A letter to the press, shortly before the election, stated that the writer could not understand how any man of honour and intelligence, knowing all the facts, could possibly stand in opposition to Bute. His comment on this letter was as follows:
I cannot for a single moment believe that Lord Peel knows the facts, or that he in the least realises the fearfully burdensome nature of the duties. His only alternative, if elected, would be either to take that yoke upon him, or to neglect the duty of doing so. The writers of some things that have appeared in the papers seem to be under the impression that the Lord Rector's sole duty is to deliver a literary address!
I enclose a letter received a few months ago: you may show it to any one you please. It may be good for some people at this juncture to know what the great Presbyterian Duke thinks.
The last sentence, of course, refers to the Duke of Argyll, Chancellor of St. Andrews University since 1851, whose eminent abilities and distinguished personal character placed him at that time in the very forefront of the Scottish nobility. The Duke had written:
Inveraray,
March 7, 1895.
I wish I could accept your invitation, but in my present state of health, barely recovered from a sharp attack of this insidious epidemic, it is impossible. You have always made Falkland very pleasant to me, and I enjoy seeing the great public spirit with which you discharge all your duties. I hope I need not assure you of the indignation with which I have seen the attempt to arouse a sectarian spirit against you,[[8]] whose whole course of conduct has been so signally liberal, in the best sense of that much-abused word.
On learning the result of the election, in which Bute defeated his opponent by a majority of forty votes, the Duke at once wrote:
Inveraray,
November 28, 1895.
The telegram this afternoon was very acceptable. I am glad that the University has not disgraced itself by electing any one else than you at this juncture. As to Lord Peel himself, I suspect that he now feels very much relieved.