 In the late 1890s Hirst decided to persuade his Oxford friends to write a volume of essays on Liberalism with him.The group wanted the preface to be written by a prominent Liberal, other than Lord Rosebery or Sir William Harcourt as these were the leaders of opposing factions.Their first preference was for John Morley but he declined on the grounds that he would be attacked for opinions expressed in the book which he did not hold.