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f" | s tt E Reverend Dr. Dixon;' Principal of Sf. Edmund Hall, having ao
JL quainted the Vice-Chancellor, that a Perfon admitted a Member of
his Society would offer himfelf to be matriculated, the Vice-Chancellor
faw Reafon, from what patted in Converiation between Dr. Dixon and him¬
felf upon the Occafion, to mak
and Condudt of the faid, Perfon,
p fome farther Enquiry into the Character
previous tolnhis Matriculation. He there¬
fore fent for him, and received cfrom his own Mouth, in the Prefence of
Dr. Dixon, the following Account of himfelf,
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June a6. 1769.
" Mr. Seager, Twenty-two Y^ars of Age, was originally intended by his
Father either for the Minittry or the Law — was bred at Two or Three
different Schools till the Age of Thirteen or Fourteen, where he learned
nothiijg but Englijh --- was tjhen put Apprentice to a Silver-plater at
Birmingham -, when he had beef at Buttnefs about Three, Four, or Five
Years, he was defirous of buying out his Time (but his Matter would
not part with him) in order tffat he might go to School to improve him¬
felf in Literature. At the Age of near Twenty-one he accordingly went
to the School at Kingswood near Brijiol, where he has been ever ttnce, and
has read Sallujl, Crefars Commentaries, part of Terence and Virgil, and
is now reading the Greek TefalnentT
The Vice-fchancellor fubmitted the above Account to the Hebdomadal
Meeting, whofe Opinion it was, that an Enquiry fhould be made into
Mr. Seager s Character and religious Principles during his Apprenticefhip?
To which Enquiry the following Letter i&_an Anfwer.
" Dear Sir,
" Immediately on the Receipt fof yours I waited on Mrs Lane *, and fhe
informs me that Stephen Seager behaved himfelf very well as an Apprentice,
with Diligence and Sobriety. He was for fome Years, while he conti-
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nued with her, clofely connected with the Methodifts, and conttantlyV
attended their Meetings, both public and private. He ufed to tell his
Companions in the Shop, he was born a Preacher : and, in Confequence,
I fuppofe, of that perfuatton, on his leaving his Mittrefs, he told her he
fhould go to, or near, Brijiol to be inftrudted in an Academy there, in
fuch a Manner, as would qualify hihf to go to Oxford, and become a
Preacher. This Account may, I am- perfuaded, be relied on, and will
fufficiently difcover the genuine Colour of his Principles and Character."
sd. July 1769,
Tour faithful and obliged humble Servant,
J. Audley.
This Letter being communicated to the Board, it was the unanimous Opi¬
nion of the Heads of Houfes and Prodtors, that the whole Affair fhould be
laid before Convocation, and the Sentiments of the Houfe be taken, whether
it will be expedient for the Vice-Chancellor to matriculate Mr. Seager under
thefe Circumftances.
For this Purpofe a Convocation will be holden on Wednefday next at
Twelve o'Clock.
N. We t he r e l l, Vice - Chancellor.
Univ. Coll. Oxon.
Monday, July iothfi769.
* Mrs, Lane was the Perfon under whom Mr. Seager ferved the latter Part of his Apprentice/hij>.
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