338 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MORGAN. 



1866. The report of the Senate, after enumerating Mr. 



Martineau's qualifications for the appointment, as shown 

 by his writings, by his examination papers, and by the 

 testimony of his pupils, concludes with the words, 'All 

 these considerations evidently lead to the conclusion that 

 Mr. Martineau is the most eligible candidate. He appears 

 to be at least equal to the other candidates in ability and 

 learning, while he is superior to them both in reputation, and 

 in experience and success as a teache'r. 9 The question was, 

 however, raised at this early stage, whether Mr. Martin eau's 

 position as a Unitarian minister would be injurious to the 

 class ; and of this doubt the Council, some of the influential 

 members of which were bent on appointing a Professor far 

 lower in the scale of orthodox belief than Mr. Martineau, 

 availed themselves. They postponed the appointment for 

 a time, and the Senate was called upon to make a second 

 report in consequence of new candidates having come into 

 the field, and some of the old candidates having sent in 

 additional testimonials. Their report of the second of the 

 candidates was given in these words : * Upon the strength 

 of this singularly strong testimony we have no hesitation in 

 concluding that Mr. Groom Robertson is exceedingly well 

 qualified to fill the vacant chair ; and that of the candidates 

 whose claims we have examined up to this point, he is the 

 ablest, and, as far as we can judge, the most learned, and 

 the most likely to rise to eminence, and to raise the repu- 

 tation of the College. But there yet remains upon the list 

 the name of Mr. James Martineau. As the Senate has 

 already recommended the appointment of Mr. Martineau, 

 and the Council has declined to appoint him, the Senate 

 does not think it necessary to present a second report con- 

 cerning him.' 



In the hope and belief that the position of affairs was 

 not yet past remedy, fourteen Fellows of the College, 

 including some of its most distinguished alumni, sent a 



' chivalrous advocacy of his friend's cause.' This conveyed an inexact 

 idea of the facts. 



