Letter to A. baron Schimmelpenninck van der Oye (1839–1918) occasioned by his debate with the minister of the interior, J. Kappeyne van de Coppello (1822–1895), concerning the latter’s report to the king about the People’s Petition. According to the minister’s report, the People’s Petition was a long-planned political action coordinated by dubious parties. In the ensuing debate, the minister had appealed to a “very good source,” which put Schimmelpenninck van der Oye in the unanticipated position of having to speak up for Elout van Soeterwoude (cf. 1878.09).

Kuyper then felt compelled to disclose the true state of affairs by acknowledging in this letter that he had been the “source.” He notes that he had made his objections to the report known to the minister in September 1878 because he felt that the ministerial report had misinformed the king about the origins of the People’s Petition. He then sheds light on how reprehensibly the minister had handled written information provided by Kuyper about the true purpose and circumstances of the People’s Petition. Kuyper had also written in his letter to the minister that he had initiated the People’s Petition in May 1878 without any prior deliberation.