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his life in Rome； he was out of touch with English traditions；
and his sympathy with Newman and his followers was only too
apparent。 One of his first acts as Archbishop was to appoint the
convert W。 G。 Ward； who was not even in holy orders； to be
Professor of Theology at St。 Edmund's College the chief
seminary for young priests； in which the ancient traditions of
Douay were still flourishing。 Ward was an ardent Papalist and his
appointment indicated clearly enough that in Wiseman's opinion
there was too little of the Italian spirit in the English
community。 The uneasiness of the Old Catholics was becoming
intense； when they were reassured by Wiseman's appointing as his
co…adjutor and successor his intimate friend； Dr。 Errington； who
was created on the occasion Archbishop of Trebizond in partibus
infidelium。 Not only was Dr。 Errington an Old Catholic of the
most rigid type； he was a man of extreme energy； whose influence
was certain to be great； and； in any case； Wiseman was growing
old； so that before very long it seemed inevitable that the
policy of the diocese would be in proper hands。 Such was the
position of affairs when； two years after Errington's
appointment； Manning became head of the Oblates of St。 Charles
and Provost of the Chapter of Westminster。
The Archbishop of Trebizond had been for some time growing more
and more suspicious of Manning's influence； and this sudden
elevation appeared to justify his worst fears。 But his alarm was
turned to fury when he learned that St。 Edmund's College； from
which he had just succeeded in removing the obnoxious W。 G。 Ward；
was to be placed under the control of the Oblates of St。 Charles。
The Oblates did not attempt to conceal the fact that one of their
principal aims was to introduce the customs of a Roman Seminary
into England。 A grim perspective of espionage and tale…bearing；
foreign habits； and Italian devotions opened out before the
dismayed eyes of the Old Catholics； they determined to resist to
the utmost； and it was upon the question of the control of St。
Edmund's that the first battle in the long campaign between
Errington and Manning was fought。
Cardinal Wiseman was now obviously declining towards the grave。 A
man of vast physique'your immense'； an Irish servant used
respectfully to call himof sanguine temperament； of genial
disposition； of versatile capacity； he seemed to have engrafted
upon the robustness of his English nature the facile； child…like；
and expansive qualities of the South。 So far from being a Bishop
Blougram （as the rumour went） he was； in fact； the very
antithesis of that subtle and worldly…wise ecclesiastic。 He had
innocently looked forward all his life to the reunion of England
to the See of Peter； and eventually had come to believe that； in
God's hand； he was the instrument destined to bring about this
miraculous consummation。 Was not the Oxford Movement； with its
flood of converts； a clear sign of the Divine will？ Had he not
himself been the author of that momentous article on St。
Augustine and the Donatists； which had finally convinced Newman
that the Church of England was in schism？ And then； had he not
been able to set afoot a Crusade of Prayer throughout Catholic
Europe for the conversion of England？
He awaited the result with eager expectation； and in the meantime
he set himself to smooth away the hostility of his countrymen by
delivering courses of popular lectures on literature and
archaeology。 He devoted much time and attention to the ceremonial
details of his princely office。 His knowledge of rubric and
ritual； and of the symbolical significations of vestments； has
rarely been equalled； and he took a profound delight in the
ordering and the performance of elaborate processions。 During one
of these functions； an unexpected difficulty arose： the Master of
Ceremonies suddenly gave the word for a halt； and； on being asked
the reason； replied that he had been instructed that moment by
special revelation to stop the procession。 The Cardinal； however；
was not at a loss。 'You may let the procession go on；' he
smilingly replied。 'I have just obtained permission； by special
revelation； to proceed with it。' His leisure hours he spent in
the writing of edifying novels； the composition of acrostics in
Latin Verse； and in playing battledore and shuttlecock with his
little nieces。 There was； indeed； only one point in which he
resembled Bishop Blougramhis love of a good table。 Some of
Newman's disciples were astonished and grieved to find that he
sat down to four courses of fish during Lent。 'I am sorry to
say；' remarked one of them afterwards； 'that there is a lobster
salad side to the Cardinal。'
It was a melancholy fate which ordained that the last years of
this comfortable； easygoing； innocent old man should be
distracted and embittered by the fury of opposing principles and
the venom of personal animosities。 But so it was。 He had fallen
into the hands of one who cared very little for the gentle
pleasures of repose。 Left to himself； Wiseman might have
compromised with the Old Catholics and Dr。 Errington； but when
Manning had once appeared upon the scene； all compromise became
impossible。 The late Archdeacon of Chichester； who had understood
so well and practised with such careful skill the precept of the
golden mean so dear to the heart of the Church of England； now；
as Provost of Westminster； flung himself into the fray with that
unyielding intensity of fervour； that passion for the extreme and
the absolute； which is the very lifeblood of the Church of Rome。
Even the redoubtable Dr。 Errington； short； thickset； determined；
with his ‘hawk…like expression of face'； as a contemporary
described him； 'as he looked at you through his blue spectacles'；
had been known to quail in the presence of his； antagonist； with
his tall and graceful figure； his pale ascetic features； his
compressed and icy lips； his calm and penetrating gaze。 As for
the poor Cardinal； he was helpless indeed。
Henceforward； there was to be no paltering with that dangerous
spirit of independencewas it not almost Gallicanism which
possessed the Old Catholic families of England？ The supremacy of
the Vicar of Christ must be maintained at all hazards。 Compared
with such an object； what were the claims of personal affection
and domestic peace？ The Cardinal pleaded in vain； his lifelong
friendship with Dr。Errington was plucked up by the roots； and the
harmony of his private life was utterly destroyed。 His own
household was turned against him。 His favourite nephew； whom he
had placed among the Oblates under Manning's special care； left
the congregation and openly joined the party of Dr。 Errington。
His secretary followed suit； but saddest of all was the case of
Monsignor Searle。 Monsignor Searle； in the capacity of
confidential man of affairs； had dominated over the Cardinal in
private for years with the autocratic fidelity of a servant who
has grown indispensable。 His devotion； in fact； seemed to have
taken the form of physical imitation； for he was hardly less
gigantic than his master。 The two were inseparable； their huge
figures loomed together like neighbouring mountains； and on one
occasion； meeting them in the street； a gentleman congratulated
Wiseman on 'your Eminence's fine son'。 Yet now even this
companionship was broken up。 The relentless Provost here too
brought a sword。 There were explosions and recriminations。
Monsignor Searle； finding that his power was slipping from him；
made scenes and protests； and at last was foolish enough to
accuse Manning of peculation to his face； after that it was clear
that his day was over； he was forced to slink snarling into the
background； while the Cardinal shuddered through all his
immensity； and wished many times that he were already dead。
Yet； he was not altogether without his consolations； Manning took
care to see to that。 His piercing eye had detected the secret way
into the recesses of the Cardinal's hearthad discerned the core
of simple faith which underlay that jovial manner and that facile
talk。 Others were content to laugh and chatter and transact their
business； Manning was more artistic。 He watched his opportunity；
and then； when the moment came； touched with a deft finger the
chord of the Conversion of England。 There was an immediate
response； and he struck the same chord again； and yet again。 He
became the repository of the Cardinal's most intimate
aspirations。 He alone sympathised and understood。 'If God gives
me strength to undertake a great wrestling…match with
infidelity；' Wiseman wrote； 'I shall owe it to him。'
But what he really found himself undertaking was a wrestling…
match with Dr。 Errington。 The struggle over St。 Edmund's College
grew more and more acute。 There were high words in the Chapter；
where Monsignor Searle led the assault against the Provost； and
carried a resolution declaring that