then, till it was
finished, I had not absolutely intended to publish it, wishing
to reserve to myself the chance of changing my mind when the
argumentative views which were actuating me had been distinctly
brought out before me in writing.

"I wish this statement, which I make from memory, and without
consulting any document, severely tested by my writings and doings,
as I am confident it will, on the whole, be borne out, whatever real
or apparent exceptions (I suspect none) have to be allowed by me in
detail.

"Your uncle is at liberty to make what use he pleases of this
explanation."

I have now reached an important date in my narrative, the year 1843,
but before proceeding to the matters which it contains, I will insert
portions of my letters from 1841 to 1843, addressed to Catholic
acquaintances.

1. "April 8, 1841 ... The unity of the Church Catholic is very near
my heart, only I do not see any prospect of it in our time; and I
despair of its being effected without great sacrifices on all hands.
As to resisting the Bishop's will, I observe that no point of
doctrine or principle was in dispute, but a course of action, the
publication of certain works. I do not think you sufficiently
understood our position. I suppose you would obey the holy see in
such a case; now, when we were separated from the Pope, his authority
reverted to our Diocesans. Our Bishop is our Pope. It is our theory,
that each diocese is an integral Church, intercommunion being a duty
(and the breach of it a sin), but not essential to Catholicity.
To have resisted my Bishop, would have been to place myself in an
utterly false position, which I never could have recovered. Depend
upon it, the strength of any party lies in its being _true to its
theory_. Consistency is the life of a movement.

"I have no misgivings whatever that the line I have taken can be
other than a prosperous one: that is, in itself, for of course
Providence may refuse to us its legitimate issues for our sins.

"I am afraid, that in one respect you may be disappointed. It is my
trust, though I must not be too sanguine, that we shall not have
individual members of our communion going over to yours. What one's
duty would be under other circumstances, what our duty ten or twenty
years ago, I cannot say; but I do think that there is less of private
judgment in going with one's Church, than in leaving it. I can
earnestly desire a union between my Church and yours. I cannot lis