Note 180 — APPENDIX,
Reading edition
At a time when Doctor Shippen, I mean the astronomical Shippen, was principal of Brazennose College, the musical professor died, and the Doctor offered himself as a candidate for the place. To the science he was a total stranger, but by strength of interest carried the election, though opposed by a gentleman highly eminent for his musical abilities.
In less than twelve moons the professor of astronomy died, and the electors, ashamed of their former conduct, went in a body to the musical gentleman they had before rejected, and offered him the vacant astronomical chair. He was weak enough to refuse; because, forsooth, he did not understand astronomy, and died without place, pension, or university honour.
Even now these things are managed in much the same way. A nobleman who had the privilege of appointing a chorister to Christ Church, Cambridge, sent them one who was not only ignorant of music, but croaked like an old raven, because the fellow had a vote for a Huntingdonshire borough. This gave rise to the following epigram:—
"A singing man, and cannot sing! From whence arose your patron's bounty? Give us a song!—Excuse me, sir, My voice is in another county."