Item 69 - Letter from Richard Sheepshanks

4 pp.

RS was unable to persuade Lens to stand as a candidate for the Cambridge election: 'what is the least of the evils presented to us. I cant help thinking Robert Grant after all. He has taken his regular degrees (which I think is a considerable point for it is high time to undeceive the young sprigs of nobility and to alter that system) he was highly distinguished amongst us, he was a fellow of a college and is I fancy a man of highly respectable character'. Besides which they can always change him when someone better comes along: 'the high church men sooner than have a saint would join us to throw him out and bring in a Xman of looser religious and (in our way of thinking) stricter political principles. The game is I fear too fine but I think something may be made of it. Scarlett will not do for a constancy and yet it would [be] awkward bringing another candidate forwards if he were once in. Now there can be little doubt that we could bring Grant in and there would be no delicacy about kicking him out again'. Edward Troughton has begun work on the 'our circle and will soon draw upon us for some money' [Cambridge Observatory].