xt7ghx15n565_240 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7ghx15n565/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7ghx15n565/data/0000ua001.dao.xml unknown 9.56 Cubic Feet 33 boxes archival material 0000ua001 English University of Kentucky Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. James K. Patterson papers Miscellaneous text Miscellaneous 2024 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7ghx15n565/data/0000ua001/Box_25/Folder_12/Multipage26682.pdf section false xt7ghx15n565_240 xt7ghx15n565  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 Murmur Parson, LEXINGTON, KL,
March the 9th, 1803.
Miss BETTIE N renews—

Queen of my Soul .'

My I’ericeranium for a. hehdomatical season hath been
very much faeinated with the imigdry of your immaculate personality, but when the
arrived contemplation of your mental faculties would illequiate in extac ' ; the divine
particles, of an oriental anchorite, your benign, philanthropic disposition induces me
to ,, 1pp'icat-2 illeration, under your patriocination, and shall throughout all the hourly
circumwlutions of eternity, be your respondent addorer, and these few lines of my
chirography shall be tantamount to an open declaration of my paramount love and
att’eetions for you. this is no flattery. no my fair enchantress i detest flattery, yet
Honor-ificahilitudinitatihus impells me to say that i believe that you (love me) Oh !
lieuie, would to god that i could tear my heart out and cast it at your feet, that see
ing all its anguished throbing you could then believe that i love you. and you alone.
when first we met my rapture suddenly fell below zero. i was melting; under your
influence like unsalted butter, or \ 'ax to a storepipe, untill one look from those bright
eyes did soothe my torturing pain. but when last we parted 011 l God! it was more
than my poor heart could bear, and gatheringto-gether the last emblems o f my droop-
ing spirit,i did pick up fortitude amply sutlieient to accost through a medium of wri—
tings, one who is far my superior in rank and fortune,as well as goodness, lovingness
and perfection. iwill inform you that i am a prisoner of war. idid accomplish
what i told all of you that i would do, and since i seen you kind fortune has crowned
me with good health, and I eineerely hope that kind providence will bless you with
good health. give my respects to all the family and except of my undying love to
yourself. 0h ‘. Bettie ! believe thati love you, and i shall be happy, and promise Inc
in your next letter that you will not marry before you see me again. that is it'it is
not longer than one month after the war is over. i received your kind, welcome in-
teresting and if i may be so bold i will say loving letter which gave me courage and
resolution in my expectations of calling you mine, at some not for distant day. Oh !
me. my atfeetions are stronger than my Judgement, and i cannot help expressing to
you whatsoever my heart dictates. if i say too much please excuse me, for believe
me dearest that it is the sentiments of an open and generous heart. you must write
me often and i will do the same. i wrote you one day before yesterday and shall im-
patiently await an answer. 0h 1 thou child of nature what ott'ering or gift can i be—
stow upon the altar of thy sunny heart to convince you of my cincerity. please au-
swer immediately and diree’tto me as follows. Military prison No. 3, Lexington, Ky.
my pen is very poor so you will please excuse bld writing i must cometo a close ever
remaining ) lilll'

Afl'ectionate Lover

Capt. Jonr: )it'aroan,C. S. A.

 

 others to whom the fees were reduced. For a number of years
save last, the acquisition of new members in the manner
indicated more than covered secretarial expenses. Those
invited were suitable persons, of whom I prepared lists.

()n the subject of LIFE SUBSCRIPTIONS, you will probably
feel called upon to express judgment. In the Treasurer’s book
you will find the entire amount received from Life Members
from the outset till the present time. No doubt you will set
down what was paid in before my incumbency and since ; how
many of the Life Members are living and how many are
deceased ; also how many have joined from year to year. You
will make up the aggregate amount, and estimate what portion
of each would have been used and what invested, if a rule on
the subject had existed, or the Society had been an old, not
a new one. You will report whether examining the Society’s
income from year to year, the Society would now have had any
existence, if the life subscriptions had not been expended, and
supposing you decide that it would, you will of course further say
what revenue from the invested capital would probably have now
accrued to the Society? If the revenues so accruing, say at 3 per
cent. might not exceed some £25 or £30 a-year, it will be for
you to explain how the possession of this income could specially
benefit the Society now : And it is your province, in the face of
the Life Subscriptions being hitherto included in the yearly
income, to say whether or not in the stock of T mmaclz‘am, and
of a library of respectable extent, there might not now be
obtained. in the event of the Society being wound up, a
sufficiency of funds, 13/, to discharge the Council’s debt ; ed, to
complete vol. IX. of the Trauma/mu now in the press; and 30',
to refund to Life Subscribers a proportional amount of their pay-
ments. I enclose statement of the Council’s liabilities, being a
balance due to Messrs J. and \V. Rider, printers, of £239, 165.
6d. It will probably be reduced atthe commencement of the
financial year in January, when subscriptions come in. I may
here remark that it was through the considerate kindness of
Messrs Rider in suiting the Council‘s convenience in the matter
of their accounts that the Society got a start. Another firm of
printers were occasionally paid by bills; for such bills I
became individually answerable. I am particular in these
matters, for in the Society’s interests as well as in my own I
desire that every item of administration may be narrowly looked
into and reported upon.

Notwithstanding that the revenue last year was nearly £200, and
in the present year nearly £300 less than in 1878, the Council’s
debt has by no means been proportionally increased. Had

i - _

as...“

 

l
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i
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the sum of £500, lost through mischievous agitation, been forth-
coming, there would have been no liability, and a first perma-
nent investment of £300 made. .

I have attended to your request, in placing before you a list
of members elected during the last twelve months, distinguish-
ing the Honorary and Corresponding from the Ordinary Fellows.
The last, as you will find on examining the Council Book, are
greatly under the number admitted during previous sessions.
But it is truly remarkable that, considering the hostile state-
ments published in the north of England and elsewhere, the
accessions have been so numerous as they are. In an effort
to promote an interest in the Society’s doings, and to increase
the usefulness and value of our collections, I have lately invited
foreign Historical Societies to exchange their publications with
ours, and have, as is usual, nominated their Presidents and
Secretaries as Honorary and Corresponding Members.

Learning full particulars respecting the Society’s origin and
history, it will be for you to determine whether (as has been
proposed by those whose policy I have opposed) the entrance fee
should be reduced from three guineas to half-a-guinea; diplomas
with their fees should cease ; life subscriptions be invested as
they come in ; invitations be no longer sent out; the Genealogical
Section abolished; Mr M‘Murdo \Vright’s proposal of an Hono-
rary Secretary with a paid Assistant entertained; also papers
inserted in the Trauma/ions without responsible editorial
supervision.*

Gentlemen, farewell! May your Report be drawn in the
spirit of wisdom, fairness, and impartiality ; and may the result
prove for the best interests of our Society.

1 am, GENTLEMEN,
Your Inost obedient faithful Servant,

CHARLES ROGERS,
5dr. 11‘. [{7'51. Sor.

GRAMPI \\' LODGE,
It‘onnsr HILL, SE.,
I 51/; Dram/751' 1880.

" \Vhen I objected to Mr Cornelius \Valford's paper ”on the Hanseatic League,“
read to the Society in February last, on account of his having read a paper on the
same subject in August 1879 to a law society in London, he appealed to the Council,
who at his request referred Ihe paper to your chairman Mr Robjohns, and another
learned Member of Council. 'l'heir report, if produced, has not been presented. A
paper on the l‘lanseatic League by Mr \Valford in an insurante encyclopzedia has
been announced.

THE ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Fellows are particularly requested to read these TWO Letters.
7;

GRAMPIAN LODGE,
FOREST HILL, S.E.,
. Dermzber 22, 1880.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

Though enjoying the support of the Council, and, as I
believe, that of four-fifths of the members, I have for some years,
more especially during the last two, been so intensely harassed
by persistent hostilities on the part of several members, two
of whom were on the Council and have lately been restored
to it, that on the 29th ult. I intimated that in six months I
would tender my resignation. My reasons for six months’
notice are these: “ 152‘, To allow the Society and its Council
sufficient time to secure the services of a successor. 211’, That
I may not be charged with anticipating Report of a Com-
mittee of Inquiry appointed by the Annual Meeting. 31/, That
in the interval I may have an opportunity of securing another
appointment.”

Along with the Society’s minutes, papers, and accounts, I
have submitted to the Committee the accompanying letter,
which I send for your perusal. It will place before you clearly
and accurately the nature and origin of the disputes, and enable
you to understand the questions at issue. I am of course not
unaware that there are two sides to a question; but if what I
now put forth is inaccurate, it is for my opponents to show that
it is so. I may here say that I believe no learned institution
ever made such real and healthy progress as has the Royal
Historical Society during these last twelve years, while arrange-
ments were in progress that would speedily have conduced to
its influence being experienced widely.

\Vhat my opponents in their recent manifestoes, one of them
anonymous, have chosen to put forth most prominently is what
they characterise as the excessive character of my remunera-
tion. On this subject I will state facts. From November 1868,
when the Society was formed, up to January 1870, I virtually
discharged all the duties; while from the latter date to April
1872 I acted both as Secretary and Editor, without at the time
receiving any emolument whatever. But at the Annual Meet-
ing in 1872, when the membership had greatly, increased, I was
appointed Historiographer ad 'z/z'tam (mt cit/flaw, with a salary
of £120. This salary was, in November 1873, increased to
£150; and in respect of past services I was (less what had
already been paid me) voted £100 per annum from the date
of the Society’s origin. My salary was further increased by
£100 at the Annual Meeting in November 1875 ; and I was, at
the Annual Meeting in November 1876, voted £420. Out of
this amount I was expected to remunerate assistants. Pray
look at my remuneration in a tabulated form.

Year ending November 1869, . £100
1: a: 1870, ' I00
,, 1871, . 100

,, 1872, . I00

,, 1873, . 120

,9 1874’) ' I5°

,, 1875, . 200

,, . 1876, . 320

n 1877, - 420

,, 1878, . 420

n [879, ~ 420

,, ,, 1880, . 420

Average Secretarial Expenditure, . £240

Society's Average Receipts, . . £575

With other alleged grievances, Mr H. H. Howorth brought
the subject of my remuneration under the notice of Lord Aber-
dare, the President, who, occupying the chair at a special meet-
ing of Council, held on the arst May 1879, expressed himself
as under :

“ On this point I have had no communication with Dr Rogers,
directly or indirectly, and I speak on public grounds and in the
interests of the Society. Though Dr Rogers had no special
claim on the Society, though his office was vacant, and you
went in search of a successor, I would not recommend you to
offer less than the salary now given. For less you would not
get any gentleman of education and proper training to under-
take the duties. I am President of the Royal Horticultural
Society, and the Assistant Secretary, I am aware, receives £400,
and has besides two paid assistants. Now, it would appear
that Dr Rogers recompenses his assistants out of his own
salary.”

At that time the Society’s income was £793, as stated in
November 1877. The income was last year £738, and on the
20th November last, I offered to abate my salary by £120. In a
letter to the Council in January, I expressed my willingness to

 

accept a reduced salary should this become necessary, and I
have stated that “ I hope the Council will not allow, either now
or afterwards, the recompense to the Secretary or Historio-
grapher to interfere with the Society’s financial interests.”

If the question had rested on this point, I had not thought
of retiring. But under present circumstances what, I ask,
would inevitably ensue? Reduced through agitation by £200
in 1879, and by £300 in 1880, the Society’s income will, I
conceive, be under continued agitation reduced further at the
close of the present year. If so, would my opponents take any
portion of the blame? \Vould not the Secretary, now accused of
grasping, be charged with incapacity? “ Dr Rogers has ruined
the Society” would be asserted at next Annual Meeting, and
the assertion would be probably accepted. Apart from this, I
make bold to assert that no Secretary, whether he had self-
respect or not, could continue in office, with Messrs Cornelius
\Valford* and Hyde Clarke at the Council Board. Here is a
specimen. “January 15th, 1880, Mr Hyde Clarke demanded, as
a matter of privilege, the right of laying on the table an article
in the A {/zc/Immz of the 22d November last, on the subject of the
Society’s finances, and which had ammz’ llz'm [HIM/Z alarm, since
he believed the Society owed some £400 or £500. In answer
to a question by the Secretary, Mr Clarke stated that he himself
had, at the request of the Editor of the .»lt/zc)zwzml, supplied the
Society’s accounts, which appeared in it!” The real debt, as
Mr Clarke perfectly well knew, was under £200. To show that
my sentiments are not singular, I adduce an extract from a
letter addressed by Mr )I‘Lauchlan Backler to the Chairman
on the 215t February last, when resigning his seat at the Council.
“ Notwithstanding your amiable efforts to maintain peace and
goodwill in the Council of the Royal Historical Society, it is
clear to my mind that much valuable time will continue to be
wasted in fruitless personal discussions. The incessant attacks,
either open or insidious, on the Secretary and the members of
the Council who agree with him on any question, are, however,
more likely to enlist sympathy for him than to damage him.”
Mr Backler adds, “ Certainly it would be difficult to find a Inore
energetic, persevering, and zealous Secretary, and I believe him
to be now, as from the commencement, the mainstay of the
Society.”

Only ten days ago, I, on the same~ subject, received the fol-
owing letter from Major-General Alexander: “It has much
pained me that, owing to persistent animosity, you have ten-
dered your resignation. Yet I cannot express surprise, since
for two years and upwards not only has the business of the
Society been impeded by Messrs Clarke and Walford, but you
have had to endure taunts and insults showered upon you by
these persons. I say without hesitation (and my statement
will be borne out) that these individuals were animated only
with the idea as to how they could smar/z you ; with them the
welfare of the Society was a secondary consideration, if they
ever gave it a thought. I disapprove so Inuch of the manner
in which business at our Council meetings is obstructed, that I
have serious thoughts of resigning both my place in the Council
and my membership. But that you are still Secretary, I would
do so at once.”

Leaving the Council and its obstructors, allow me, my Lords
and Gentlemen, to refer to other proceedings on the part of
certain hostile members. Missives have repeatedly been sent
to members of Council and others misrepresenting and de-
nouncing me. In a series of letters sent to my dwelling, I have
been personally menaced. Within the last two weeks, a mes-
sage from one of my opponents was conveyed to me, to the
effect that if I woulc “ at once retire from the Secretaryship,”
HE WOULD “ENSURE ME A RECOMMENDATION AS TO SECRE-
TARIAL FITNESS ” ! If, on the contrary, I did not, I would “be
charged with malversation or worse”! There was —the message
boreéa determination to crush me, since a Committee of the
Fellows was sitting under the presidency of Prebendary Irons,
and which was about “to make some terrible revelations” l

To convince certain members of Council that the statement
respecting Dr Irons was wholly untrue, I communicated with
the reverend gentleman, who answered me as under :

“DEAR DR ROGIiRs,—The communication which you have
made to me, that I have been presiding over a committee con-
nected with the investigations of the Royal Historical Society,
has not the rag/rm; foundation. I have so much respect for
you personally, that I should at once have communicated with
you. There is some Inistake, perhaps, as to the name. I
should like to know who passes for me.”

These, my Lords and Gentlemen, do not amount to one tithe
of the hostilities enacted against me within the last few months

* Let it he understood that the gentleman of this name, whom I may again have
occasion very particularly to refer to, is not the erudite and accomplished Mr Edward
\Valford, author of so many valuable works on archzeology and family history. Mr
Cornelius \Valford, whom I do refer to, is known in connection with assurance and
insurance companies,

 

 —hostilities in every instance most intensely' brutal and un-
English. Though I had been the vilest malefactor—a man
unworthy of confidence, and one who had degraded letters and
disgraced the Church—I could not have been treated more
contumeliously or assailed with greater invective. Yet 1 cm-
phatically defy the most unscrupulous, the most adroit, and
the most crafty Of my opponents, to bring openly against me
either in connection with our Society, or any other institution,
the slightest charge of improper dealing. The Coin/nittce of
Inquiry which has been appointed, notoriously with the purpose
of “ finding me out,” I defy to point to one blot upon my honour.
Yet for all this, my Lords and Gentlemen, I have, in discharging
honestly, fairly, and impartially the duties of lny offices, been
systematically traduced and exposed to unworthy suspicion.
My Lords and Gentlemen, those of my opponents, who profess
an interest “in the noble study Of history,” I brand with vile
dissimulation, and say that their proceedings have throughout

been basal u/bon ambition, nurtured by [/10 wont passions, and '

flir/i/z'od in" GUILE, FALSEHOOD, AND REVENGE. These are
very strong words, but they do not In any degree exceed the
bounds of strict and absolute veracity.

Dccwnbcr 3o.——Cousequent on the oppression I have experi«
enced, it was my intention to engage in literary pursuits under
circumstances which had at least rendered me safe from per-
sonal molestation. But I cannot resist the expression of con-
fidence which you have conveyed to me. I therefore abandon
my intention to retire, and will cling to the Royal Historical
Society, through good and bad report, so long as I retain your
sympathy, support, and commendation.

I am,
Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Your most Obedient and Faithful Servant,

CHARLES ROGERS, on, LL.D.

Messrs HEINEMANN, ROBJOHNS, SHENTON, CHAPMAN,
M‘MURDO WRIGHT, ALTSCHUL, and MORRISON,
[Members (f Commit/cc of [ngnz'ry appointed by Ibo
Royal Historical Society at Mo Annual General

blasting. 18th Nrfwnzber 1880.

GENTLEMEN,

In two boxes belonging to the Society, I have sent to the
care of Mr Vaux at the Rooms, the entire minute books,
registers, letters, and documents of every sort in my possession
belonging to the Royal Historical Society. The Treasurer will
send you his registers, pass-books, cheques, and vouchers.
I will ere long send to the Rooms the printed lists and forms,
lithographed letters, stationery, stock of Transactions, also a few
books forwarded to me here. “7 hat copies of the T ransactz'ons
and Genealogical Publications are not in my keeping will be
found in sheets at the binders, Messrs Straker & Son, New
Court, Farringdon Street.

Not merely to assist you in forming a proper Report, but
in order to put on record a state of the Society’s affairs at the
time of my retiring from the administration, I beg leave very
respectfully to submit for your consideration certain facts. And
perhaps you will allow me to invite your attention to what is
probably the origin of these troubles which, unless for your
prompt interposition, may unhappily wreck the institution. On
the 14th January 1875, Mr G. Laurence Gomme, a clerk, I
believe, in the Board of Works, as well as an industrious con-
tributor to No/os uuzt Quz'rz'cs, was elected a member. On the
24th April thereafter, Mr Gomme sent me a letter, No I. in the
accompanying bundle of his correspondence. After animadvert-
ing on a proposal by the Council respecting their intention to
restore the entrance fee to £3, 35. instead of half-a-guinca, and
pointing out certain steps he deemed essential to such an
alteration, he proceeded thus :

“I may mention however now, as perhaps you would like to
think it over, that my suggestions have reference to the forma-
tion of a committee to carry out certain lines of historical re-
search, and thus by a division of labour make our Transactions
as useful as those of the Biblical, Archaeological, or Anthro-
pological Societies, for instance; I need only refer to the debate
on Mr \Valford’s paper to show the necessity for this; but, if you
will allow me, I will put my suggestions in writing, that you may
submit them to the Council.” Mr Gomme concludes, “ I suppose
I must have been out of town when the General Meeting in last
November took place.” .

As Mr Corinne was only elected a member in January, it is
quite certain he received no intimation of the Annual Meeting
in the preceding November. l'lis memory again forsook him
when in a letter (No. 2), dated 22d April 1876, he describes him-
self as “ a member of two years’ standing,” and as such claimed
the right of suggesting a remodelling of the constitution. For

this purpose he desired a General Meeting to be convened. To
the increase of the entrance fee he particularly objected. In
his letters Nos. 3 and 4, dated 2d and 3d January 1876, he
suggests for the Society’s publication 8. MS. pedigree of
“ H ampden, by Brown Willis the genealogist,” also another MS.,
both in his possession. He held that the Society should issue
an Historical Magazine, and print or have issued under their
sanction an Historical compilation he had prepared. His letters
of the let and 28th November 1876 (Nos 5 and 6) are less
important ; in one of them he expresses a wish to occupy “afirst
place” in reading a paper to the Society, but “without any desire
to displace mine.” During a considerable interval Mr Gomme
was silent; but on the 27th September 1877, he, in his letter No.
7, reports that he and his friend Mr Michelsen were “ engaged
in calendaring the Reports of the Royal Historical Manuscript
Commission.” On this calendar he proposed to compose a
“commentary,” “one in each session,” and which, if published
with the corresponding calendar in the Society’s T ransoctions,
he believed “ would form a companion to such works as Rymer’s
and Codex Dz‘yfilonuzticns.” Naturally I hailed a performance
so full of promise, nor did a brief note from Mr Michelsen
(No. 8), containing two misspelt words, lead me to apprehend
that industry might not in this coadjutor compensate for ortho-
graphical deficiency. In his assistant and himself Mr Gomme
certainly exercised full confidence, for in his letter (No. 9), dated
3d October, he expresses his belief that what he and his friend
are about to do will prove “useful to the general historical
worlc.” Accordingly he expresses his desire that I would
officially announce his project and its progress in the columns
of the At/wucoum. He also informs me that he was about to
suggest “certain reforms” in the Society’s rules of which
“ many members” approved. On an undated day in December,
his suggestions were forwarded to me, being contained in a
small note addressed to myself, and in a long letter addressed to
the Council.

In his communication to the Council he states that his
opinions are held by “a large section of the Society,” and
that, “unless some reform is made, a considerable secession
from its roll of members will be made.” He adds, “that the
Seciety is constantly spoken of amongst literary circles with
anything but respect.” He then enumerates his complaints.
The membership was too citeayfily obtained (lately he had ob-
jected to the increase of the entrance fee); membership was
offered to “unknown men ;” “a ballot was not taken ;” “no
applicant was refused;” “the annual statement of accounts
was imperfectly made ;” “ compounded subscriptions were not
funded;” the Society produced only one annual volume,”
auditors were named by the Council instead of the Society.

To Mr Gomme‘s letter I replied as in No. 13, stating that
the entrance fee was three guineas, and the annual payment to
both sections two guineas, such being the usual fees of learned
societies ; that suitable persons only were invited ; that members
were admitted in the manner specified in the laws ; that appli-
cations were frequently rejected; that the accounts were properly
kept by the Treasurer; that the investing of life subscriptions
was under consideration ; and that the Auditors named by the
Council were persons acquainted with finance. In No. 14 Mr
Gomme extends his reasons of objection, and asks “to be
allowed to appear before the Council.” This I acknowledged
in No. 13 of the series. In No. 16 Mr Gomme writes as before.
I submitted his letters to the Council on the 10th January 1878,
fourteen members being present; the decision was, that “the
letters should lie on the table.”

Mr Gomme’s letters, Nos. 17, 18, and 19, may be taken
together. No. 17, dated 215t March 1878, relates to what he
styles his “calendar of the Historical Commission Reports.”
Mr Gomme read a well-expressed paper on the subject at the
Society’s meeting on the 14th March, and afterwards sent me
“ the calendar.” This proved to consist of clippings from the
Appendices to the Commission Reports pasted together, with—
out note or comment, and certainly without any semblance of
connection or order. But I was sufficiently aware that if on
my own authority I rejected these gleanings, I would gather
wrath, and be charged with revenge. I for the first time laid
editorial responsibility on the Council. About twelve members,
or all who usually attended the meetings, received the paper
by post, and were each asked his opinion. It was declared to
be utterly unsuitable; and accordingly, on the 9th May 1878,
the Council unanimously passed the following resolution 2 “The
Secretary was instructed to thank Mr Gomme for the offer of his
paper, and to express regret that it cannot be accepted.” In a
manner the reverse of discourteous I transmitted the decision to
Mr Gomme,who,on the 10th May(No. 18), answered me by using
these words : “ I suppose it explainsitself as the answer to my
letter to the Council of some months back.” In a letter written
three days afterwards (NO. 19) he accuses me of “animus,” and
closes with a menace. That menace was put in force at the
Annual Meeting held on the 14th November 1878, when Mr
Gomme attempted to interrupt the business, but was, as no
longer a member, silenced by the President. Then followed
that correspondence respecting the Society and its affairs in
the columns of the x’ff/lfiltl’ll/ll, which has culminated in your
appointment as a Committee of Inquiry.

\Vhen suspicion is engendered, people are seldom discreet in

tracing it to its origin. Mr Gomme’s complaints, no doubt,
originated with himself, but when he and his friends began to
ventilate his opinions, others followed them up.

To another opponent I must refer, one whose animosity is
very bitter, but is in its origin singular. To Mr John H. Chap-
man did Mr Cornelius \Valford entrust his motion for the ap-
pomtment of your Committee. Curate at VVoodgreen, \Vitney,
Mr Chapman was, on the 12th April 1877, admitted a member
of our Society. In reply to a letter requesting a contribution,
he offered a paper “on the last days of Mary, Queen of Scots,”
to which his letters, Nos. 1-3 in the accompanying bundle,
have reference. He withdrew this paper, and in the autumn
of 1878 offered another on “Elizabethan l’ersecutions.” In
letter No. 4, dated 4th November 1878, he writes : “The sub-
ject I referred to under the title ‘Elizabethan Persecutions,’ is
the execution of some 120 to 150 Roman Catholic priests, and
many lay people for harbouring them (including two or three
women), and the system of fines for recusancy which reduced
many old English families to beggar-y.” “I consider,” he adds,
“that under the head of the Elizabethan Persecutions comes the
murder of Mary, Queen of Scotts [sic], as a part of the domestic
policy of the day,” etc. On behalf of the Council, I agreed that
the proposed paper should be read, and it was put down for
May 1879. Mr Chapman’s subsequent letters are in tone and
manner strangely inconsistent, almost odd. In No. 6, dated
23d April 1879, he writes : “ Do you want a paper from me for
the May meeting? You do not allude to it in your last circular.
By the way, you must not send a notice to the papers which
describes me as ‘the Rev.,’ for I have severed my connection
in that capacity with the State Church by executing a deed
under the Act of 1870. This was done last year, so I should
be sailing under false colours. If you bar/c sent suc/z notice or
notices, please inform me of it, and I will write to the several
papers and alter my description.” In letter No. 7, dated 4th
June, he writes : “The mistake as to my description is of little
moment, but I am sorry to see you have not kept faith with me
in another matter. In a former letter I said I should claim
my place for the July meeting in the order in which the papers
were announced ; and you replied, assenting to the proposition.
I am, therefore, surprised to see that the order has been altered,
and Dr Irons’ paper placed before mine, instead, as it was before,
immediately afterwards.” Mr Chapman had really no griev—
ance at all. His paper was originally third on the billet for
May ; it was not then read ; it was also, with his consent, post-
poned at the June Meeting; and the Council conceived, as Dr
Irons was the older man, and had written a paper by request,
he should in July have, as originallywrrraingedflhe first place,
and Mr Chapman the second. On the subject Mr Chapman
sent two missives to Dr Irons, and person ly appeared before
the Council ; his desire was gratified (see N 5. 8-12).

Mr Chapman’s paper read at the J ly Meeting, was
characterised by Mr Robjohns as an attac on Protestantism ;
I did not suspect this at the time. ,

I now invite attention to Mr Chapman’s letters, Nos. 13, I4,
15, and 16. In No. 13, dated 13th August 1879, he inquires
“whether it is proposed to include his paper in the annual
volume.” In No. 14., dated 26th August,herwrites, “I have an
offer for it from two different quarters, but as it was read at the
Historical Society, I am quite ready to forward it for publica-
tion on the understanding that it is printed in cxtcnso, and the
proof is sent to Inc to revise.” On the 2d October (No. 15), he
uses these words, “You shall have the paper early in next
week. In my last letter to you in Scotland, I said that l
stipulated, Ist, that the paper (which is short) should be printed
in cxtcnso; and 2d, that the revise should be