He belonged to the liberal party in the university, led by George Peacock and Adam Sedgwick, Romilly's intimate friend. In 1821 he joined the committee for promoting a subscription in the university to aid the Greeks in their war of independence. He was one of the party who successfully opposed the petition which it was planned should be presented in 1829 against Catholic emancipation. He opposed Christopher Wordsworth, then master of Trinity, on the question of Connop Thirlwall's dismissal in 1834.