Mid Ascog
28th April, 1868
My Dear Mamma,
Papa’s letter reached me on Saturday about one o’clock. I was of course not gratified to find my paper rejected, but I cannot say that I was astonished or particularly vexed. I do not know how much one should put upon Plumtre’s letter. I believe it is usual in the high class magazines — I know it is in the Reviews — to give a reason for rejecting papers tho’ of course it makes a slight difference that the letter sent was thrown into a personal form. So perhaps I may be entitled to draw some comfort from the fact.
I don’t propose to say die for one refusal; but the question is whom to try, I don’t think the Journal of Sacred Lit: would refuse it; but I fear it pays nothing; so that would be a last resource. Of the Quarterlies the only one that pays considerable attention to Theology is the British Quarterly — which I think is the organ of the Independents. It is almost preponderatingly religious, but perhaps as Papa says “not prepared to take up such an advanced position”. Still it mt. prps. be worth trying it; and failing it I must just go in for the Jour: Sac: Lit unless indeed Papa thinks it would be better to try the latter at once or to make no more attempts.
There can be no diff: in finding the Publishers from the advertisements in the Saturday Review. The Jour. Sac. Lit. is published I believe by Williams & Norgate of course at their London office.
If the thing us to be published it is best not to lose time; so if Papa would send it off to either of these journals — whichever he can most readily find the address of — I would be obliged. I suppose the Contemporary people have made no marks on the M.S. to show that it has already been rejected.
On Sabbath I went to Ascog F.C.[2] The preaching was very poor — frightfully commonplace, in great measure mere parrotlike repetition of common doctrinal phrases with hardly any appearance o f life or feeling. I met the man at the McKellars at tea & have spoken to him on the road once or twice since he seems a pleasant enough but quite insignificant person.
On Saturday I dined with the McK’s and on the afternoon walked
into Rothesay to look about me. The distance by the coast road I find is fully
three miles — over the hills I should say barely two. If you came out you could
not possibly get fr. Glasgow & back in a day as the journey would take you well
over t three hours each way. I fancy however that you could get a bed in
this house. I think Mrs J. has a spare room, but at any rate there is a box bed
if my sitting room wh: belongs to me, besides the bed in my own bedroom. You
cd. get a return ticket between Glasgow & R[othesay] for 3/- (2nd Class & Cabin) & then the cab to Ascog wd be 3/- each way. I think
however that by that time there may be an omnibus & in that case the thing
wd be practicable enough if you had two days to spare.
It would however be a mistake to suppose that you would see anything fine in the way of scenery. In that way I do not think the place is at all superior to Stonehaven — so far that is as appears now, before all the trees are out in leaf. Still the trip would be a pleasant one if you could manage it without fatigue & had plenty of time.
As to your other questions about fares:-
| Abdn to Perth (2nd Cl.) | 11-3 |
| Perth to Glasgow (1st Mail) | 10-6 |
This comes to 21-9 as against 27/6 wh: is the price if you go first class mail the whole way. 2nd Cl. Fr. Perth to Glasgow is 8/- by a slow train stopping at every station. I must however warn you that there is now a regulation agst going into the London second class between Abdn & Perth. They are equal to first class as Nell & I found in going up to Ed: so it has been found needful to confine them to London passengers.
We have a nasty wet day here. Yesterday there was snow on Ben Lomond the peaks of which are visible from some points here, & today the wind tho’ from the south is cold. I however am quite well. I do not feel quite satisfied with Papa’s letter wh: told that you were not well without specifying a cause or telling whether you were only slightly indisposed. But I hope you are better now. I suppose I cannot hope to get the Sermon before Saturday. I am waiting for it rather impatiently.
Mr McKellar[3] is as Papa heard a man who took lots of prizes (mainly Greek) at Glasgow College. But his knowledge is clearly slight enough. The boys have had no right teaching at all. They could perhaps learn something still if sent separately to some School where there was strict discipline & the youngest who cannot be more than 17 is not to [sic] old for this. Working together they hinder each other. Black I think must have taught them something but they have not had grounding enough from the kind of work asked of them — Fancy! Though both took the Greek Classes — reading Aristophanes a year ago — and cannot find the commonest words in the Dictionary: cannot find πείθω [peithu — “persuade”] or έπεσον [epeson — “fall”]!!! They are not exactly fools either; I can’t say they are clever, & the elder is in fact stupid but the younger is smart enough & neither stupider than Brand for example or Tytler. They have a most awful turn for profanity especially in quoting the most solemn texts (wh: they know very fluently) in ridiculous circumstances – they once had a tutor Menzies[4] — an established Church divinity student who believed in Strauss[5] &c. & put the worst notions into their heads.
I won’t close this till tomorrow morning, as I judge it will go all the same if posted then.
Wedy. Morning
I have nothing to add except that the weather is still squally & unsettled & myself well.
With love to all
I am
Your aff: Son
Wm Robertson Smith
[1] CUL ADD 7449 C148 MS
[2] In Rothesay, where WRS had begun tutoring the McKellar boys with little success.
[3] MacKellar or Makellar, William (1816–1876): was ordained in 1843 at Pencaitland Free Church, where his father Angus Makellar was minister, but resigned in 1845 (AFC). In PFCA for 1868, the Rev. William McKellar of Ascog Lodge, Bute, is recorded as attending the Assembly as one of the Dunoon and Inverary representatives but is listed with the elders, not as a ministerial commissioner. In AFC, he is recorded as William Makellar.
[4] Probably Menzies, Allan (1845-1916) who was to become a very distinguished Prof. of New Testament in St Andrews.
[5] Strauss, David Friedrich (1808–1870): author of The Life of Jesus Critically Examined, which was translated from the German by George Eliot in 1846.