Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/199

 the very act, as it would seem to others, of giving them directions which they most needed." Again, "I really suppose that it would be to thousands quite an indescribable shock, a trial almost too hard to be borne, making them sceptical about everything and everybody."

Again, "Do not in any case imagine, my dear Newman, that you have not hundreds, not to say thousands, sympathizing with you, and feeling indeed that they owe their very selves to you." Then, on October 11th, 1845, he wrote, "I find that the thunderbolt has actually fallen upon us, and you have actually taken the step which we greatly feared. &hellip; It is very mysterious, very bewildering indeed; but being so, one's duty seems clearly pointed out: to abide where one is, till some new call come upon one. &hellip; Besides the deep grief of losing you for a guide and helper &hellip; you may guess what uncomfortable feelings haunt me."

Then in the same letter Keble says, "My dearest Newman, I cannot well bear to part with you—most unworthy as I know myself to be, and yet I cannot go along with you. I must cling to the belief that we are not really parted. &hellip; May you have peace where you are gone, and help us in some way to get peace. &hellip; So, with somewhat of a feeling as if the spring had been taken out of my year, "I am, always your affectionate and grateful, "J. Keble."

These letters are rather sad reading, but a few extracts show in what estimation Newman was held. They also show that it is not true that the Tractarian Movement was