Untitled - Electric Scotland

1 72 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. vi.
for three days, that I might fully consider both it and Mr. Glad
stone s note, which you kindly enclose. I can understand the
difficulty which a person in Mr. Gladstone s position must find
in speaking very explicitly as to University Reform, but I fully
believe from the tone both of his note and of yours that he is
not less anxious now than I have understood him to be formerly
for the extension of the University, and the more efficient develop
ment of its system. I believe, myself, that with his great influence
he might, with perfect propriety, and with every prospect of ex
tensive usefulness, publicly take the initiative in those particular
measures of Reform, in which I feel no doubt he would be sup
ported by the
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Liberal party in the University, as well as by
those whose opinions more nearly resemble his own. But no one
can judge for another of the difficulties which such a position
as Mr. Gladstone occupies must involve. For myself, I am quite
ready to vote for Mr. Gladstone again as at the last election, and
to do my best to induce any friends whom I can influence to
the same course, trusting that opportunities will arise when he
may be able to use the weight of his influence to advance an
efficient improvement of the University system, and feeling con
fident also, that in the ordinary political topics of the day he
will more adequately represent the opinions held by myself, and
those with whom I am in the habit of acting, than any candidate
who is likely to be brought forward against him. These feelings
are quite enough to justify me in giving my vote for a candidate
whom, however much I differ from him, I acknowledge to be so
great an ornament to the University. But it would be going a
good deal further to have my name placed on his committee.
I think on mature consideration that I could not with propriety
do this, feeling that on principles of the greatest importance I
differ so very widely from him.
" You may therefore reckon on my vote if there is a contest,
and are at liberty to say so to any one whom it may concern ;
but my name on the committee would be out of place, and, see
ing the many other points on which I differ, could only have
been justified by some more public declaration of approval of
our scheme of University Reform than circumstances allowed
Mr. Gladstone to make. Believe me to be, my dear Coleridge,
yours most truly,
"A. C. TAIT."
The election took place in July, and after a sharp con-