TO DAY IN HISTORY

Southland Times, Issue 20522, 26 June 1928, Page 6

TO DAY IN HISTORY

JUNE 26 Born: Dr. Philip Doddridge, English Non* conformist divine, at London, 1702; George Morland, artist, at Haymarket, 1763; Sir Robert L. Borden, ex-Prime Minister of Canada, 1854. Died: Innocent V., Pope, 1276; Francisco Pizarro, assassinated at Lima, 1541; Archbishop Robert Leighton, at Warwick Lane, London, 1684; Cardinal Julius Alberoni, Spanish minister, at Plancentia, 1752; Rev. Gilbert White, naturalist, at Seibourne, 1793; Samuel Crompton, inventor of “The Mule” (spinning machine), 1827; George IV. of England, at Windsor, 1830; William Smyth, historical writings and poetry, at Norwich, 1849.

Events: Navigation Acts (U.K.) repealed, 1849; American troops arrived in France, 1917; s.s. Wimmera sunk by mines off North Cape (N.Z.), 1918. ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON. The ordinary biographies of Archbishop Leighton fail to mention a strange escapade of his youth—namely his being temporarily expelled from the University of Edinburgh. The Provost of that day, Provost Aitkenhead—who ex-officio was rector of the university—having in some way provoked the wrath of the students, one of them, Mr Robert Leighton, the future arch-bishop, formed an epigram upon him turning upon the name Aitkenhead (q.d., head of oak), and the pimpled visage born by the unfortunate official: That whilk his name pretends is falsely said, To wit, that of an aik his head is made; For if that it had been composed so, His fiery nose had flamed it long ago.” For this the young man was called before the faculty of masters, and solemnly expelled. His guardian, Sir James Steuart, was absent at the time, but on his return was influential enough to have him “reponed.”

Another semi-comic anecdote of the amiable prelate is quite as little known. It chanced to him that he never was married. While he held the see of Dumblane he was, of course, a subject of considerable interest to the celibate ladies living in his neighbourhood. One day he received a visit from one who had come to a mature period of life. Her manner was solemn, yet somewhat embarrassed: it was evident from the first that there was something very particular upon her mind. The good bishop spoke with his usual kindness, encouraged her to be communicative, and by and by drew from her that she had a very strange dream, or rather, as she thought, a reve.ation from Heaven. On further questioning she confessed that it had been intimated to her that she was to be united in marriage to the bishop. One may imagine what a start this would give to a quiet scholar who had long ago married his books, and had never thought of any other bride. He recovered, how. ever, and very gently addressing her, said that “doubtless these intimations- were not to be despised. As yet, however, the designs of Heaven were but imperfectly explained, as they had been revealed to only one of the parties. He would wait to see if any similar communication should be made to himself, and whenever it happened he would be sure to let her know.