Item 174 - Richard Jones to William Whewell

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'.