The Savilian Professorship
of Astronomy in the University of Oxford became vacant by the death
of Dr. John Keill. The statutes forbade that the Savilian Professor
should also hold a clerical appointment, and Mr. Pound would
certainly have been elected to the professorship had he consented to
surrender his preferments in the Church. But Pound was unwilling to
sacrifice his clerical position, and though two or three other
candidates appeared in the field, yet the talents of Bradley were so
conspicuous that he was duly elected, his willingness to resign the
clerical profession having been first ascertained.
There can be no doubt that, with such influential friends as Bradley
possessed, he would have made great advances had he adhered to his
profession as a divine. Bishop Hoadly, indeed, with other marks of
favour, had already made the astronomer his chaplain. The engrossing
nature of Bradley's interest in astronomy decided him, however, to
sacrifice all other prospects in comparison with the opening afforded
by the Savilian Professorship. It was not that Bradley found himself
devoid of interest in clerical matters, but he felt that the true
scope for such abilities as he possessed would be better found in the
discharge of the scientific duties of the Oxford chair than in the
spiritual charge of a parish.
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