ABSTRACT
FiveyearsbeforehisappointmentasDeanofChristChurch,Liddellhad servedonthefirstOxfordUniversityCommission,themembershipof whichincludedArchibaldTait,thenDeanofCarlisle.Thesecretarywas ArthurStanley,biographerofThomasArnoldandlaterlong-serving (1864-81)DeanofWestminster,withwhomLiddellformedaclose friendshipthat'ripenedintothatcloseandaffectionateintimacywhich closedonlywithStanley'sdeath'(Thompson,1899,p.125).Thuswell beforehetookuphispostatChristChurchLiddellwasunquestionably identifiedasareformer,whichmayhaveaccountedforLewisCarroll's diaryentryfor7July1855:'TheTimesannouncesthatLiddellof WestminsteristobethenewDean:theselectiondoesnotseemtohave givenmuchsatisfactioninthecollege.'Pusey,whoinDecember1852had nominatedCarrollforhisstudentship(fellowship),wasevenless enthusiastic:'Nownothingbutwhatisevilisthreatenedashis[the deceaseddeanThomasGaisford]successor'(inBillandMason,1970,p. 38).
