energy which was one of the most marked characteristics of his nature. He was able to do something for the non-collegiate students, and, in a different line, for the drainage of the Thames Valley, in conjunction with Dean Liddell though but a small part of their schemes was realised and a memorial of his work remains in the name 'Vice-chancellor's Cut,' which was given to a new outlet made for the Cherwell into the Isis. He also did much for the recognition and elevation of dramatic representations at Oxford. It was due to his support that the 'Agamemnon' of Æschylus was acted in Balliol Hall, and he gave his direct sanction and encouragement to the performances of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. The theatre at Oxford was rebuilt at this time, and Jowett was one of the first to enter it on the opening night. He also invited Sir Henry Irving to give a lecture at Oxford, and stay at the master's lodge on the occasion. In the same liberal spirit he encouraged music in his own college, inviting John Farmer from Harrow to superintend, and giving an organ for the hall. This was the beginning of the Sunday concerts at Balliol. Another subject to which he gave much thought and care was the university press. During these years his literary work flagged a little, yet in 1885 he published the translation of Aristotle's 'Politics,' with notes, but without the essays which would have given a special value to the book. These he did not live to finish.
The strain of the vice-chancellorship was more than Jowett's health could bear. In 1887 he fell ill, and though he recovered a considerable degree of health, he was quite unequal to the tasks which he laid upon himself. He was, however, able to carry on the revision of the 'Plato' for a third edition, which appeared in 1892, and work upon the edition of the 'Republic' on which he had now laboured for thirty years. This was published after his death by Professor Lewis Campbell. It is to this last edition of 'Plato' that we naturally turn for Jowett's final views on philosophy. He does not give us any comprehensive account of Plato's philosophy, for he did not quite believe that such a comprehensive account was possible. Plato's view changes in different dialogues, and in some no definite conclusion is reached. It was therefore better to treat each dialogue separately. It was also characteristic of his own mind to be constantly changing his point of view. 'Mr. Jowett's forte is mental philosophy. How has this or that metaphysical question presented itself to different minds, or to the same mind at different times? Under what contradictory aspects may a particular religious sentiment or moral truth be viewed? What phenomena does an individual mind exhibit at different stages in its growth? What contrasts do we find in the ancient and modern world of thought? This is the class of questions Mr. Jowett delights to ask and to answer.' So said Dr. Lightfoot when speaking of the work on 'St. Paul,' and the remarks apply with equal force to the 'Plato.' If we ask ourselves what were Plato's views on ethics, or politics, or art, we shall indeed find many far-reaching observations in Jowett's introductions, but not a systematic statement, such as is given e. g. in Zeller's 'History of Greek Philosophy.' We shall also find much which, though it arises out of Plato's thoughts, is only indirectly connected with him criticism of modern forms of old views, of ideal governments other than that of Plato, of recent utilitarianism, of Hegel, of the nature and origin of language. Few books cover so wide a field, or show keener powers of observation, or contain deeper thoughts. If the result often seems inadequate, it is because it was the author's aim to get at the truth, not to support any theory. And what is written is written with a finish and beauty rarely surpassed, just as the translation of the text of Plato and of Thucydides too has superseded all previous translations.
In 1891 Jowett had a very serious illness, which returned upon him in 1893. Towards the end of September in this year he left Oxford on a visit to Professor Campbell in London. Thence he went to Headley Park, the home of an old pupil, Sir Robert S. Wright, judge of the high court, where he died on 1 Oct. He was buried in St. Sepulchre's cemetery, Oxford, on 6 Oct.
After making bequests to his relatives, secretaries, servants, and others, Jowett left the remainder of his property of whatever kind, including the copyrights of his works, to Balliol College. The profits of the copyrights were to be invested, and the fund thus formed was to be applied partly to republication of Jowett's own works, and partly 'to the making of new translations and editions of Greek authors, or in any way promoting and advancing the study of Greek literature or otherwise for the advancement of learning in such way that the college may have the benefit intended by 15 George III, ch. 53, 1.'
After his death his friends subscribed a large sum of money, of which a small portion was expended on a memorial tablet in Balliol College chapel, and the remainder applied to the foundation of two 'Jowett
