CHAPTER XVIII. LLEWELLYNN JEWITT'S FRIEND THOMAS BATEMAN. WHEN A LITTLE N the 28th of August, 1861, died Llewellynn Jewitt's best-beloved friend, Thomas. Bateman, at Lomberdale House, near Bakewell. So intimate and attached were the two antiquaries, and so co-operative in their antiquarian work, and for so long a period, that no memoir of the one can be complete which does not include mention of the other. The intimacy of the two families was such that when Thomas Bateman died, rather suddenly, his widow immediately sent for Llewellynn Jewitt to take the temporary management of her affairs, which he did. Thomas Bateman wrote the very first paper in the first number of The Reliquary, and so soon after as in the second volume Llewellynn Jewitt wrote a very feeling "Memory" of his beloved friend. From that, and from the Gentleman's Magazine of the same date-October, 1861, and from other sources, we get an interesting account of the character and the labours of Thomas Bateman. He was just five years younger than his friend Llewellynn Jewitt, having been born in November, 1821. And that same year his father, William Bateman, F.S.A., of Rowsley, commenced his career as investigator of the buried and unburied antiquities of Derbyshire. It was only four years after Orlando Jewitt had written in the Northern Star, saying of the Derbyshire Moors, as the reader will remember: "Here also are to be found barrows or lowes (ancient places of sepulture), rocking stones, basons, and other Druidical remains. But I am not versed in the lore of antiquity, and the description of these relics of the times that are gone, is fitted for a stronger pen than mine." Thus William Bateman preceded both his own son and Llewellynn Jewitt in the investigation of the Derbyshire antiquities, and his Notes afterwards furnished a paper entitled: "An Account of the Opening of Tumuli, principally at Middleton by Youlgrave, Derbyshire, from 1821 to 1832, collected from the Memoranda of the late William Bateman, Esq., F.S.A., and arranged by Thomas Bateman." This the latter handed to his friend Charles Roach Smith, who printed it in his first volume of "Collectanea Antiqua." Llewellynn Jewitt describes it as "A paper, which was the first, of any moment, to call attention to the rich stores of knowledge which the Derbyshire Barrows presented to the student in archæology. Before this time the writings of Rooke and Pegge-good in their way, but spoiled by wild ideas, and by impossible representations-were all that had been issued on this district, and therefore this paper, which appeared in 1843, was hailed with peculiar pleasure by antiquaries in general." Thomas Bateman was his father's only son, and, as soon as he was strong enough, used to accompany him in his antiquarian expeditions round about home, and very early acquired an eager interest in the opening of the barrows and in their contents. Of these contents the Gentleman's Magazine says: "The exhumed remains formed the nucleus of what has now become one of the most valuable museums of local antiquities in the kingdom. In these researches his child frequently took part, and the father was pleased to see him thus early in life forming his own little collection, and he wisely encouraged the young collector by now and then ceding to him some coveted object from the more important store. The father, in consequence of the death of Mrs. Bateman (who died when the child was only a few months old), and the somewhat sickly constitution of his son, superintended his studies, and we believe he consequently received, almost wholly, a home education. At the age of fourteen he lost his father; and then he was brought up by his grandfather, Thomas Bateman, Esq., of Middleton Hall, who served the office of High Sheriff of the county of Derby in 1823. On his death in 1847 the whole of his estates descended to his grandson, who thus became enabled to gratify to the very fullest extent his literary and antiquarian tastes, and he continually added to his libraries at Lomberdale House and Middleton Hall, ancient manuscripts, early illuminations, and rare books, while the museum at the latter place was continually increasing from every available source, without regard to cost. A 'Descriptive Catalogue' of this museum was printed in 1855, and it was quite worthy of more copious illustrations, which are the life and soul of such catalogues." Of this museum and its originator, Llewellynn Jewitt writes: "As an antiquary he ranked very high, and he had a European fame for his extreme and varied knowledge, and for the extensive researches which he had for years engaged in, in the pursuit of antiquarian and ethnological science. His excavations in this and adjoining counties, extending over a period of more than twenty years, and embracing the examination of more than five hundred barrows, have resulted in the bringing together of such a collection of Celtic remains, as no other museum, public or private, has, or ever can contain. These were deposited in his museum at his truly charming seat, Lomberdale House a seat built by himself, and enriched with everything that the purest taste, and the most intellectual mind could wish for or suggest -as were also the extensive and truly valuable collections of coins and antiquities which he had so industriously gathered together and purchased from every available source. At this seat also, and at Middleton Hall, he had one of the most extensive and valuable libraries in the provinces, and also a fine collection of ancient manuscripts. To all these he, with that kindly and generous feeling which characterised him, gave access to all enquiring minds; and it is not too much to say, that there is not an antiquarian writer, or antiquary of note living, who has not in some way or other profited by his labours, and by his knowledge and experience. These collections it is truly gratifying to state, will not run the risk of being dispersed, as so many have been, but will be carefully preserved and carried down as heirlooms in the family-provision for thus securing them having been made by will." Dr. J. B. Davis writing of him, said: "The great aim which he had in opening barrows was, by exploring them extensively, with the utmost care and preciseness, to preserve a faithful record of everything observed in the excavations (aided by accurate measurements and drawings), and to collect and accumulate with patient industry, every relic brought to light, in order to elucidate the great problems involved in the history and ethnology of the race of people, who left behind them only these unwritten records of their existence and manner of life. Mr. Bateman was thus led to enter upon a most recondite and philosophical pursuit, which gave a colouring to all his future-alas! far too short-career. It was not an idle inquisitiveness that actuated him, it was not the desire merely to possess the relics of an ancient people, which influenced his mind, although this was a most important portion of the work to be done, and which he has accomplished by a peculiar combination of tastes and abilities in a most masterly manner-it was an anxiety to fathom the dark abyss of antiquity, to bring again to the light Derbyshire's aborigines, and to study them most minutely and searchingly, with the help to be derived from modern science. He raised the soil which had lain for ages over the remains of the primeval British chieftain, and with almost religious care treasured up every appearance observed, as a precious fact, for future illustration and confirmation by a more matured judgment, and collected every object that could in any way be of use in penetrating the dark veil which hides our most remote precursors from our knowledge. The success which resulted from his zealous, persevering, and most enlightened labours was truly wonderful, and can only be appreciated by those who had frequent opportunities of consulting him upon obscure points of archæology, or of listening to his histories and description of the objects so diligently treasured in his rich museum. Without any fear of contradiction, we may safely say that he was in fact the first living authority for every point relating to the antiquity of the ancient Britons. "These sepulchral researches, which had taken such full possession of his attention, imparted to his mind a singular fondness for everything related to the past, and particularly to the dead. He had acquired a reverential love for everything ancient, and especially for every personal antiquity; and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. respecting the sepulchral relics of departed peoples. Nothing could be more deeply interesting to him than researches and inquiries connected with the tomb. Had he foreseen his own early departure to this dark and silent house, he could not have more thoroughly familiarised his mind with investigations into, and contemplations on, this final bourne of all travellers." Charles Roach Smith, in his first volume of "Retrospections," says: "Mr. Thomas Bateman introduced himself to me in the early days of my 'Collectanea Antiqua,' to the first volume of which he contributed a paper on Derbyshire antiquities; and he became a constant visitor to my museum and fireside when I lived in London. The Canter bury Congress introduced him to the world." In another part of the "Retrospections" its author relates an amusing incident of this visit of Thomas Bateman to the Canterbury Congress. One of the visits of the members was to Heppington, where Dr. Faussett had a museum of Saxon sepulchral remains contained in a small room. To enable the members to see the collection Roach Smith had undertaken to guide through it a few at a time, to prevent crowding in so small a space. Dr. Faussett hearing that Thomas Bateman was of the party expressed a wish to be introduced to him, and Roach Smith in order to meet that wish with the necessary leisure, requested Thomas Bateman to be of the last party to pass through, as he would then see more. "I saw nothing more of him," says Roach Smith, "until my return to Canterbury; and then, to my surprise, and I may add indignation, I learned that, hurt and offended at being asked to wait, he not only left Heppington at once, but would also have left Canterbury if he could have procured a coach! He immediately confessed to me that he was altogether in the wrong. He never saw what he wanted to see; or Dr. Faussett, who wanted to see him! Mr. Britton, who had cause for being offended with members of the architectural section, did not, in consequence, leave Canterbury; he called to his aid philosophy and common sense." Had Thomas Bateman on this occasion called to his aid this philosophy, he would have found, after all, that it was the identical philosophy of the New Testament, which he thought he ever strived to practice; though in this amusing instance he failed. Had he but humbled his mind to accept what at the moment appeared to him the "lowest place" at the wedding feast, he would presently have found that it was in reality the very highest place, next to the host. Roach Smith, proceeding with his notice, says: "Of a good family, with extensive landed possessions at Middleton and Youlgrave, in Derbyshire, he inherited a taste for antiquarian science and for general literature. His father, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, was a superior and well-educated man; and, I am told, he excavated, with Major Rooke and Dr. Pegge, some of the barrows, in Derbyshire. The communication made to the 'Collectanea' may be considered as combining an account of their joint researches, as well as of his own, which were carefully and conscientiously conducted; and he, in some instances, completed what his predecessors had imperfectly performed. "In 1848 he published the "Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire," valuable for the author's scrupulous adherence to facts; but shewing that, at that time, from the comparatively limited sphere or his researches, he had not, in every case, clearly understood some of the remains he had discovered. Thus the iron weapons figured on page 76, which he supposes are Romano-British, are, without doubt, Saxon; and he speaks with indecision on the ornaments from Cow Lowe, page 94. In the 'Descriptive Catalogue' of his museum, printed in 1855, increased experience is shewn by the classification and decision with which he describes the objects. He printed it, he says, 'under a conviction of the uncertainty attending the preservation and transmission of all private collections;' a wise precaution, for the collection is now transferred to Sheffield, as a loan; but under any circumstances, not in conformity with Mr. Bateman's will. "The collection contains some valuable objects, exclusive of the British and Saxon remains from Derbyshire barrows. There is the elegant and richly-worked bronze vessel found in the Isle of Ely, and engraved in the Archæologia, vol. xxviii. The designs are Roman; but the workman's name, 'Boduogenus,' indicates British or Gaulish workmanship. The fine leaden Roman coffin, discovered at Colchester, and figured in the 'Collectanea Antiqua,' vol. iii., pl. xiv., fig. 3, I saved from the melting pot by inducing Mr. Bateman to take it; and the silver armlets found in Buckinghamshire, broad and ornamented with serpents' heads, I urged him to purchase also, to save them. In the 'Catalogue' are the following entries, significant of the indifference, at that time, of people to their local antiquities: 'The next fifty entries were found in different parts of London, in the year 1844, excepting only the two last, which were found in 1845. Many of them bear the impress of the name across the bottom of the vessel;' and, 'The thirteen following entries were found in making a new sea wall at Dymchurch, Kent, in 1844.' The collection also contains many sepulchral remains from Yorkshire. In 1861, Mr. Bateman published, not long before his death, 'Ten Years' Diggings in Celtic and Saxon Grave Hills in the Counties of Derby, Stafford, and York, from 1848 to 1858.' This volume is in advance of the former. The peculiarities of the helmet crested with the figure of boar, from the barrow at Benty Grange, which I pointed out in the 'Collectanea Antiqua,' vol. ii., are recognised, and my views adopted; but Mr. Bateman only gives me credit for the illustrative extracts from Beowulf! The careful opening of some four hundred tumuli, and the no less careful registration of all the circumstances under which they were examined, and all the facts which a keen and practised eye could notice, give especial value to this volume; and make us regret |