Item 188 - Letter from Connop Thirlwall

6 pp.

Thanks WW for his 'kind' letter [see WW to CT, 23 September 1834]: 'I see that the greater part of my own was written under an erroneous impression, that your language, in the opening of your second pamphlet, referred to the nature of my opinions on the chapel service, whereas I now see that it related only to the propriety of publishing them. I have only to regret that this point was not so distinctly stated as to prevent a similar confusion in the mind of your readers' [see CT to WW, 1 September 1834]. As to CT publishing his views he is aware that WW is not alone in condemning his act: 'Hare has informed me that he sees it in the same light: and you may therefore easily believe that I am more inclined to doubt the correctness of my own judgement, than to wonder that any one should differ from me on this point'. However CT still thinks he was right to publish his opinion: 'In the first place the view I took of my own station was not that which you take of yours: and in fact I think there is a very material distinction between them. I did not consider myself as having anything to do with the administration of the chapel discipline, and was not conscious of having neglected my duty...I conceived that my official duties were confined to giving literary instruction'. He does not think that the notoriety of his 'opinion was inconsistent with holding the office, because I think I remember that I was informed, and at all events it was the case, that some of my predecessors had marked their opinion, as the same with my own, by their general absence from service'. Even though he agreed with these men on the adverse effect these services produced on others, he attended them because 'I felt no personal reluctance attending myself'. WW should remember that CT made no attempt to conceal his private opinion and only printed it because of what happened. WW's last letter satisfied CT on another issue: 'which I shall always reflect with pleasure and gratitude in the attempt which you made to avert the evil which my impudence has drawn upon me'. He hopes they can still co-operate together before he leaves Trinity.