The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-10 00:00:00

Turning the Tables , or, the Biter Bit.

Mr. Collette, of 57, Lincoln's-inn-fields, took out
a summons against the printer of the Churchman
newspaper, for an alleged libel contained in a criti-
cism upon a book published by Mr. Collette in refu-
tation of some doctrines of Dr. Newman. The
editor of the journal consented to make an apology
which a referee should prescribe. It was referred,'
and the apology so made was duly published. But
the referee appears to have been somewhat hasty in
his decision, for he subsequently addressed the fol-
lowing letter to the editor of the Churchman, from
which it appears that Mr. Collette had in his book
grievously misrepresented Dr. Newman.
A letter was produced from the referee to the
editor of the Churchman, in Which he says : " Will
you allow me to add a few more words to the deci-
sion come to by me respecting your dispute with Mr.
Collette. I have imputed much blame to him on
account of his having hastily believed charges
against Dr. Newman. While I was engaged in
drawing up my report I pointed out to him that he
ought to have given his authorities, and at the same
time I made eight extracts, and forwarded them to
Dr. Newman, begging him to look at them, and if
it was not troubling him unduly to answer them."
The following was Dr. Newman's reply :—" The
Oratory, Birmingham, July 7,186 G. Dear Sir—
No apology was necessary for your letter, which I
answer without delay. 1. It is false that I was
first of the College of the Propagation of the Faith
at Rome, atd afterwards of Oriel College, Oxford.
2. It is false that I was educated at the College de
Propaganda Fide at Rome, partly at Oxford. I was
educated wholly in England. I first Went to school
when I was seven years old. There I remained,
viz., at Ealing, near Loudon, from May 1803 to
Dec. 1816. In the same Dec., 1816, I was entered
at Trinity College, Oxford. There I took my B.A.
degree, and I remained there in residence till April,
1829 When I was elected Fellow of Oriel. 3. It is
false that I had an interview with Dr. Wiseman in
1832. It is false that in the interview I had with
him in 1833, in company with Mr. Fronde, I was
formally ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic
Church, or ordained at all, or that I was then, in
fact, a member of that communion. 4. It is false
that I was ordained a priest of Rome before I had
publicly renounced the Communion of the Church
of England. 5. It is false that I was ordained a
priest of Rome in Rome after I had publicly re-
nounced the Communionof the Church of England.
1 was ordainedsub-deacon of the Catholic (Roman)
Church in May 26, 1817, by Cardinal Fransoni ;
deacon, May 27, 1847, by the Cardinal Vicar ;
priest, May 30, 1847, by Cardinal Fransoni, I said
my first mass on June 3, 1847. 6. It is false that
I spent the early part of my life in the College of
Propaganda. I never left England in my life till
I was nearly 32, viz., on Dec. 9, 1832. 7. It is
false that the ceremony of my ordination at Rome
was deferred. 8. It is false that I was a priest of
Rome while officiating in the Anglican Church.--
I am, sir, &c., JOHN H. NEWMAN."
If Dr. Newman is right, no criticism upon a book
that contains such grave errors as these could pos-
sibly be libellous, for none could be too severe.
Rather the positions should have been reversed.
Law Times.