Letter from Edward A. Freeman, Oxford, England, to Arthur Charles Hervey, 1885 December 27 : autograph manuscript signed.

Writing that he hardly knows how to respond to a circular sent to him by Hervey, and going on to explain that he cannot attend a meeting at Highbridge on January 7th; going on to state that "As to joining the League, I should like to know first what happens at the Highbridge meeting", and that he is "certainly not for disestablishment; neither is either of the candidates whom I did my best for at the late election, But I cannot go with a great deal that was said on the other side at the election.", as much of it seemed to "drive the whole Liberal party into acceptance of Disestablishment, for which many Librarals have not the least wish."; concluding that he had better keep out of the controversy, and pointing out that his "little tract was meant to be perfectly colorless, a mere statement of facts", but that he sees that it has pleased one side more than the other, which he regards as an "argument for the side which is pleased by the facts."