BC RF/103/1/17: Letter [from the College], [1855?]

BC RF/103/1/17: Letter [from the College], [1855?]

Letter [from the College] recommending that EJR state in full the title of Mr Tayler's lectures on Elementary principles of Morals as applied to the Duties & Pursuits of Women [ Rev. John James Tayler, Professor of Moral Philosophy 1854-5?], and that she should not circulate the syllabus in case people who do not attend the lectures will think Unitarianism is being taught at the College - 'you are in danger of sacrificing the rights of women to the rights of conscience'.

Transcription by Julia Rendall


Friday morning.

My dear Mrs Reid

I wish that when you brought forward the subject of Mr. Taylor’s lectures you had stated their titles in full; viz Elementary principles of morals, as “applied to the Duties and Pursuits of Women”. Pray do not omit this tomorrow. I believe that their bearing on our subject gives them a peculiar value to you, and if it were Known it would show why you are especially anxious for their delivery, and it would place [page 2] the lectures in a less obnoxious point of view in the eyes of those that differ. [crossed out - On this [?]] I strongly object to the circulation of the Syllabus / of which you gave me a copy and I have been looking it over again / - The detailed accounts of the two 1st lectures. Those who hear Mr. Taylor will not object to a word he says, I fully believe, because all good people agree about the “religion” he means; but this paper will go into the hands of numbers of persons, who will not hear the lecturer , and [^ it] will strengthen the notion that Unitarianism is being taught here, because unhappily with the vast [page 3] majority in the world “religion” means theological dogma. On this account I earnestly beg you not to circulate the Syllabus, let people find out what Mr. T means from himself; they will have no difficulty ! - the Syllabus may besides give umbrage to the other professors as giving to Mr. Taylor so much more importance than to themselves. You might also have explained at the Council for the benefits of new comers that there are occasional lectures while the chair is vacant & not to become annual

Now, I know, my dear friend, you will be vexed at me & say I am cowardly . I assure you I am not ,it is easy for me to be liberal, being free & independent of all the world, but I confess I feel [page 4] some qualms of conscience at being liberal at the expense of others; namely the hardworking professors & [crossed out - the] poor helpless girls; all these will suffer by the College being thrown back as it assuredly will for some time . For the sake of these I entrust you to soften the blow as much as you can.

You ( and I too) have two great objects at heart , to assert the rights of conscience and the rights of women, excuse my saying that you are in danger of sacrificing the last to the first; pray do not go too far in that direction.

I have not spoken to anyone about this matter since the Council. I have been at College every day & am now writing there . Believe me, dear Mrs Reid
Your sincerely attached friend

E A Bostock

Elizabeth Anne [Eliza] Bostock

The Elizabeth Jesser Reid Papers are part of the Bedford College archive held at Royal Holloway, University of London Archives

Royal Holloway, University of London

[1855?]

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1 letter

English

BC RF/103/1/17