The election of a new Chancellor was then, as it generally is, an exciting event for the University men, and every kind of influence was brought to bear upon the success of the respective competitors. In 1671, the Duke of Buckingham entered into a contest with the Earl of Arlington, for the enjoyment of the honour, and obtained the prize; Williamson, the Secretary of State, having without effect canvassed on the opposite side. Leading men apologized to him for not supporting his candidate, of which an instance appears in the following communication:-- [Sidenote: UNIVERSITIES.] “For Joseph Williamson, Esq., Whitehall.--Sir,--My worthy friend,--This morning, about seven, I received the favour of your letter sent me by Dr. Turner, of St. John’s, and Dr. Cudworth our Master received another from you to the same effect. But we were so far engaged before, having been visited (as we call it here, for the Duke of Buckingham) on Sunday or Monday last, and the inclinations of the University lay so against an Oxford man (you know our academical humour) that no good could be done so late for my Lord Arlington, but the Duke was chosen this day with a _nemine contradicente_. You know, dear Sir, my personal obligations to you are such, and peculiarly in my expectancy for the professorship, that you might command not only my own suffrage, but all the friends I could make if it had been in time. “Believe me to be your much obliged and humble Servant, JOHN CARR. “CHRIST’S COLL., CAMBRIDGE, _May 11, 1671_.” There are other letters amongst the _State Papers_ on the same subject, including one from Dr. Cudworth, to Williamson, excusing himself for supporting the Duke instead of the Earl. Charles II. visited Cambridge on the 4th of October in the same year, and the whole body of students wearing academical habits, according to their several degrees, lined the streets as His Majesty visited the various buildings. He was received by the new Chancellor and the other authorities, who presented him with a “fair Bible,” accompanied by a short speech from the public orator. The King visited the University’s libraries and the Colleges of Trinity and St. John, and after dining at Trinity he saw a comedy acted there, with which he expressed himself well pleased.[365] In 1674, the Duke of Monmouth succeeded the Duke of Buckingham in the Chancellorship, and in that year we find the former sending a curious communication to the Eastern University.