Gladstone's nominee Freeman, had been a Home Ruler, Froude was a Unionist; what could be clearer than the motive?
But both nominations could be defended on their own merits, and a Regius Professorship should not be the monopoly of a clique.
Lord Salisbury's choice of Froude was indeed, like Lord Rosebery's subsequent choice of Lord Acton for Cambridge, an example which justified the patronage of the Crown.

A Prime Minister has more courage than an academic board, and is guided by larger considerations.

Froude was one of the most distinguished living Oxonians, and yet Oxford had not even given him an honorary degree.
Membership the Scottish Universities Commission in 1876 was the only official acknowledgment of his services to culture that he had ever received, and that was more of an obligation than a compliment.
"Froude," said Jowett, "is a man of genius.

He has been abominably treated." Lord Salisbury had made amends.

Himself a man of the highest intellectual distinction, apart from the offices he happened to hold, he had promoted Froude to great honour in the place he loved best, and the most eminent of living English historians returned to Oxford in the character which was his due.
The new Professor gave up his house in London, and settled at Cherwell Edge, near the famous bathing-place called Parson' s Pleasure.* He found the University a totally different place from what it was when he first knew it.