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Newman instructed that after his death his letters about the Catholic University were ‘not for publication […] because they relate to matters, which cannot be touched upon without getting into controversy’. Publication could be considered ‘only on great provocation and grave reasons of expedience or propriety’. These sensitive papers comprised a ‘Memorandum about my Connection with the Catholic University’ and a lengthy Appendix of correspondence, together with a running commentary by Newman.
When his literary executor, William Neville, had Newman’s other University papers privately printed as My Campaign in Ireland, Part I (now published by Gracewing in a critical edition), he left the remaining more controversial papers in the Birmingham Oratory’s archives as a possible future Part II. But the ‘Memorandum’ was not published until 1956, as part of Autobiographical Writings, and the accompanying Appendix has remained unpublished until now.
My Campaign in Ireland, Part II represents Newman’s verdict on his frustrating years as founding Rector of the University. In describing the causes of his ‘campaign’s’ failure, he is not afraid to criticise those who shared responsibility with him, not least his co-founder Archbishop Cullen and even Pope Pius IX. These candid writings show Newman’s toughness and fairness in his dealings, and how his powers of diplomacy were stretched to the limit.
The editor of this critical edition, Paul Shrimpton, has provided an Introduction and comprehensive footnotes to both the Memorandum and the Appendix, enabling the reader to make sense of the conflicts and viewpoints they describe and providing the historical context. Together with My Campaign, Part I, this volume makes essential reading for understanding what happened when Newman tried make his Idea of a University a reality.
