May 26, 1870[2]
Edinburgh, 1st April, 1870
My Dear Black,
Many thanks for your last two letters and enclosed testimonial. I supplemented them by getting a look at your correspondence with Gibson,[3] so on the whole I have got an all sided view of your position which I think is very encouraging. There is just one point you have not mentioned. How about the Confession? Has it proved an Incubus during your tour of the Churches? Surely Popery being what it is in Spain the shortest and most emphatic and telling “Protest” is far more likely to be useful than a long Confession. [4]
I suppose this will find you at Seville again. You are in a fair way manifestly to gain a very thorough notion of Spain in a short time. I hope you have found some higher type of character than the Andalusian.
I hope when you feel solitary during your tours you don’t forget with how much interest every one here is following you. Your injunctions not to show your letters too freely was [sic] a hard blow to your friends. I gave forth however so much of your “News” as I thought you would willingly have circulated. I daresay you know that your scheme is to be specially held in view by the Miss. Secy.
I have been musing during the last few days over the most proper way of carrying out correspondence with you. I have decided in the first place that it would not be fair to expect from you letter for letter but on the contrary that I had better write whenever my news accumulates to a sufficient extent. Further I think I will write in fragments, jotting down from time to time my impressions &c. and sending them off once they reach the fatal ¼ oz.[5] This for the summer. Meantime I take advantage of a day’s rest between the dreary seven hours of Board Exams[6] yesterday & the almost as dreary last big exam in Tait’s tomorrow.[7]
The board [sic] you see has been made a week earlier. The papers were probably not stupider than usual, the best to my mind being Walker[8] of Carnwath’s Jansenism[9]. Innes[10] was all on Hengstenberg.[11] No answer save B.’s[12] was in most cases possible. This hampered me & made my paper stupid. Not I think unscholarly yet I expect to get say ¾ marks only & for lack of faith? We don’t hear the result till the eighth. Marvel not if Bell beats me. He has been “wiring in”[13] as Menzies[14] calls it all winter & I had only a few brief hours after my tutorial class until during the last month. Even then I only got a small fraction of time to myself.
Apropos of Menzies he is in town. I saw him last week for a few minutes only. I hear he is in low spirits: Bell believes on account of the death of a cousin Miss Cowan — not I think the one we saw. He is to be at Penicuik now indefinitely. I hope to see something of him in Skinner — a good deal if possible.
Do you know that Lindsay is writing a book, on the history of Scottish Education. He has Small as a Collaborator. Small provides Archaeology,[15] Lindsay scholarship and all the other requisites if a good book. Macmilllan wishes to be publisher. Lindsay has engaged meanwhile to stay another half year with Candlish.
Poor Candlish has been laid up for some time with an attack of gout & doesn’t seem to have had a good recovery. Consequently I read not delivered[16] my sermon or at least two sentences of it in his house and was told that it was a thoroughly good discourse, fresh and vigorous in thought and likely to be effective but too long. But alas! Candlish doesn’t seem to see his way to withdrawing [his support from] Meyer at least just now. That is a pity as I believe C’s support now would carry me in, though even Candlish at the Assembly time might avail little. Candlish’s great excitement just now is about Dr Wilson.[17] It is well known that when Wilson begins to speak he ceases only when the whole available potential energy of his body has been dissipated in sonorous vibrations or when like Lord Brougham he finds himself alone within the room.[18] At the Glasgow Assembly the piece[19] prologue of his speech was only beginning to display its structure at the end of five hours; and so the five or six three hour speeches which the Assembly will be spared by the absence of Nixon[20] of Montrose will be hardly a perceptible compensation for the superabundant faciendia[21] of the Moderator. The first day Candlish thinks may go off; for the numerous strangers in the gallery will doubtless exercise physically a coercive effect. But then the reception of Deputations! The whole mind of Dr Candlish is devoted to the question Can anything be done here? I fancy that Candlish at a pinch is equal to the task of snubbing a Moderator.
What next? Rae[22] seems to have been keeping better since he got back to Caithness & I think will come round all right. He is greatly amused with a new light which was cast on Kay’s character [?Persona?][23] by the publication of his full name at his call. The mysterious D stands for Donald. [24]
Locality connects Rae with his next neighbour in Cumberland, that is Macneil. He is likely to succeed Miller at Newhaven. Maclean is to be McPhail’s missionary and Shiach called to Dunfermline.
April 4: As I finished [the] last page I was interrupted by the entrance of Harper & Thorburn[25] anxious to get tips for their bursary work &c. before going abroad. Harper & Elmslie go back to Berlin. Thorburn may perhaps go to Tübingen, perhaps only to Newcastle. There is a strong rush for Tübingen which is quite taking the place of Erlangen — Russel, Patrick, Craig, Robinson & others. I daresay one or two will join Harper’s party at Berlin. On the whole a great many men are going over and I can’t persuade any man to go to Göttingen. I wish I could get over to see you in autumn but unless I get the Cunningham[26] I shall be cruelly poor and Duns will do all he can to keep me out of it. Revenons &c.[27]
When Harper & T. left me it was bed-time and next morning I was inundated with papers from the second big exam on which I have since spent some twelve hours and have so far gained the victory over them that I feel at liberty to pause for a little & continue this — I hope [–] not quite illegible scrawl. A son of Dr King of Morningside U.P. Church (Nephew of Sir W. Thomson) will be bracketed first prizeman.[28] Next week I shall be free and go home to rest and take licence[29] returning only in May when the Laboratory opens. I shall doubtless be fidgety by that time. Meantime there is one good omen since I began this letter. My article in the British Quarterly[30] has had a good effect on Candlish. He is much pleased with it, but what of that so long as he keeps on Meyer? You see I am always fidgeting back to my own affairs which won’t do. Let us talk of the Theological. Kippen’s closing speech on his great scheme for dogmatic Theology was very powerful but very one-sided. Who should drop in but Prof. McGregor. It was accidental but he enjoyed Kippen very much & moved the vote of thanks. The Presidents for next year are shady. Russel luckily is Senior but the other two are McIntosh & Sturrock.
April 5. This time I hope I shall finish without interruption. I want to tell you about a new Theologian I have unearthed — I mean new to me for he is not obscure at all — I mean Jurieu.[31] Have you read anything of him? I bought lately a little book of his containing 1) a controversial statement of the Doctrine of grace against Pajonism [32] which I have not yet read 2) what drew my attention an examination of the question of Union with the Lutherans. J. is a very strong Calvinist but does not see why Calvinists should have any scruple to unite with Lutherans on the basis of the ample ground held by all Evangelical Protestants in common. Distinctive principles[33] (unconditional & particular election, Perseverance) not only need not be insisted on confessionally but at present should not be preached in order to facilitate Union.
Il ne faut enseigner au peuple que ces articles dont il ait certain que nous convenons tous. Et après tout on a beau lui en prêcher davantage il ne retiendra pas.[34] A practical Augustinianism is secure where ever [there is] this true piety and Bible teaching. Car l’Ecriture n’est presque autre chose que cela, qu’un tissu de prière et d’actions de grace.[35] And this agreed the more dogmatic form is less necessary to be agreed. Jurieu gives heads of a confession on which all Protestants could agree. Would it be of any use in your present confessional difficulty to send you them. I don’t think they are superseded tho’ my little book bears date of 1688. So much for Jurieus [sic].
There was a great fight in the Presby.
yesterday over the Union Question. But doubtless, Mr Black keeps you well abreast
of these matters. And in truth I have been little able to follow the new
complications. You know I suppose that misfortune has reached the N. Col. in
the shape of £10,000 for a Chair of Natural History. The Church, says
Davidson with a sigh, “has not courage to refuse £10,000 and next assembly will
doubtless witness Duns’ elevation to the a Professor. [36]
Do you know of the great row about the Lady medical Students and the Hope Scholarships?[37] Miss Peachey came in third in Chemistry but Crum Brown resolved that she was not eligible for a Scholarship. Hence a vast tumult not yet allayed. Brown should have gone to the Senatus before settling anything instead of consulting it now.[38]
Tait’s Ladies’ Class this year did very well. Miss Bonar (Dr H. B.’s tochter[39]) first. Miss Mgt. Dunlop 2nd. Miss Dunlop first in Fraser’s[40] — Bell’s sister third in Masson’s[41] (I think). The report for last year 68-9 appeared only a few weeks ago and is very flattering. [42] First the ladies glorify themselves thro’ their Secretary.[43] Then the various Professors puff them & Lindsay[44] & I add a few lines each. My remarks as at first written were by Mrs Crudelius thought brutal & Tait weakly undertook that I should change them. I did so to a very small extent, and the ladies are still rather disgusted.[45] Really I praised them very highly but with a certain effort at discrimination. Masson says mine is the truest report of all & really the most favourable. But the Association I fear does not understand sound doctrine.
Did I tell you last time (apropos of myself again!) that my Heb. Class gave me a very nice letter on parting from me & therewith Ewald’s Dichter & Schultz’s A. T. Theologie (the last thing out). The N.C. letter is a great success, signed by 108 or so. Only two I think are lacking.
I believe McNeil designs writing to you sometime soon but I don’t know if he is a likely man to stick to his intention. Just now he seems to be working at his subjects for licence &c. pretty hard.
I presume you will be back at Seville when this reaches. I have no additional remarks I think so will just close, with best wishes for your continued happiness & success in your work. Some time soon I mean to unfold to you a plan of mine — suggested by the badness of the English textbooks on Board subjects & everything of the kind. Why should we (you & I with power to add to our number) not keep in view a series of Theological Textbooks — e.g. on the Popish Controversy (that for you) Jansenism — Edition of Arminius with such notes as to make it an Introduction to the Dogma. Theol. of Reformn. &c. Each wd choose his own topic but all wd give every assistance in their power. Lindsay to take the most philosophical subjects &c. e.g. Scholasticism. Think this over!
Yours very affectionately
W. Robertson Smith
P.S. Excuse errors. The letter is too long to reread.
P.P.S. Ap. 6. Note this morning fr. Ed. B.Q. with cheque for £18 and mention that Dean Stanley has written in deep appreciation of my article.[46]
[1] CUL ADD 7449 A010 MS. This long and intriguing letter is mentioned briefly in B&C (p.122).
[2] This is written in Black’s handwriting and presumably is the date of receipt.
[3] Alexander Gibson, their friend from the Edinburgh Evening Club.
[4] In its report to the 1870 Assembly, the Continental Committee refers to the Spanish Reformed Church having “drawn up a Confession of Faith very synonymous with the Westminster standards” (PFCA, Report vii, p.3).
[5] The normal weight limit for letters going abroad.
[6] The “Board Exams” refer to the exams which he and his fellow students were sitting, The questions were set by the board of examiners — in this case practising F.C. ministers such as “Walker of Carnwath”.
[7] Here WRS is referring to his other role as invigilator in Tait’s Nat. Phil. examinations.
[8] The formal nomination of WRS for the Aberdeen chair was in fact made by the Rev. James Walker of Carnwath in Lanarkshire (see PFCA, 1870, p.94).
[9] Jansenism: after Jansen, Cornelius (1585–1638): Bishop of Ypres, whose qualified approval of some aspects of Calvinism in France led to the persecution of his followers, who nevertheless became highly influential during the 17th century.
[10] Innes, James: F.C. minister at Panbride near Arbroath. He had originally been a contender for the Hebrew chair at Aberdeen but withdrew before the Assembly met. As a setter of questions for the Hebrew paper for the Cunningham Fellowship exams, he incurred Smith’s annoyance.
[11] The conservative German theologian of whom WRS did not approve.
[12] Presunably “Blaikie’s”.
[13] OED cites no instance before the mid 20th c. of “wiring in” being used as a metaphor derived from electrical terminology. The expression “wired in” is recorded from the 19th c. only as meaning “fenced with wire”.
[14] Unidentified: not one of Smith’s fellow-students.
[15] I.e. historical research.
[16] The letters of the two words “not delivered” are printed out separately, presumably for emphasis.
[17] The F.C. Moderator-elect for 1870. As PFCA for 1870 illustrates, he was indeed longwinded.
[18] The eminent Whig politician Lord Henry Peter Brougham (1778–1868) was famed for his oratory but also for his prolixity in his later days.
[19] The word “piece” is clear but the sense is not — unless “set piece” is meant.
[20] Nixon, William: F.C. minister at Montrose.
[21] Facienda: lit. things to be done; i.e. agenda details. WRS misspells this word as faciendia.
[22] Probably John Rae, minister at Wick (see 1870-04-26).
[23] WRS encloses his parenthesis in square brackets.
[24] Kay, Charles Donald (b.1841): was ordained at Innerleithen in 1870.
[25] Fellow-students.
[26] I.e. a Cunningham Fellowship, awarded to the best students who had completed the four years’ course.
[27] I.e. Revenons à nos moutons.
[28] King is referred to (as Kingius) in WRS’s Latin letter of April 7 to Tait. The exam papers being marked were those for Tait’s Nat. Phil. students working in the Physical Laboratory.
[29] I.e. obtain his formal preaching licence.
[30] “The Question of Prophecy in the Critical Schools of the Continent”.
[31] Jurieu, Pierre (1637–1713): Protestant theologian occupying the chair of theology and Hebrew at Sedan, of a “controversial temper … verging on insanity” [EB9].
[32] Pajonism: the doctrine of Pajon, Claude (1626–1685): whereby strict Calvinism was mitigated to express a form of conditional universalism.
[33] I.e. of Calvinism.
[34] The people need only be taught those articles on which they can be sure we all agree. And after all it is fruitless to preach to them more than they can retain.
[35] For Scripture is hardly more than this, a contexture of prayers and actions of grace.
[36] The endowment was indeed accepted (cf. PFCA, 1870).
[37] The Hope Fellowships were named after Thomas Charles Hope (1776–1844), a former professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh University.
[38] See Sheila Hamilton, “The first generation of university women” in G. Donaldson (ed.) Four Centuries of Edinburgh University Life, EUP 1986, pp.99–108, for a brief but valuable account of the development of university education for women at Edinburgh.
[39] So the word appears clearly to read: Smith’s reason for using the German here is obscure. Yet perhaps WRS is facetiously mimicking the Highland pronunciation of daughter. H.B. refers to Horatius Bonar (who did not come from the Highlands).
[40] Fraser’s: the Moral Philosophy class delivered by Prof. A. C. Fraser.
[41] Prof. David Masson was a strong advocate of women’s university education and paved the way for these first university level women’s classes at Edinburgh. See 1867-02-06.
[42] See the Memoir of Mrs Crudelius (ed. Kathleen Burton) privately printed in 1879. The reports on the first Ladies’ classes of 1868/69 were not issued until March 1870 because of negotiations with the University regarding their status.
[43] Crudelius, Mrs Mary (1839–1877): was Secretary of the Edinburgh Ladies Education Association (later the Edinburgh Association for the University Education for Women).
[44] Lindsay was Fraser’s assistant as WRS for Tait.
[45] The reports by Lindsay and Smith are given in the Memoir of Mrs Crudelius. Smith’s is typically blunt yet honest, e.g.: There were one or two very good students … who were in every respect equal to the best University men; but below these there was a rather rapid descent to painstaking mediocrity”.
[46] This final postscript is written sideways in the left margin. The reference to A. P. Stanley, Dean of Westminster, signals the start of a long relationship in which Stanley was always most supportive.