Untitled - Electric Scotland

524 MFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xvm.
by its learned editors upon somewhat bolder and more
liberal lines. The facts, so far as Bishop Tait was con
cerned, were as follows: On December 30, 1862, he re
ceived a letter from the Speaker, 1
propounding a plan for
the publication of a first-rate Commentary, to be edited,
at whatever cost, "by the foremost living scholars, with
every appliance
of modern culture and research." He had
as yet consulted, he said, no one else. The idea was his
own, and
"
I would myself," he added, ll
take a great deal
of trouble about it, in any way in which I could be useful,
and I think I could undertake to provide funds almost to
any amount for such a work undertaken by good hands."
The Bishop at once communicated with Mr. John Murray,
who threw himself actively into the scheme, and, after
considerable correspondence, it was publicly announced
that the book would be published
"
under the sanction of
a Committee of ten members," of whom Bishop Tait
was one. 2 The general editorship was intrusted to the
Rev. F. C. Cook, and the prospectus added that the Arch
bishop of York, in consultation with the Regius Professors
of Divinity at Oxford and Cambridge, would "advise with
the general editor upon any questions arising during the
progress
of the work."
Several months passed, and Bishop Tait learned that
although his name still stood on the published
list of the
Committee, the arrangements as to authorship and line of
treatment had been virtually settled without his having
had any opportunity of discussing them. He remon
strated, and the Archbishop of York replied that it had
been decided not to invite him to co-operate more
closely.
1 The
Right lion. J. Evelyn Denison.
- The Committee was as follows : Archbishop of York, Bishops of
London, Lichfield, Llandaff, and Gloucester ;
Lord Lyttelton, The Speaker,
Mr. Spencer Walpole, Professor Jacobson, and Professor Jeremie.