Note Hidden in New College Chapel
James Philip Hewlett, 1796.
In 1900 the Reverend William Tuckwell, a New College man, published his 'Reminiscences of Oxford'. In that work he recorded the discovery, in New College Chapel, of a note hidden in the crevice of the broken wing of a sham oak angel. Tuckwell treats the note as the work of one of the 'New College brats' and regards Master James Philip Hewlett (as) ‘naughty’
Tuckwell claims to have discovered the note in the chapel himself while showing a group of people around. However, Emma Mary Byles, in her unpublished 'Family Notes' (1926), states that it was discovered by a workman and given to a grandson of James Philip Hewlett, Rev. John Howe Hewlett, vicar of Fulwood, Sheffield, who had it photographed and returned it to the Library. Tuckwell preserved this note in his own grangerised copy of his book, which is now located in the Bodleian Library.
It is believed that Hewlett may have continued to sing in the New College choir after matriculating at Pembroke on 29 March 1797; gained his BA at Magdalen College on December 4, 1800, and his MA, also at Magdalen, on 13 July 1803. The names of New College Choristers are normally preserved in the archives in Increment Books (account books). However, the 1797 book is missing. Thus, James Philip Hewlett's list of choristers has supplied the missing record. Mr. Lardner and Mr. Jenks were Clerks, and Mr. Pricket and Mr. Slatter (who was also the Master of New College School at that time) were Chaplains.
In 1996 Jonathan Edmunds, a headmaster of New College Choir School published ‘New College Brats: A History of the Life and Education of the Choristers of New College, Oxford’. The source of his title is Hewlett’s note of 1796. He says “we do have insight into the mind of a chorister from a delightful document, a piece of paper that was stuffed into a statue and, luckily for us, found and retained. . . There are certainly interesting facets to this document. Firstly, how was it that a chorister was able to write such a long piece while, supposedly, attending to his duties at divine service? One can only suppose that attendance among those of import in the college was such that nobody noticed. Secondly, it is fascinating to see the choristers up to the same kinds of tricks and excuses that boys have used from time immemorial – a bad eye as an excuse for not knowing his ‘theme’ and the feigning of sickness to get away. Most striking of all is the liveliness of Hewlett’s piece. These are no suborned boys. If he is typical then they have character and a capacity to make something good of their lot.”
In an article ‘Lost and Found: A Chorister’s Account of a New College Service in Progress, 1796’, W.P. Wilson makes the following comment:
"As the Reverend James Hewlett, as Chaplain of New College, he must have looked down during a New College service at the crevice where, as Master James Hewlett, he had hidden his furtively written account in 1796".
Side 1
Choristers of New College - April 26, 1796
When this you find
Recall me in your mind
James Philip Hewlett,
Subwardens Choristers
(Hewlett Bailey Slatter) Subwardens Evins, King. Dean’s Choir Haldon, Maltby, Yeates, Walker, Smith, Holland, Shute, Turrell, Cecile, Liddle, Copeland.
Side 2.
Yeates just gone out of Chapel making as if he was ill, to go to Botleigh with Miss Watson .... All the Boys at Prayer’s this Evening.Mr. Pricket Reads Prayers. Mr. Lardner is now reading the Second Lesson. Mr. Jenks read the First. Slatter sham’s a bad Eye because he did not know the English of the Theme and could not do it. Mr. Slatter Master of the School. A whole Holiday yesterday being St Mark. Only the Sub warden of the Seniors at Prayers.
Notes & Sources:
The original note can be viewed in the Bodleian Library.