By MERIOL TREVOR
The Letters and Diaries of John Henry Newman: Vol. XVIII: New Beginnings in England: -April 1857-Deeemher 1858 edited by C. S. Dessain (Nelson I 26s.) THE latest volume of this magnum opus deals with the time when Newman settled down once more in England, after his decision to resign from the University in Dublin. While the ultramontanes were pushing ahead, the moderate and liberal element had not found a base of operations and Newman hoped to exercise his influence towards building up the minds of Catholics to deal with the problems of their own time.
Many of these letters, more varied than in recent volumes, deal with such problems, including that of the possibility of corporate reunion with Anglicans. He was also corresponding with Acton about the purchase of the Rambler magazine and the controversies concerned with this liberal venture will be dealt with in the next volume.
Fr. Dessain as usual provides notes which are full of information and illumine the context of Newman's always fascinating and vivid letters. Catholic colleges and institutions ought to be collecting this series.