The Life and Correspondence of William Buckland, D.D., F.R.S. CHAPTER IX
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
Summary
“I never,” said Sir Robert Peel, “advised an appointment of which I was more proud, or the result of which was in my opinion more satisfactory, than the nomination of Dr. Buckland to the Deanery of Westminster.”
The appointment was made in 1845, in succession to Dean Wilberforce, who was promoted to the See of Oxford. Soon afterwards Dean Buckland was inducted to the living of Islip, near Oxford, bequeathed by Edward the Confessor to the Abbot of Westminster. Mrs. Buckland writes to Sir Philip Egerton from Christ Church in November 1845:—
“It is indeed true that Dr. Buckland is to be Dean of Westminster. I have one son in the Treasury; the other, Frank, will soon also be a resident in London, pursuing his call to surgery. To have a home for these boys would of itself be a recommendation to me for a permanent residence in London, and Sir Robert Peel's kindness has conferred upon my husband the only piece of preferment that would suit him in all respects. It comes wholly unexpected; while we were at Havre this summer Peel offered Dr. Buckland the Deanery of Lincoln, which he declined, and never supposed Westminster would be thought of for him. I think Sir R. Peel has shown much moral courage in making choice of a person of science, for it was sure to raise a clamour, and among good people too. […]
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- The Life and Correspondence of William Buckland, D.D., F.R.S.Sometime Dean of Westminster, Twice President of the Geological Society, and First President of the British Association, pp. 219 - 254Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1894