, I beg to say a few words as to my own position among you. One among the many means taken to destroy the influence of these lectures, has been that of circulating insidiously a suspicion, that I am not a really sincere person — that my character is not good. “He may be an impostor,” has been the word. I am not an impostor. If those who insinuate that I am one can prove it, I shall be as ready as any one to give way.