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'There exists no foundation on which a communication to Scholefield [James Scholefield] would properly be made about his resignation. It is by no means clear Tate [Alexander Tate] has had any communication with him and the letter sent to me looks a little like a meddling volunteer feeler of Mr Tate's own. If I had not seen a much wider field of discussion on such subjects looming in the distance I should have taken no notice of it' [see RJ to WW, 24 Nov. 1852]. In politics RJ considers 'the Whigs crushed but they have still faith in their strategy'. The cabinet of Lord Derby's is 'shaken to pieces and recomposed with Peelites and Palmerstonians will probably be the next move and a really able liberal conservative administration might have a long and prosperous reign'.

One of the first letters RJ has had in his new position on the Cathedral Commission is from a Trinity man - Mr Alexander Tate (for four years Curate to Scholefield [James Scholefield]) - 'who writes to say he will probably be obliged to resign his professorship and that it will [be] disastrous to him if he forfeits his stall and he suggests that the stalls at Ely should be made a sort of half pay or retiring pension to Cambridge Professors tenable after the resignation of their chair'. The letter is to be discussed at the Commission: 'It seems a silly letter of no great moment but if more stalls are to be attached to Professorships or duties to be assigned to all stalls the cases Mr Tate's letter points out will require very serious consideration and form one of the difficulties I see ahead[.] Pray think of it and talk to the Dean of Ely when you see him'.