Page:Correspondence between the Warden of St Columba's College and the Primate of Armagh.djvu/36

 that serves to weaken the front of their battle in our common cause. With these convictions, and in consideration of the part which I was called to take in the first institution of the Bishopric, I feel bound to avail myself of every opportunity of deprecating the aggressive policy of Bishop Gobat; and as I cannot choose my company, I must act in concert with those who take the same view of this particular case as myself.

I beg to offer you many apologies for having replied to your note at so great length; but I wished both to signify how heartily I approve of the honest and straightforward course which you have taken in addressing me directly on the subject, and also to show that antecedent circumstances have imposed on me a special obligation to adopt a course I knew would expose me to some obloquy, and to be liable to be misinterpreted.

I remain,, Yours faithfully, GEORGE WILLIAMS.

October 27, 1853. ,

It may be important to guard against a possible misunderstanding of my letter of the 25th instant.

There have been, I believe, two documents circulated, "The Memorial to the Oriental Patriarchs," and a Circular inviting signatures to that Memorial.

I understood your question to related to the Memorial itself; and I answered it in that sense, because although I had not formally sanctioned any one to affix my signature to that document, my sentiments on the subject were so well known that I could not object to its being done.

With regard to the other document,—which I understand has been made the subject of an attack upon me in a Dublin paper—I beg to say, that I never gave any authority to any one, directly or indirectly, to place my name on the Committee for circulating the Memorial, and very much regretted that it was done. I am,, Yours faithfully, GEORGE WILLIAMS.