Page:The English Historical Review Volume 36.djvu/11

4 by this change the originators of the Review lost any power of control in its management; but we had confidence in Mr. Creighton, and we gained the indispensable advantage of appearing before the world with the prestige of the name of one of the greatest English publishing houses.

The next stage in the history of the Review was reached on 1 May, when Mr. Creighton came over to preach the St. Philip and St. James's university sermon at Merton. Mr. Powell asked me to meet him at lunch in his old rooms in Canterbury quadrangle; and there I made my editor's acquaintance. We spent the afternoon in drawing up a prospectus and in arranging a list of persons to whom it should be sent out. I still have a proof of that prospectus with corrections and additions in Mr. Bryce's handwriting. I also possess the answers which I received to the letters inviting support, and in turning them over recently I have been astonished at the widespread interest which our undertaking called forth.

By July we were ready for action, and on the 15th of that month Mr. Bryce—the godfather of our enterprise—invited a small company to dine with him in Bryanston Square. Of those who were present I may mention Lord Acton, Dean Church, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Richard Garnett, Dr. Ward, Robertson Smith, and York Powell. . . . We spent a long evening settling the general policy of the Review—I say ’we', though I of course only acted as a sort of secretary. The whole plan was settled and approved, and the way was clear for publication in the following January.

You have read in Creighton's Life the account of our editor's labours in bringing out the first number. He had articles ready from the late Provost of Oriel, Freeman, and Seeley. But Lord Acton's article was late in arriving, and the last article, which is now known to have been written by Mr. Thursfield, was delayed in consequence of the difficulty in getting permission to print some private letters. Then there was a preface to be written, and Mr. Creighton in despair told me to write one. This I did, but happily before my preface arrived, another one was sent by Mr. Bryce, and that of course is the anonymous preface which opens our first volume. But the manuscript only reached the editor on 20 December, and the whole number had to be settled after that date. The first proof of Lord Acton's article did not appear until the 23rd. At last Mr. Creighton went up to London and occupied Messrs. Spottiswoode's office until the number was finished. He appealed to Mr. Longman to allow him an extra sheet; but Mr. Longman like a wise man sat firm. The number duly came out. The Times gave it a leading article, and we were fairly started on our way.