But the proprietor* of the paper at that time was a High Churchman, and on ecclesiastical questions he put forward his authority.

Within that sphere he would not tolerate either neutrality or difference of opinion.

To him, and to those who thought like him, Froude's History was anathema.

Their detested Reformation was set upon its legs again; Bishop Fisher was removed from his pedestal; the Church of England, which since Keble's assize sermon had been the Church of the Fathers, was shown to be Protestant in its character and Parliamentary in its constitution.
The Oxford Movement seemed to be discredited, and that by a man who had once been enlisted in its service.

It was necessary that the presumptuous iconoclast should be put down, and taught not to meddle with things which were sacred.
-- * Alexander James Beresford Hope, some time member for the University of Cambridge.
-- From the first The Saturday Review was hostile, but it was not till 1864 that the campaign became systematic.