April 20th 1868
Dear Sir,
Your paper on Prophecy and History[3] has been referred to me as joint-Editor (with Dean Alford[4]) of The Contemporary Review. Fully appreciating the ability and depth of the paper I yet regret to say that I do not think it suitable for our pages.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
E.H. Plumtre[5]
I return the MS by book post.
Rev. W.R. Smith[6]
[1] CUL ADD 7449 D565 MS
[2] This letter is included to mark the first rejection received by WRS in his endeavours to have his work published.
[3] “Prophecy and History” was the title used by Smith for the essay originally written for A. B. Davidson and subsequently presented by him at the New College Theological Society on January 24, 1868. In L&E, Black and Chrystal substituted the title “Prophecy and Personality” for the published fragment.
[4] Alford, Henry (1810–1871): was created Dean of Canterbury in 1857. Described in DNB as “one of the most variously accomplished churchmen of his day — poet, preacher, painter, musician, biblical scholar, critic and philosopher”, he founded the Contemporary Review, editing it from 1866–70.
[5] Plumtre, Edward Hayes (1821–1891): was professor of Pastoral Theology and later of Exegesis at King’s College, London, becoming Dean of Wells in 1881 and serving, along with WRS, on the OT Revision committee from 1879 to 1884.
[6] Since WRS was not ordained until 1870, he was not strictly entitled to the honorific “Reverend” at this time.