THE idea of printing and publishing deeds of trust, and deeds of foundation concerning offices held in the University, originated with the Reverend William Webb, D.D., Master of Clare College 1815–1856. When he was Vice-Chancellor for the first time he printed documents relating to three Professorships, viz. the Plumian, the Woodwardian, the Lucasian, and to the Arabic Lectureship or Professorship founded by Sir Thomas Adams. Each of these four offices has a small octavo tract to itself, separately paged, without title-page, and without cover. Dr Webb's intentions are set forth in the following note, which precedes the account of the Plumian Professorship:

Clare Hall Lodge,

April 7, 1818.

Some Members of the Senate having expressed to the Vice-Chancellor their wishes that he would print and circulate in the University the Wills, the Deeds of Foundations, and the Statutes of the respective Professorships, in order that the Professors may know what are required of them and the conditions under which they accept of their said Professorships : he complies with the wishes of these Members, not in the least intending by this compliance to interfere with the present professors of these Professorships, most of whom have been admitted into them in ignorance of the particular regulations by which they were to be governed.