ch he was so bright a
pattern. For me, if it be God's blessed will that in the years now coming
I am to have a share in the great undertaking, which has been the occasion
and the subject of these Discourses, so far I can say for certain that,
whether or not I can do any thing at all in St. Philip's way, at least I
can do nothing in any other. Neither by my habits of life, nor by vigour
of age, am I fitted for the task of authority, or of rule, or of
initiation. I do but aspire, if strength is given me, to be your minister
in a work which must employ younger minds and stronger lives than mine. I
am but fit to bear my witness, to proffer my suggestions, to express my
sentiments, as has in fact been my occupation in these discussions; to
throw such light upon general questions, upon the choice of objects, upon
the import of principles, upon the tendency of measures, as past
reflection and experience enable me to contribute. I shall have to make
appeals to your consideration, your friendliness, your confidence, of
which I have had so many instances, on which I so tranquilly repose; and
after all, neither you nor I must ever be surprised, should it so happen
that the Hand of Him, with whom are the springs of life and death, weighs
heavy on me, and makes me unequal to anticipations in which you have been
too kind, and to hopes in which I may have been too sanguine.

UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS, DISCUSSED IN OCCASIONAL LECTURES AND ESSAYS.

Introductory Letter.

To The Right Honourable WILLIAM MONSELL, M.P., ETC., ETC.(31)

MY DEAR MONSELL,

I seem to have some claim for asking leave of you to prefix your name to
the following small Volume, since it is a memorial of work done in a
country which you so dearly love, and in behalf of an undertaking in which
you feel so deep an interest.

Nor do I venture on the step without some hope that it is worthy of your
acceptance, at least on account of those portions of it which have already
received the approbation of the learned men to whom they were addressed,
and which have been printed at their desire.

But, even though there were nothing to recommend it except that it came
from me, I know well that you would kindly welcome it as a token of the
truth and constancy with which I am,

MY DEAR MONSELL,

Yours very affectionately,

[_November 1858._] JOHN H. NEWMAN.

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