Untitled - Electric Scotland

160 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. vi.
meanwhile, Lord, enable me to redouble my efforts here [in
Carlisle] for the good of souls ; direct me in a wise course ; assist
me this day in preparing to preach to-morrow. Direct us to
wise and energetic efforts amongst the poor."
The Commissioners met for the first time on October
1 9th, 1850. Their place of meeting was the Prime
Minister s own house in Downing Street. They at once
issued respectful circulars to the University authorities
and others, asking
for statistical information of various
kinds. Most of those addressed declined absolutely to
render any such assistance to a Commission of which they
disapproved ; but, from many of those best qualified to
give information and advice, the inquiry met, as Dr.
Tait had anticipated, with a civil response; and, in the
opinion even of hostile critics, the Commissioners proved
themselves to have steered wisely at the outset. 1
Mrs. Tait
had naturally shared the almost unanimous apprehensions
of those with whose opinions on Church questions she
was in personal sympathy, and it was with trembling
that she saw her husband enter upon so perilous a
task. He writes repeatedly to reassure her :-
" DEAREST WIFE, I have thought a great deal of what you
said the last morning. I am sure we are all working here with
a deep feeling of the importance of what is intrusted to us, and
I cannot think that the feeling you expressed is well founded."
His Diary has daily such entries as the following :
"O Lord, bless and guide this University Commission, on
which we have now fully entered. May we seek Thy glory with
a single eye, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
And again :
"Grant me, O Lord, at the Commission a more quiet and
conciliatory spirit ; a greater desire to be kind to all ; a greater
feeling of the deep responsibility of the work we have in hand.
1
See, e.g. the Guardian, Dec, 4, 1850.