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 curacy being that of Windrush-cum-Sherborne, within driving distance of Bisley and Fairford in Gloucestershire. There he abode for two years intent on the study of Hebrew and the writing of English poetry.

On 30 May 1831 Williams obtained a fellowship at Trinity College, took priest's orders, and went into residence as tutor in 1832. He was made dean of the college in 1833, and philosophy lecturer in 1832. From 1834 to 1840 he was rhetoric lecturer, and vice-president in 1841 and 1842, when he ceased to be tutor and left Oxford. William John Copeland [q. v.] came to dwell there in 1832, and the two tutors became the closest of allies. They were soon reckoned among the leading tractarians at Oxford, and through their influence the churchmanship of the college became of a ‘much more Anglican type.’ Roundell Palmer won an open scholarship at the college in 1830, and descriptions of the scholars and tutors from that year to 1843 are given by him (Memorials, i. 114) and by Prebendary Frederick Meyrick (‘Narrative’ in Memorials of W. B. Marriott). In Williams, says Palmer, there was a deficiency of the strong and manly qualities requisite for a tutor, but he possessed many acquirements and an intense vein of morality. His ‘shy but warm temperament’ was allied with ‘great modesty and humility.’ The collge historian styles him as a tutor ‘too good for this world. His rule was too strict and his standard too high to work with’ (, Trinity College, Oxford, p. 221). This was true of the mass of the undergraduates at Trinity during these years; but the college undoubtedly numbered a distinguished roll of scholars who were much benefited by his training and example.

Soon after his settlement at Trinity College Williams became curate to John Henry Newman at St. Mary's, Oxford, and at a later date he was in charge of the church at Littlemore. About 1833 he began together with Froude and Keble, who were afterwards joined by Newman, to send verses to the ‘British Magazine.’ These were published in a collected form under the title of ‘Lyra Apostolica’ at Derby in 1836, and passed through numerous editions, the poems of Williams being distinguished by the Greek letter z. His contributions to the magazine included, from 1833 to 1837, translations from the Parisian breviary, which had great influence over many writers of hymns, especially Chandler and Neale. About this time he wrote some reviews for the ‘British Critic.’

Williams was the author, in the ‘Tracts for the Times,’ of the celebrated tract No. 80, on ‘Reserve in communicating Religious Knowledge,’ which excited, through the title rather than through the substance of the tract, so much irritation and alarm. He was the simplest of men, ‘retiring and modest even to a fault,’ and never anticipated the widespread terror caused by the word ‘reserve’ (, Reminiscences, i. 430–8). Tracts numbered 86, on the ‘Prayer Book,’ and 87, in explanation of that on reserve, were also by him. These papers on ‘Reserve’ drew forth much censure from the pulpit and the press, but his sole reply to hostile criticism was in ‘A Few Remarks on the Charge’ of Bishop Monk, whose conduct in condemning the tract without adequate examination of its arguments had raised in the minds of Williams and his friends considerable indignation.

This intimate association with the tractarians brought forth fruit in the election for the professorship of poetry at Oxford in 1841–2. Keble was retiring from the post, and Williams, already recognised as a genuine poet, was generally considered his successor. James Garbett [q. v.], a man of distinction at the university but a student guiltless of poetry, was nominated in opposition. Preparations for a fight were made, Roundell Palmer becoming secretary to the London committee for Williams, and having a controversy in the ‘Times’ with Lord Ashley (afterwards Lord Shaftesbury) over the contest (, Memorials, i. 339–45). The prospects of Williams seemed bright when Pusey provoked greater opposition from the evangelical party by an injudicious circular complaining of his friend being opposed for his church principles. Bagot, the bishop of Oxford, and Gladstone were for the retirement of both candidates; Newman, though ‘always against the standing’ of Williams, thought that he ought not to give it up lightly. Williams decided to withdraw, but meantime an agreement was made for an informal comparison of votes, when it appeared that Garbett had 921 and Williams 623 supporters. This was the first defeat of the tractarians as a party (, Oxford Movement, pp. 271–6;, Letters, ii. 354–84). Williams, much wounded in spirit by the defection of some of his friends, withdrew from Oxford and from public life. From the Michaelmas term of 1842 he was succeeded at Trinity College as classical tutor by Arthur West Haddan [q. v.] Newman in 1840 had dedicated to Williams the ‘Church of the Fathers.’

Williams married at Bisley, on 22 June 1842, Caroline, third daughter of the late