of 1835, the "Tory agents" had notoriously resorted to bribery. The Liberals wanted to bring the offenders into court, but no one would incur the odium of "informing" against them. Under these circumstances Prof. Henslow readily offered himself as the nominal prosecutor. The storm of abuse and persecution that broke upon him for this is still well remembered in Cambridge. His biographer remarks: "Not only was the cry raised of 'Henslow, common informer!' whenever he appeared in the streets, but the same obnoxious words were placarded upon the walls in such large and enduring characters, that, even to this day (1861), more than a quarter of a century after the transaction, they are still distinctly legible in some places. They were seen, and smilingly pointed out to a friend, by the professor himself, within a year of his death, and I have, since his death, seen and read them myself. His services were, however, deeply appreciated at the time, for he received three handsome testimonials: one from the town of Cambridge; another from the town committee for the suppression of corruption; and the third from a committee of noblemen and gentlemen." The rule that Prof. Henslow laid down for the guidance of conduct in such circumstances, and which he rigorously conformed to himself, was expressed in the following noble words: "I would have every Tory consistent, and every Radical consistent, and every Whig consistent, until either of them shall have become convinced that he has been in error, and then I would have him change his politics, regardless of every risk, and despising the shame which the world will heap upon him. But what I would have every man strive to possess is 'moral courage,' sufficient to declare his own opinions unhesitatingly in the face of the world, and adequate to maintain them unflinchingly against all influence whatever."
The position of Prof. Henslow at Cambridge was every thing that would satisfy the usual ambition of a man of science. He was profoundly appreciated in the institution, he was beloved by the students, and he had given a new life to the class of studies to which he was devoted. Yet all this did not satisfy him, and he seized the first opportunity to leave Cambridge, and enter a field of labor of a very different kind, and for which, as the result proved, he was remarkably endowed. As his talents and high character became known, the Government sought his influence for some of the responsible trusts in its gift, and it was in contemplation to offer him the See of Norwich. It is a terrible temptation in England to get the place of bishop, and while many sigh, labor, and intrigue for it, those who decline it when offered are exceedingly few. Prof. Henslow, when he heard of the danger, fled to his chamber, and prayed fervently to be delivered from the temptation. His prayers were answered, and, instead of the bishopric, he received the crown living of the parish of Hitcham, with an income of a thousand pounds a year. The place is in Suffolk, not far from Cambridge, and he entered upon the charge of it in 1837. His
