Page:Correspondence between the Warden of St Columba's College and the Primate of Armagh.djvu/13

 deeply implicated, I must maintain that I was at liberty to make that protest according to my own discretion.

Had I not stipulated for such freedom of thought and action prior to my appointment, I yet should have hoped that the perfect independence and irresponsibility of one in my position, except in matters relating to the instruction and well-ordering of the School, had been so lately vindicated by Dr. Arnold, that I could have nothing to dread on that ground; and I am bound to maintain that principle, as he did, at any sacrifice of personal feeling, as a duty to every Schoolmaster in the United Kingdom, and to the cause of Education generally.

But your Grace reminds me that "I intimated to you on my being appointed to the office of Warden, that I would not hold the situation except with your full approval of my course of proceeding." I cannot question the accuracy of your Grace's memory, but I must be permitted to say that my words are stretched very far beyond any meaning that I could have attached to them, as I never contemplated the possibility of their being applied to acts entirely apart from the duties of my office, and in no way connected with the College. I should have merited your contempt, if I could so far have surrendered my independence of mind and liberty of action. Your Grace could scarcely expect or desire any person of any education or position in society to do so.

But I may take the liberty to remind your Grace