ty undertaking that the
Colleges, with the approval of their Visitors, should prepare new
statutes for the assent of the Crown. The change in St. John's was
opposed by some ultra-conservative Fellows, who urged that as they were
bound by oath to observe and uphold the statutes, and to seek no
dispensation from them, they were precluded from asking for any change.
The Bishop of Ely, however, gently put this objection on one side, and
the statutes then prepared were approved by Queen Victoria in 1849. The
more ardent reformers have described this code as merely legalising the
customs and "abuses" which had grown up around the Elizabethan statutes
without introducing any effective change.

On the death of Dr. Tatham (19th January 1857), Dr. William Henry
Bateson was elected Master; he had been Senior Bursar of the College
from 1846, and Public Orator of the University from 1848. Dr. Bateson
was a man of scholarly tastes, but he was above all a practical man of
affairs and of broad views. He served on more than one University
Commission appointed to examine into and report upon the University and
Colleges. The College statutes were twice revised during his mastership;
the first code becoming law in 1860, the second was prepared during his
lifetime, though it did not become law till a year after his death.
These statutes are much less interesting reading than the early
statutes, though undoubtedly more useful. While aiming at precision in
the matter of rights and duties, they leave great freedom in matters of
study, discipline, and administration. All local restrictions on
scholarships and fellowships have been abolished. The government of the
College is entrusted to a Council of twelve, elected by the Fellows,
and presided over by the Master; a simple method has been provided of
altering them if necessary. Independently of the changes thus introduced
the College, on its own initiative, was providing for the newer studies.
In 1853 a chemical laboratory was built, and a lecturer in chemistry
appointed, and other lecturers appointed from time to time as the scope
of University teaching was widened. St. John's at an early date began to
elect men to scholarships and fellowships for Natural Science. In all
this we may trace the influence of Dr. Bateson, one of whose guiding
principles was to widen and increase the teaching power of the College,
and to reward intellectual distinction of any kind. Dr. Bateson died
27th March 1881,