Untitled - Electric Scotland

294 UFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xn.
Bishop Tait immediately replied (Feb. 23)-
"You will see in the last Guardian an Address from Dorchester,
to which the Archbishops letter, signed by the Bishops, was
sent by His Grace as an answer. You will observe that in that
address there is no allusion to Dr. Temple, nor to any opinion
which his essay, as I understand it, maintains."
His correspondent next day wrote-
"
I must thank you for your prompt reply to my letter. It
has removed a very general misunderstanding at Rugby, and has
been a great relief to Dr. Temple s own mind. To-day
in bed. . . ."
he is ill
The writer goes on to describe a meeting of the Rugby
masters, which had been held on the previous day, when
Dr. Temple spoke to them about his connection with the
Essays, and showed, in the opinion of the writer, how
deeply he was distressed by much that the volume con
tained, and how conscious he was of the pain which it had
caused to parents of the Rugby boys. The letter was
confidential, and, as will be seen below, Dr. Temple did
not accept the detailed account it contained as an accurate
record of what had passed. It is evident, however, that
the letter made a deep impression upon Bishop Tait, who
wrote again as follows :-
77/6 Bishop of London to the Rev. Dr. Temple.
"Private and Confidential.}
" LONDON HOUSE, Feb. 27, 1861.
" MY DEAR TEMPLE, It was impossible for me yesterday to
answer yours of the 25th owing to ceaseless engagements.
" Of course, if you wish it, the
that your circular to me and the
idea that I had entertained,
other Bishops afforded an
opportunity for your explaining to the public your real position
towards the volume of Essays and Reviews must drop. I was