Mid Ascog, 1st June, 1868
My Dear Black,
I need not say I was glad to get
your letter, all the more so that I felt letter writing in Germany to be a
thing to be a thing one practised as little as possible.. It was always
so hot, and one felt that one must write a long letter which was really very
fatiguing.
Your information about Tübingen is interesting in several ways. I have read some articles in Herzog’s Cyclop[aedia][2] signed Pfaster Preasel[3] & was anxious to know who he was, so your letter satisfies me on that point. Then I though Oehler had gone to Erlangen. Is this the other Oehler? or is it still the old Tübingen Oehler?[4]
However to settle more important topics first. I cannot flatter myself that I am making anything of the MaKellars [sic]. Graham is by far the most troublesome but neither is in the least industrious. Since Mr McKellar went to Ed. to the Assembly[5] where he has been for a fortnight matters have been worse, but I cannot say that I have ever got real work. However Mr MaKellar seems to think I am making something of it, for when he comes down, Graham at least begins to exert himself a little.
I can quite believe that the fact that their work is for the degree, may make them a little more ready to exert themselves; for sometimes we get a fit of good resolutions and an hour’s work but that is about the outside of it.
Mr M. has never asked me to stay come back in autumn, In
fact I gave him to understand clearly that I had some difficulty in sparing
even two months and that I must certainly have the autumn to myself. He has
however asked me to stay ten days longer i.e. to the end (instead of the 24th)
of this month, and thus you would get a few days more in Germany. As I
understood that you wished not to be so pushed for time when your father came
over and as ten days could make no difference to me, I of course agreed.
Mr M. seemed to think there was no use of sending you word so soon; and as he left for Edinburgh the very day he proposed the plan, I meant to wait till he returned. But your letter gives me a good excuse for insisting (as I have done to Mrs M.) that I should mention the matter to you at once. Mrs Jamieson[6] of course will not hold you bound to her lodgings during the ten days thus gained to you, as I occupy ten days longer to make up.
During this week Graham has been laid up (I should say that I am now writing on the 3rd — Wedy — having had no time for two days) with a feverish attack brought on by hard rowing in a new present of his. It was feared he wd. be laid aside for some time, but he has now recovered far enough to be so snappish that no one can come near him.
Mrs Jamieson (who is clearly much gratified by your message) desires to be remembered to you & hopes you are enjoying yourself.
I suppose you have got lots of New College news & know all about the way in wh. Dods’ election has been bungled.[7] The Students’ memorial reached him a day too late; and his answer which certainly would have secured his election arrived after his defeat. Well! you won’t have McGregor at all events, but pity our class! The Union debates have been on the whole satisfactory and the Anti: party is making a less creditable appearance every new debate.[8] I am glad to see that the Unionists are “taking their stand” on broad Catholic principles. However all my information is of course at second hand and, no doubt, you are well posted up by newspapers &c.
Could you do me the favour to make some enquiries about Rothe.
1) If any brief biography has appeared since his death; 2) if he has left
behind him materials for a revised edition of the rest of his Ethics[9] or Dogmatic: and indeed anything you can gather about him. I am reading his
books and would like to know something about him personally.[10] I must say I am disposed wish I were with you just now. I should like
another summer in Germany very much. I am, however, very comfortable here in
Rothesay, tho’ rather dull. I seldom go with my pupils out of lesson hours
somehow. Cameron[11] has got married
and is very unwell & keeps quite by himself. I have never spoken to him.
Nor can I say that I take very kindly to my work; but then the place is really
very pleasant, well adapted for “pottering about” and I get a fair tho’ by no
means large amount of work done. I am labouring at my discourses but have
literally broken down with Candlish’s and have had to throw it aside for the
present. I have seen no new College men except Lindsay, who seems better &
in good spirits. He was here a night abut a fortnight ago. I would advise you
to write your Valedictory address in summer. Of course you & not Dickie[12] will have it to do, and you will write a much better one now than at the end of
Next Session. I am led to this remark in connection with Lindsay who I believe
is at a loss what to choose for the opening address. I fear I have[13] nothing else to communicate, but hope you are enjoying yourself too well to
call for home and so remain
Yours very truly
Wm Robertson Smith
[1] CUL ADD 7449 A001 MS
[2] Herzog’s Cyclopaedia: Real-Encyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche (1854–68) the first large-scale reference work devoted to religious and theological topics, compiled by Johann Jakob Herzog (1805–1882); translated into English in abridged form by Philip Schaff (1819–1893) and subsequently revised and reissued as The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia of Religious Knowledge.
[3] Doubtful reading, unidentified.
[4] Gustav Oehler’s son, Herrman Oehler, edited his father’s Theology of the Old Testament after the latter’s death in 1872 and is designated in the Preface as Librarian to the Evangelical Seminary, Tübingen. However, the matter referred to by WRS is obscure.
[5] WRS is uncertain of the spelling and writes both Makellar and McKellar. In FCPA 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.
[6] The landlady of the lodgings used by both Black and WRS at Ascog.
[7] Most of the students had hoped that Marcus Dods would succeed to the chair of Systematic Theology, following the retiral of Dr James Buchanan. In spite of the fact that Dods had formally withdrawn his candidature some two weeks previously, he was formally proposed and seconded. After a number of protests James McGregor was elected by a substantial majority (FCPA 1868, pp.216–219).
[8] By this time WRS is very clearly in favour of a union between Free and United Presbyterian churches and after five years of delicate negotiation the prospects of agreement seemed encouraging. From 1869 onwards this climate of optimism steadily declined until the whole matter was shelved for two decades in 1873.
[9] Rothe, Richard (1799–1867): German theologian. His Theologische Ethik was first published in 1845–48 and then in a five volume edition between 1867–71. His theories foreshadow “process” theology and reflect a strongly spiritualised concept of evolution to which Tait and Balfour Stewart’s Unseen Universe has certain obvious affinities.
[10] This is a further indication of Smith’s interest in the theological ideas of Richard Rothe (1799–1867) whose Zur Dogmatik he had acquired in 1867.
[11] Probably Alexander Cameron, a final year student at New College in 1867/8.
[12] James F. Dickie, a student due, like Black, to move into his final session at New College after the vacation. Presumably the “Valedictory Address” was delivered to the Theological Society at the end of the course by one of the three presidents for the year — in this case Black, Lindsay and Dickie.
[13] The remainder of the letter is scrawled sideways across the page.