P.R.B., and devoted them to the infernal gods--the attack on Millais has been most virulent and audacious; in none more than in _A Glance at the Exhibition_, published by Cundall, and bearing manifold traces of a German source[232]. Indeed, the P.R.B. has unquestionably been one of the topics of the season. The “notoriety” of Millais’s picture may be evidenced by the fact, received from undoubted authority, of the Queen’s having sent to have it brought to her from the walls of the R.A., which her recent accouchement had prevented her from visiting.--Hunt’s picture, Gabriel’s, and Collinson’s, remain unsold. Not long after the opening of the Exhibitions the Brotherhood had the misfortune to lose one of its members--Collinson, who announced his resolution thus, in a letter addressed to Gabriel:--“Whit Monday.--Dear Gabriel, I feel that, as a sincere Catholic, I can no longer allow myself to be called a P.R.B. in the brotherhood sense of the term, or to be connected in any way with the magazine. Perhaps this determination to withdraw myself from the Brotherhood is altogether a matter of feeling. I am uneasy about it. I love and reverence God’s faith, and I love His holy Saints; and I cannot bear any longer the self-accusation that, to gratify a little vanity, I am helping to dishonour them, and lower their merits, if not absolutely to bring their sanctity into ridicule. I cannot blame any one but myself. Whatever may be my thoughts with regard to their works, I am sure that all the P.R.B.’s have both written and painted conscientiously; it was for me to have judged beforehand whether I could conscientiously, as a Catholic, assist in spreading the artistic opinions of those who are not. I reverence--indeed almost idolize--what I have seen of the Pre-Raphael painters; [and this] chiefly because [they fill][233] my heart and mind with that divine faith which could alone animate them to give up their intellect and time and labour so as they did, and all for His glory who, they could never forget, was the Eternal, although he had once humbled Himself to the form of man, that man might be clothed with and know and love His divinity. I have been influenced by no one in this matter; and indeed it is not from any angry or jealous feeling that I wish to be no longer a P.R.B., and I trust you will ... [something torn off], but believe me affectionately yours, James Collinson. P.S.--Please do not attempt to change my mind.” * * * * * 24th October.--Another long gap in this Journal, even after having made a beginning with the resumption of it. Let me record no more intentions or promises, but set to work at its continuation once more, being as brief as possible regarding the interval.