Richard Croftes

William Croftes was willing to pay for a seat but, found Newcastle's suggestion of Sudbury unattractive because "it would be expensive and the success doubtful".

The Bishop of Lincoln wrote to Lord Hardwicke on 5 February 1771 "sending down so young a man, and so little known, has given much offence".

Richard Watson, regius professor of divinity, wrote to Grafton that the university was dissatisfied with Croftes.

"We have no particular objections to him as a private man; nay we believe him equal to transacting the business of Downton, but we by no means think him of consequence enough in life to be the representative, or of ability sufficient to support the interest, of the University of Cambridge".

Nevertheless, in January 1771 Croftes vacated his seat at Downton to stand for the University in a by-election on 4 February 1771.