Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Chapter I THE FOUNDATION OF DOWNING COLLEGE
- Chapter II A COLLEGE ELECTION
- Chapter III UNDERGRADUATES IN BONDS
- Chapter IV THE ATTACK ON HEADS OF HOUSES
- Chapter V CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH
- Chapter VI THE RELIGIOUS TESTS
- Chapter VII CHANCELLORS AND HIGH STEWARDS
- Chapter VIII TOWN AND GOWN
- Chapter IX TROUBLE AT THE FITZ WILLIAM
- Chapter X INTERNAL REFORM
- Chapter XI THE ROYAL COMMISSION
- Chapter XII BETWEEN THE TWO COMMISSIONS
- Chapter XIII STATUTE XLI AND THE THREE REGIUS PROFESSORSHIPS
- Chapter XIV THE STATUTORY COMMISSION AND THE UNIVERSITY
- Chapter XV THE STATUTORY COMMISSIONERS AND TRINITY COLLEGE
- Chapter XVI CAMBRIDGE AS IT WAS
- Appendices
- Index
Chapter XI - THE ROYAL COMMISSION
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Chapter I THE FOUNDATION OF DOWNING COLLEGE
- Chapter II A COLLEGE ELECTION
- Chapter III UNDERGRADUATES IN BONDS
- Chapter IV THE ATTACK ON HEADS OF HOUSES
- Chapter V CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH
- Chapter VI THE RELIGIOUS TESTS
- Chapter VII CHANCELLORS AND HIGH STEWARDS
- Chapter VIII TOWN AND GOWN
- Chapter IX TROUBLE AT THE FITZ WILLIAM
- Chapter X INTERNAL REFORM
- Chapter XI THE ROYAL COMMISSION
- Chapter XII BETWEEN THE TWO COMMISSIONS
- Chapter XIII STATUTE XLI AND THE THREE REGIUS PROFESSORSHIPS
- Chapter XIV THE STATUTORY COMMISSION AND THE UNIVERSITY
- Chapter XV THE STATUTORY COMMISSIONERS AND TRINITY COLLEGE
- Chapter XVI CAMBRIDGE AS IT WAS
- Appendices
- Index
Summary
In November 1849 Professor Corrie, having been for many years a Fellow and Tutor of St Catharine's, was promoted by his friend and former colleague, Dr Turton, Bishop of Ely, to the Mastership of Jesus; and twelve months later, in accordance with the established system of rotation, he succeeded Dr Cartmell as Vice-Chancellor. It was unfortunate that he entered upon this office when the Royal Commissioners were beginning their labours, as he was an extreme Tory in academic and national politics, and the last ditch was his spiritual home.
“He is”, wrote Adam Sedgwick, “a thoroughly conscientious man and book-learned in his own way; and I am told that he is both respected and loved by the circle of his personal friends. But he is physically reserved, timid and shy, bearing this character in his person and manner. Over and above, he is on many points singularly narrow-minded, and on all points he is, I believe, as obstinate as a mule; so that no power on earth would turn him when he thinks himself right, and, like other honest men of narrow views, he, perhaps, never believes himself to be in the wrong.”
No one, indeed, could have been less fitted to cope with the crisis confronting him, particularly as he was strongly prejudiced against the Chancellor. He never sought his advice, rarely communicated with him, and even went so far as to announce his intention of declining his hospitality.
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- Information
- Early Victorian Cambridge , pp. 234 - 269Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1940