“The last time I was within the walls of Trinity College,” wrote Lord Lansdowne to Whewell on 24 November 1856, “after the statue of Lord Bacon had by your liberality and exertion been compleated (sic) and placed in the situation it now fills in the antichapel (sic) where that of Newton had long been seen, I could not help considering whether the history of English literature and philosophy could produce a name representing a genius so exalted as to be worthy of such companionship, and as such fitted to fill the corner which now appears to be left vacant on the opposite side. But one occurred, or would, I think, occur 10 others engaged in the same consideration, with the exception indeed of another which has no academic associations–that of Milton. …