Item 152 - Letter from W. H. Thompson to Henry Sidgwick

1 doc

Refers to Sidgwick's letter in the previous night's edition of the Pall Mall Gazette, and regrets that Sidgwick was annoyed by a passage in his letter in the Saturday Review. Explains that he was provoked by the form of the article to which his letter refers, and wrote the letter, of which he sends Sidgwick the original [not included]. Wishes to show that he had no intention of insinuating that Sidgwick was 'one of those who held no form of Christianity to be tenable.' Discusses the relation of reason to Scripture, and states that he has identified Sidgwick with those who think the Roman catholic religion synonymous with Church of England[ism]. Refers to the word 'Quixotic' in the Saturday Review, and to the 'obnoxious article'. Explains that he now regrets that he erased a paragraph from the proof, and believes that if Sidgwick had read it he might not have taken the same view of his letter. Claims that he only wished to show 'that there was no "cynicism" in thinking that [Sidgwick] and others might have retained [their] fellowships with [their] present views'.