Note 350 — MISCELLANEOUS RECOLLECTIONS A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER BEGUN IN 1826

I do not insert it, for in all probability it has been or will be printed elsewhere.—V.H.

[Porson, who had been elected a fellow of Trinity, was obliged by the statutes to resign his fellowship within seven years unless he had taken orders. This he was unwilling to do, and when he applied to Dr. Postlethwaite, the Master of Trinity, for one of the lay fellowships which would enable him to remain a fellow, his request was refused. On the Greek Professorship becoming vacant in 1792, Dr. Postlethwaite wrote urging Porson to become a candidate. The latter, thinking he would be obliged to sign the Thirty-nine Articles, at first refused, but on finding out his mistake, came forward, and was unanimously elected. One of the passages in the letter referred to by Lord Holland is: “The same reason which hindered me from keeping my fellowship by the method you obligingly pointed out, would, I am afraid, prevent me from being Greek Professor.”]