Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents has been added to this version.Spelling mistakes have been left in the text to match the original,except for obvious typos, marked like this.
My dear Dr. Russell,—Now that at length I take the step of printing myname in the Title-Page of this Volume, I trust I shall not beencroaching on the kindness you have so long shown to me, if I ventureto follow it up by placing yours in the page which comes next, thusassociating myself with you, and recommending myself to my readers bythe association.
Not that I am dreaming of bringing down upon you, in whole or part, thecriticisms, just or unjust, which lie against a literary attempt whichhas in some quarters been thought out of keeping with my antecedents andmy position; but the warm and sympathetic interest which you took inOxford matters thirty years ago, and the benefits which I derivedpersonally from that interest, are reasons why I am desirous ofprefixing your name to a Tale, which, whatever its faults, at least is amore intelligible and exact representation of the thoughts, sentiments,and aspirations, then and there prevailing, than was to be found in theanti-Catholic pamphlets, charges, sermons, reviews, and story-books ofthe day.
These reasons, too, must be my apology, should I seem to be asking youracceptance of a Volume, which, over and above its intrinsic defects, is,in its very subject and style, hardly commensurate with the theologicalreputation and the ecclesiastical station of the person to whom it ispresented.
I am, my dear Dr. Russell,
Your affectionate friend,
John H. Newman.
The Oratory, Feb. 21, 1874.
The following tale is not intended as a work of controversy in behalf ofthe Catholic Religion; but as a description of what is understood byfew, viz. the course of thought and state of mind,—or rather one suchcourse and state,—which issues in conviction of its Divine origin.
Nor is it founded on fact, to use the common phrase. It is not thehistory of any individual mind among the recent converts to the CatholicChurch. The principal characters are imaginary; and the writer wishes todisclaim personal allusion in any. It is with this view that he hasfeigned ecclesiastical bodies and places, to avoid the chance, whichmight otherwise occur, of unintentionally suggesting to the reader realindividuals, who were far from his thoughts.
At the same time, free use has been made of sayings and doings whichwere characteristic of the time and place in which the scene is laid.And, moreover, when, as in a tale, a general truth or fact is exhibitedin individual specimens of it, it is impossible that the idealrepresentation should not more or less coincide, in spite of theauthor's endeavour, or even without his recognition, with its existinginstances or champions.
It must also be added, to prevent a farther misconception, that noproper representative is intended i