[From Isle of Man, Cumming 1848]

Dedication

To

THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,
THOMAS VOWLER SHORT, D.D., LORD BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH.

MY LORD,

I Avail myself with pleasure of the kind permission to dedicate this Work to you, both because it assures me of your still continued interest in this most ancient existing Diocese of the British Isles, in which you entered on the duties and responsibilities of the Episcopal Office, and also because it gives me an opportunity of expressing my own feelings of personal obligation to your Lordship, as well as those both owed and felt by every member of that Institution with which I am connected. Whilst many other proofs of your goodwill can never be forgotten, a special remembrance is entertained of that occasion when, through your energy and liberality, King William's College was restored, and more than restored, from the ruins of a 'most destructive visitation. I am sure we have reason to thank God that He put it into your heart to take the lead in raising up again an Institution which was planned by the most loyal and unfortunate James seventh Earl of Derby, endowed by the liberality of your predecessor, both in this See and that which you now occupy, the pious Dr. Isaac Barrow, fostered by the assiduous care of the Apostolic Thomas Wilson, and established in its best estate by the labours and munificence of Bishop Ward, to be (as we hope) a perpetual nursery of sound learning and religion in this Isle.

I have the honour to subscribe myself, My Lord, your Lordship's

Most humble and obedient Servant,
JOSEPH GEORGE CUMMING.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley, 2009