I wrote that night to those two eminent persons. I received next day from Lord Shaftesbury a telegram (which he must have dispatched instantly on receiving my letter) which answered “Yes.” Next day the post brought from him the letter which I shall here print. The next post brought also the letter from Archbishop Thomson. Thus the Society consisted for two days of Lord Shaftesbury, the Archbishop, Dr. Hoggan and myself!
“Lord Shaftesbury to Miss F. P. C.
“St. Giles’s House, Cranbourne, Salisbury,
“November 17th, 1875.
“Dear Miss Cobbe,
“It is needful I am sure, to found a Society, in order to have unity and persistency of action.
“I judge, by the terms of the circular, that the object of the Society will be restriction and not prohibition.
“Possibly, this end is as much as you will be able to attain. Prohibition, I doubt not, would be evaded; but restriction will, I am certain, be exceeded.
“Not but that a little is better than nothing.
“But you will find many who will think with much show of reason, that, by surrendering the principle, you have surrendered the great argument.