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IN THE Bunting papers at the University of Chicago Library there are four teen unpublished letters of Matthew Arnold to Percy William Bunting (1836-1911), who was editor of the Contemporary Review from 1882 until his death. Bunting conducted the Review on liberal lines and "encouraged all writers, whether or no of established fame, who could adequately present salient phases of contemporary theology, science, art, literature and politics. He maintained in the 'Review' a moderately advanced religious tone and gave topics of social reform a prominent place in its pages." (DNB, Second Supplement, January 1901-December 1911, I, 257.)
Arnold's letters to Bunting are more important collectively than individually. They are primarily the story of the publication of his article "A Comment on Christmas," which appeared in the Review in April, 1885 (XLVII, 457-472). At the same time they add substantially to our understanding of Arnold as a contributor to the leading journals of his day and to the effect that he wished to make upon his public.
In Arnold's published letters there is no mention of Bunting or of the Contemporary Review while Bunting was its editor. In his Note-Books, however, Arnold did enter two quotations from an article entitled "Goethe," by J. R. Seeley, which had appeared in the Contemporary Review in November, 1884, (XLVI, 653-672). (See The Note-Books of Matthew Arnold, ed. H. F. Lowry, K. Young, and W. H. Dunn [1952], pp. 409-410, 523.)
For permission to publish the letters, I am indebted to Mr. Arnold Whitridge, Arnold's grandson, and to the University of Chicago Library, especially to Mr. Robert Rosenthal, Curator of Special Collections.
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