Others who appeared much less able received fellowships and his friends blamed his lack of success on the unpopularity of Scots at Oxford. Ryan, however, suggests that in fact it may not have been racial discrimination but rather:
Iba na lumitaw marami mas hindi makaka natanggap Fellowships at ang kanyang mga kaibigan blamed kanyang kakulangan ng tagumpay sa unpopularity of Scots sa Oxford. Ryan, gayunpaman, nagpapahiwatig na sa katunayan ito ay maaring hindi pa na-diskriminasyon sa lahi o lipi kundi: