REASONS FOR PUBLICATION. 255 



necessary in order that justice may be done to his 

 memory. 



III. It is widely known that such a letter was 

 written, printed, and sent ; and were it either withheld, 

 or tampered with in any way, this biography would not 

 secure or deserve the confidence of the public. 



IV. Several copies of the letter are certainly known 

 to be in existence, besides those possessed by Mr Miller's 

 family. Its publication, sooner or later, therefore, may 

 be considered as certain ; and it seems best that it should 

 be published by those who are specially bound to guard 

 the good name of Hugh Miller. 



V. As rumour magnifies all things, the fact that an 

 important document written by Mr Miller against Dr 

 Candlish was withheld in this biography would lead 

 suspicious and scandal-mongering persons to suggest that 

 the disagreement between the two men was of some 

 specially dark and terrible character. It is, therefore, 

 best that the simple truth should be stated. 



The copy of the letter from which it is now printed 

 is that which was sent by Hugh Miller to Dr Chalmers. 

 Many of its paragraphs have vehemently assenting pencil 

 marks on the margin, and Chalmers adds one very brief 

 but characteristic note, which will be found in its place. 

 The ' send back the money business/ alluded to by 

 Miller, was the noise raised by sundry enemies of the 

 Free Church because, when the Churches of the Southern 

 States of America sent her a civil greeting and a con- 

 tribution of money, she did not requite the former with 

 a snarl and throw back the latter in their faces. 



