suspicion of me into the minds of
lookers-on.

"By retaining St. Mary's, I am an offence and a stumbling-block.
Persons are keen-sighted enough to make out what I think on certain
points, and then they infer that such opinions are compatible with
holding situations of trust in our Church. A number of younger men
take the validity of their interpretation of the Articles, etc., from
me on _faith_. Is not my present position a cruelty, as well as a
treachery towards the Church?

"I do not see how I can either preach or publish again, while I hold
St. Mary's;--but consider again the following difficulty in such a
resolution, which I must state at some length.

"Last Long Vacation the idea suggested itself to me of publishing the
Lives of the English Saints; and I had a conversation with [a
publisher] upon it. I thought it would be useful, as employing the
minds of men who were in danger of running wild, bringing them from
doctrine to history, and from speculation to fact;--again, as giving
them an interest in the English soil, and the English Church, and
keeping them from seeking sympathy in Rome, as she is; and further,
as seeking to promote the spread of right views.

"But, within the last month, it has come upon me, that, if the scheme
goes on, it will be a practical carrying out of No. 90; from the
character of the usages and opinions of ante-reformation times.

"It is easy to say, 'Why _will_ you do _any_ thing? why won't you
keep quiet? what business had you to think of any such plan at all?'
But I cannot leave a number of poor fellows in the lurch. I am bound
to do my best for a great number of people both in Oxford and
elsewhere. If _I_ did not act, others would find means to do so.

"Well, the plan has been taken up with great eagerness and interest.
Many men are setting to work. I set down the names of men, most of
them engaged, the rest half engaged and probable, some actually
writing." About thirty names follow, some of them at that time of the
school of Dr. Arnold, others of Dr. Pusey's, some my personal friends
and of my own standing, others whom I hardly knew, while of course
the majority were of the party of the new Movement. I continue:--

"The plan has gone so far, that it would create surprise and talk,
were it now suddenly given over. Yet how is it compatible with my
holding St. Mary's, being what I am?"

Such was the object and the origin of the projected series of the
English Saints; and, as