Robert Lowth

(1710 – 1787)

Robert Lowth was born on 27 November in 1710 in Hamsphire, England. Lowth is known for his studies of English grammar, religious poetic structures, and imagery in Shakespearean works. He received his early education at Winchester College, an all-boys boarding school. He later studied at the University of Oxford, where he would obtain his Bachelor of Arts, his Master of Arts and become a Professor of Poetry in 1741.

While Lowth was studying at Oxford, he was associated with the Anglican Church and was eventually named vicar of Ovington, Hampshire. This position would foreshadow his success in the Church. Lowth became the archdeacon of Winchester in 1750, and then rector of East Woodhay in 1753, after resigning as Professor at Oxford the preceding year. In 1766, Lowth became the Bishop of St. David’s and was quickly appointed Bishop of Oxford. He kept this position for eleven years, until he was chosen to become the Bishop of London.

Gustavus Vassa wrote to Robert Lowth in 1787, while he was the Bishop of London. Vassa was enacted by his then-employer, Matthias McNamara (year to year), to write to Lowth in hopes of becoming ordained to serve as a missionary in Africa. This letter is significant as it is one of the first times Vassa publicly declared himself to be African and born in Africa. He writes: “That your memorialist is a native of Africa and has knowledge of the manners and custom o the inhabitants of that country. […] That your memorialist is desirous of returning to Africa as missionary, if encouraged by your Lordship, in hopes of being able to prevail upon his countrymen to become Christians.” McNamara also wrote a letter of reference for Vassa addressed to Lowth. However, Lowth declined to ordain Vassa, likely because of McNamara’s unsavory political reputation. 

Apart from his religious duties, Lowth received a Doctor of Divinity in 1754 for his work in Hebrew poetry. He had many of his sermons published and even wrote book about William Wykeham, a 15th century Bishop, titled “Life of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester.”  His last work was published in 1787, titled “Isaiah: A new Translation with Preliminary Dissertation, and Notes, Critical, Philological, and Explanatory.” This work is celebrated for being the best existing translation of the prophecy of Isaiah. Robert Lowth died on November 3rd, 1787.

Vassa on Robert Lowth in The Interesting Narrative 9th.ed.

However, the Governor, understanding that I was of a religious turn, wished to know what religion I was of; I told him I was a protestant of the church of England, agreeable to the thirty-nine articles of that church; and that whomsoever I found to preach according to that doctrine, those I would hear. A few days after this, we had some more discourse on the same subject; when he said he would, if I chose, as he thought I might be of service in converting my countrymen to the Gospel-faith, get me sent out as a missionary to Africa. I at first refused going, and told him how I had been served on a like occasion by some white people the last voyage I went to Jamaica, when I attempted, (if it were the will of God) to be the means of converting the Indian prince; and said I supposed they would serve me worse than Alexander the coppersmith did St. if I should attempt to go amongst them in Africa. He told me not to fear, for he would apply to the Bishop of London to get me ordained. On these terms I consented to the Governor’s proposal to go to Africa, in hope of doing good, if possible, amongst my countrymen; so, in order to have me sent out properly, we immediately wrote the following letters to the late Bishop of London:

To The Right Reverend Father in God, ROBERT, Lord Bishop of London.

THE MEMORIAL OF GUSTAVUS VASSA, SHEWETH,

THAT your memorialist is a native of Africa, and has a knowledge of the manners and customs of the inhabitants of that country. That your memorialist has resided in different parts of Europe for twenty-two years last past, and embraced the Christian faith in the year 1759. That your memorialist is desirous of returning to Africa as a missionary, if encouraged by your Lordship, in hopes of being able to prevail upon his countrymen to become Christians; and your memorialist is the more induced to undertake the same, from the success that has attended the like undertakings when encouraged by the Portuguese through their different settlements on the coast of Africa, and also by the Dutch; both governments encouraged the blacks, who by their education are qualified to undertake the same, and are found more proper than European clergymen, unacquainted with the language and customs of the country. Your memorialist’s only motive for soliciting the office of a missionary is, that he may be a means, under God, of reforming his countrymen and persuading them to embrace the Christian religion. Therefore your memorialist humbly prays your Lordship’s encouragement and support in the undertaking.

GUSTAVUS VASSA.

(Pg. 220- 222)

With these letters I waited on the Bishop, by the Governor’s desire, and presented them to his Lordship. He received me with much condescension and politeness; but, from some certain scruples of delicacy, and saying the Bishops were not of opinion in sending a new missionary to Africa, he declined to ordain me. My sole motive for thus dwelling on this transaction, or inserting these papers, is the opinion which gentlemen of sense and education, who are acquainted with Africa, entertain of the probability of converting the inhabitants of it to the faith of Jesus Christ, if the attempt were countenanced by the legislature.

(Pg. 223)

It is righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. - Destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity - and the wicked shall perish by their own wickedness. - May the worthy Lord Bishop of London be blessed for his pathetic and humane sermon on behalf of the Africans, and all the benevolent gentlemen who are engaged in the laudable attempt to abolish Slavery, and thereby prevent many savage barbarities from being daily committed by the enslavers of men, to whom the Lord has pronounced wrath, anguish, and tribulation, &. to the sons of Britain first (as having the Gospel preached amongst them) and also to the nations-.

(Pg. 334-335, 6 – Appendix E)

The letter “To the Reader” appears in eds. 5-9.

In ed. 4 only, immediately following the title page, is “TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, ROBERT, Lord Archbishop of Dublin, &c. This edition of my Narrative is humbly Inscribed (as a small Token of my Gratitude for his unequalled Beneficence) BY HIS GRACE’S MOST OBLIGED, AND MOST OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, GUS-TAVUS VASSA. Dublin, 30th Max 1791.” (Note 1, pg. 237)

Prepared by Renée Lefebvre, 21 June 2021