Untitled - Electric Scotland

170 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. vi.
his paper in a condensed form in an article which he
contributed two years later to the Edinburgh Review,
on the general subject of educational legislation. 1
The whole tenor of the Report was in the direction of
throwing the University doors more widely open ; and
when Archbishop Tait, in 1876, rose in the House of Lords
to move a resolution in favour of a yet further extension
of the same principle, he was able to describe his motion as
the natural and legitimate sequel of the Report for which
he had himself been so largely responsible a quarter of a
century before. The interest aroused by its publication
was immense, and voluminous as it was, 2 the first edition
was sold out in a few days. The Edinburgh Reviewer
described it as
"
a truly remarkable document, and one
which is destined, we are persuaded, to form an era in the
constitutional history of this country." As soon as it was
in circulation, letters poured in upon Dean Tait, congratu
lating him upon a result which was ascribed in no small
degree to the part he had himself taken in the work of the
Commission.
The constant journeys between Carlisle and London-
journeys very much more tedious then than now and the
immense labour which the Commission had involved, had
again told seriously upon his health, and he was glad to
return to a quieter and less interrupted life. The work of
inaugurating University Reforms had, for the present,
passed from the hands of Royal Commissioners into
those of politicians ; and Dean Tait s hope was that Mr.
Gladstone, notwithstanding his objection to the mode in
which the inquiry had been instituted, might now, as
Member for the University, be induced to support in
Parliament the recommendation of the Commissioners.
1 Vol. xcix. pp. 158, etc.
2 The actual Report, apart from its immense appendices, occupies 260
closely-printed foolscap pages.