nded from stout
nonconformists, that his father was perverted to his mother's heresies,
and that therefore he himself could not be zealous in the cause; but,
however that might be, of this Mr. Gladstone might be very sure, that he
would love and admire the author of the book as much as ever. The Duke
of Newcastle expected much satisfaction; meanwhile declared it to be a
national duty to provide churches and pastors; parliament should vote
even millions and millions; then dissent would uncommonly soon
disappear, and a blessing would fall upon the land. Dr. Arnold told his
friends how much he admired the spirit of the book throughout, how he
liked the substance of half of it, how erroneous he thought the other
half. Wordsworth pronounced it worthy of all attention, doubted whether
the author had not gone too far about apostolical descent; but then,
like the sage that he was, the poet admitted that he must know a great
deal more ecclesiastical history, be better read in the Fathers, and
read the book itself over again, before he could feel any right to
criticise.[105]

ITS RECEPTION

His political leaders had as yet not spoken a word. On February 9th, Mr.
Gladstone dined at Sir Robert Peel's. 'Not a word from him, Stanley, or
Graham yet, even to acknowledge my poor book; but no change in manner,
certainly none in Peel or Graham.' Monckton Milnes had been to Drayton,
and told how the great man there had asked impatiently why anybody with
so fine a career before him should go out of his way to write books.
'Sir Robert Peel,' says Mr. Gladstone, 'who was a religious man, was
wholly anti-church and unclerical, and largely undogmatic. I feel that
Sir R. Peel must have been quite perplexed in his treatment of me after
the publication of the book, partly through his own fault, for by habit
and education he was quite incapable of comprehending the movement in
the church, the strength it would reach, and the exigencies it would
entail. Lord Derby, I think, early began to escape from the erastian
yoke which weighed upon Peel. Lord Aberdeen was, I should say,
altogether enlightened in regard to it and had cast it off: so that he
obtained from some the sobriquet (during his ministry) of "the
presbyterian Puseyite."' Even Mr. Gladstone's best friends trembled for
the effect of his ecclesiastical zeal upon his powers of political
usefulness, and to the same effect was the general talk of the town. The
commo