no need of unfairness.
Dr. Hampden's theory lay on the very surface of his Hampton Lectures and
pamphlet; and any unbiassed judge may be challenged to read these works
of his, and say whether the extracts in the "Elucidations" do not
adequately represent Dr. Hampden's statements and arguments, and whether
the comments on them are forced or strained. They do not represent his
explanations, for the explanations had not been given; and when the
explanations came, though they said many things which showed that Dr.
Hampden did not mean to be unorthodox and unevangelical, but only
anti-scholastic and anti-Roman, they did not unsay a word which he had
said. And what this was, what had been Dr. Hampden's professed
theological theory up to the time when the University heard the news of
his appointment, the "Elucidations" represent as fairly as any adverse
statement can represent the subject of its attack.

In quieter times such an appointment might have passed with nothing more
than a paper controversy or protest, or more probably without more than
conversational criticism. But these wore not quiet and unsuspicious
times. There was reason for disquiet. It was fresh in men's minds what
language and speculation like that of the Bampton Lectures had come to
in the case of Whately's intimate friend, Blanco White. The
unquestionable hostility of Whately's school to the old ideas of the
Church had roused alarm and a strong spirit of resistance in Churchmen.
Each party was on the watch, and there certainly was something at stake
for both parties. Coupled with some recent events, and with the part
which Dr. Hampden had taken on the subscription question, the
appointment naturally seemed significant. Probably it was not so
significant as it seemed on the part at least of Lord Melbourne, who had
taken pains to find a fit man. Dr. Hampden was said to have been
recommended by Bishop Copleston, and not disallowed by Archbishop
Howley. In the University, up to this time, there had been no
authoritative protest against Dr. Hampden's writings. And there were not
many Liberals to choose from. In the appointment there is hardly
sufficient ground to blame Lord Melbourne. But the outcry against it at
Oxford, when it came, was so instantaneous, so strong, and so unusual,
that it might have warned Lord Melbourne that he had been led into a
mistake, out of which it would be wise to seek at least a way of escape.
Doubtless it was a strong measure for