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[Letter of Francis William Newman to Dr. Chapman] 10 Circus Road, NW, Dear Sir, Your letter, owing to my change of residence, was delayed in reaching me. I am still in hustle & difficulty, & cannot get at many of my things,—among others, at the key of my paper-repository. I fear I should write a very poor review, if I read a book (as Mr. Maurice's) solely to review it, when I had little interest in the book for itself—I felt that my last article was the worse for my having undertaken it under your pressure more than at my own impetus; & I am really afraid to say I will undertake to review Maurice, especially when I am aware to what a comparison my article will be exposed. For a long time past I have not read other people's theological works with any such systematic attention as is perhaps requisite for reviewing them well. My heart is in widely other matters just now; & if I decline, it is not because I am indisposed to oblige you, but from a sense of insufficient capacity & proclivity. I have no abstract affection for any Reviews as such; but if I am full of any truth which I wish to utter, I am glad of the opportunity of any which has a large circulation. You do not rightly express the position of my mind towards you in the opening of your note; but I am reluctant to touch on that subject. Be so good as to give the enclosed card to Dr. Bridges, who, I understand, lives in your house— Sincerely yours,
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