Untitled - Electric Scotland

54 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. in.
ment, as the books in which men wish to be lectured before
going up for their degree are principally those which I am most
fond of the Ethics and Rhetoric of Aristotle, Butler s Analogy,
and such like. It makes me feel very old to have so soon be
come an instructor of others, instead of merely a learner myself.
I return to Oxford in a fortnight, and shall continue residing
there till next Christmas, at least, as there will be a vacancy in
the Balliol Fellowships about that time, for which I hope to be
allowed to stand. Should I, by any wonderful degree of luck,
contrive to be elected, I shall remain in Oxford, and probably
become a College Tutor. But i the more probable alternative
occurs, I shall then look about me for a country settlement.
You seem to doubt whether my High Church notions, contracted
in this seat of port and prejudice, will allow me to hold any
dealings with those without the pale. I hope I am not a
bigot, but I confess myself much more of a High Churchman
than I was ; nor has the Church of Scotland so much of
my admiration as in former times. Have you seen the essays
on the Church by Seeley the bookseller s son? I like them,
though not quite so much as I expected; but certainly
that he gives some hard hits to Mr. James of Birmingham, who
appears to be the champion of your party. I have also been
reading Girdlestone s plan for altering the Liturgy, so as to em
brace Dissenters. I am afraid no alterations could quite con
ciliate your friends, who object totally to the principle of an
I think
Establishment, but perhaps some judicious concessions might
bring us nearer, though we could hardly be quite united. Your
intimacy with the clergy in your neighbourhood
looks well.
I suppose you approve highly of the Cambridge minority
petition. 1
I cannot, nor do I see what good any party would
gain from such a step. You are surprised at my launching into
all these topics, but I want to irritate you to an answer, that
we may not forget each other, even though I may not be able at
present to accept your kind invitation, nor you to trust your non-
conforming person in Oxford. If you come, I will guarantee your
personal safety. Hoping to hear soon from you, I am, your very
sincere friend, ARCH. CAMPBELL TAIT."
A petition signed by sixty members of the Senate of the University of
Cambridge in favour of abolishing Religious Tests in that University, was
presented in the House of Lords by Earl Grey on March 21, 1834, and gave
occasion to an important debate. Hansard, vol. xxii. pp. 497-522.