The life and letters of Benjamin Jowett, M. A., master of Balliol college, Oxford.

340

Life of Benjamin Jowett

[CHAP. XI

to be Archbishop of Dublin: 'an Irish Bishop or Archbishop I could not be, as I should feel always judico me
cremari '.'-By-and-by it appeared likely that Tait might
be called to Lambeth. On this Jowett wrote still more
urgently, giving reasons why Stanley should not refuse
London if offered. The situation changed again when
Longley was translated to Canterbury and Tait was
offered the Archbishopric of York. While Tait hesitated
Jowett wrote once more to Stanley, repeating his advice.
He was equally decided in dissuading him from accepting
a Deanery. Whilst Stanley was at Canterbury, the
Deanery of Westminster had seemed to Jowett a desirable
position for his friend; but now, in the midst of the
great battle for liberty at Oxford, he would not have him
leave it for any Deanery; and when Stanley, on returning
from his Italian tour with his sister Mary and Canon
Hugh Pearson, in October, 1863, announced at once his engagement to be married and his acceptance of the Deanery
of Westminster, Jowett, while rejoicing in the former
announcement, regarded the latter as a disastrous step.
To him personally the loss of Stanley's help at Oxford
was in any case a severe blow, and the new position
did not seem to offer any compensating advantage
to the cause of liberal thought. That he did not
immediately recover from the change appears from his
writing in a familiar letter some years afterwards,' I have
not yet quite forgiven Anglicanus for deserting me'; but
when he saw the step to be irrevocable he resolutely
made the best of it; and, besides the opportunity of
preaching at Westminster which came in I866 and the
When the Archbishopric of it would cross him.' Cf. Dean
Dublin was vacant and Stanley Stanley's Life, vol. ii. pp. 97-99,
was talked of for the place, Jowett 13I, 132.
said, 'I hope he will not take it: