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that serves to weaken the front of their battle in our common cause. With these convictions, and in consideration of the part which I was called to take in the first institution of the Bishopric, I feel bound to avail myself of every opportunity of deprecating the aggressive policy of Bishop Gobat; and as I cannot choose my company, I must act in concert with those who take the same view of this particular case as myself.
I beg to offer you many apologies for having replied to your note at so great length; but I wished both to signify how heartily I approve of the honest and straightforward course which you have taken in addressing me directly on the subject, and also to show that antecedent circumstances have imposed on me a special obligation to adopt a course I knew would expose me to some obloquy, and to be liable to be misinterpreted.
GEORGE WILLIAMS.
III.
The Warden to Mr. Brooke.
[Also shown to the Primate by the Warden's desire]
October 27, 1853.
Rev. Sir,
It may be important to guard against a possible misunderstanding of my letter of the 25th instant.
There have been, I believe, two documents circulated, "The Memorial to the Oriental Patriarchs," and a Circular inviting signatures to that Memorial.
I understood your question to related to the Memorial itself; and I answered it in that sense, because although I had not formally sanctioned any one to affix my signature to that document, my sentiments on the subject were so well known that I could not object to its being done.
With regard to the other document,—which I understand has been made the subject of an attack upon me in a Dublin paper—I beg to say, that I never gave any authority to any one, directly or indirectly, to place my name on the Committee for circulating the Memorial, and very much regretted that it was done.
GEORGE WILLIAMS.
