26 NOVEMBER 1904, Page 16

Pro THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] you allow me to

make one brief comment on your extremely interesting review of my " History of the English Church in the Seventeenth Century " in the Spectator of November 19th ? You state that I am " so absorbed in the period, so fascinated by the personalities of Laud and the King, that" I " find it possible to declare that Charles, with all his failings, died for the Church. " This statement of mine causes you to have " serious complaint" against me. May I remind you that Bishop Creighton, whose insight, absence of prejudice, and historic truthfulness no one has praised more warmly than the Spectator, expressed the same opinion in words at least as emphatic as my own ? Charles, I believe, could have saved his life if he had been prepared to consent to the permanent Establishment of Pres- byterianism and to the proscription of the worship of English Churchmen and Roman Catholics. I intended to express this view merely as an historic fact, without being fascinated by the King's personality or Laud's.—I am, Sir, &c., W. H. HUTTON. St. John's College, Oxford.

PLUTOCRATS IN THE AMERICAN SENATE.