alted martyrs; the most celebrated divines, philofophers, orators, and poets; with all that can charm the ear, enlighten the understanding, or improve the mind. It has attained its dignified station by progreffive genius and virtue, encouraged by the munificence of the opulent and great.-These lines of Thomson appear too applicable to be omitted:

What public works appear'd, what arts arose!

What various science shone, what genius glow'd!

With the fincerest wishes for the welfare and profperity of ALMA MATER, we leave her facred shades: and may the dignity fhe has attained, be preferved by learning and virtue, fhining forth the glory and the boast of Great Britain! Farewell ennobled blest retreat! we leave you, with the following appropriate lines:

Ye floods! descend! ye winds! confirming, blow!.
Nor outward tempeft, nor corrofive time,
Nought but the felon undermining hand
Of dark corruption, can its frame dissolve,
And lay the toil of ages in the dust.

THOMSON.

THE

TOWN OF CAMBRIDGE:

CAMBRIDGE derives its name from the river Cam, br

Grant, (for in history it is called both Cambridge and Grantbridge) and the bridge over it. It is fituated in 52. 13. degrees north latitude, and 52 miles north of London. Its antiquity (as obferved in the Origin of the University) has been a theme fruitful of difputation.

That Cambridge was a British settlement is extremely probable; and the high artificial hill within the bounds of the intrenchments, near the castle, is by many perfons supposed to be a fpecimen of British labor. But however this may be, that it was a Roman station feems certain. "The fite of the Roman Granta," fays Stukely, " is very traceable on the fide of Cambridge towards the castle, on the north west fide of the river, of an irregular figure, containing thirty acres, furrounded by a deep ditch, great part of which yet remains on the fouth west, and in the grounds behind Magdalen College." The ditch is at this time nearly filled up, but the banks may in feveral places be difcovered. The Roman agger in the garden of Magdalen College is in very excellent prefer vation, and has been converted into a fine terrace for the ex

ercife of the Fellows. Within the works, which include the north-west end of the town, are the remains of three confiderable bastions, raised by order of Cromwell: the gate-way of the Castle, now ufed as the county prison, and the churches of St. Giles and St. Peter. The latter was repaired fome years fince, and feveral Roman bricks were found in the decayed walls. Various fragments of urns, many Roman coins, and other relics have been discovered, at different times, in digging.

There is however no doubt that Cambridge was anciently a large and populous city; and once extended from the castle of Grantchefler (now a fmall village two miles fouth-west of the town) to the castle of Chesterton, three miles in length, along the western bank of the Cam. This city was divided into four parts, by two streets croffing each other at right angles. The principal street ran in the fame direction as thofe of mo dern Cambridge, the road being continued from the foot of Gogmagog-Hills, paffed the Cam by a ford (now the Greate bridge,) and continued in a straight line to Godmanchester; the road which crossed it paffed through the city from S. W. to N. E. towards Ely. These coincidences are too evident to need other proof of this town being the Roman Granta.

In the year 1010, this town was plundered and destroyed with fire, by the Danes, but had in fome degree recovered its fplendor at the period of the furvey, in the reign of William I. It then contained 375 houses; 27 of which were fhortly after removed, to make room for the castle erected by the Conqueror.

In the reign of William Rufus, the town and county of Cambridge were ravaged with fire and fword, by Roger de Montgomery; in revenge for an affront given him by the King. In the year 1174, the town was confumed by fire; most of the churches, as well as the houfes, were then of wood, and

were partly burnt: Trinity Church was entirely destroyed. The town alfo fuffered frequent plunder; by which means, the profperity of the University was at times depreffed, and again revived; till, at length, the acceffion of Elizabeth restored permanent peace to the Univerfity, which the honored with a vifit. In the year 1281, a ferious difpute arofe between the townfmen and the University. The townfpeople affembled at their Hall; and, having chofen John Grantceter as their leader, they committed the most flagrant acts of violence; carrying away the charters and other papers of the University : they proceeded to the house of the Chancellor. and obliged him to renounce, under pain of death, all the privileges that had ever been granted them. After this, they broke open the Univerfity chest in St. Mary's Church, and, taking out all the records, burnt them, with the other papers, in the marketplace. Many other acts of violence accompanied these proceedings; and the mifguided crowd, to enfure their own fafety, forced the officers of the University to fign a bond, which vested its entire future government in the burgefses of the town; and contained an acquittance from all actions which might be brought against them, on account of the present tumults. Soon afterwards this ufurped power was wrested from their hands by Henry Spencer, Bishop of Norwich, who entered with fome Soldiers. Several of the principal leaders were imprisoned during life; the Mayor was deprived of his office; and the liberties of the town were declared forfeited, and bestowed on the Vice-Chancellor; in whom they remained till the reign of Henry VIII. when the Corporation was restored; but feveral of its former privileges have been retained by the Univerfity.

In 1630, this town was infected by a dreadful plague, which occafioned the business of the Univerfity to be fufpended; all the students having liberty to retire to their respective homes. The number of perfons who fell victims to its ravages, amoun

ted to between 3 and 4 hundred. During the continuance of the malady, the affizes were removed to Royston.

MODERN CAMBRIDGE is fituated nearly on a level its extent is about one mile north and fouth, and half a mile west and east, in the broadest part; being nearly in an oval form, diminishing at each extremity. It is divided by the river into two parts, though far the greater part of the town is on the fouth of the river. The entrance from London is by Trumpington-street,the north end of which is called St. John's-lane, where it joins Bridge-street; this street extends, in nearly a straight line, the whole length of the town, croffing the river by a ftone-bridge of one arch, the fouth-east end being denominated St. Andrew's-ftreet. (See the plan at the beginning of the Guide.

The general appearance of the town of Cambridge (independent of the Univerfity) is by no means fo good as might be expected. The ftreets are narrow and winding, and the houfes (with the exception of those in the market place, and the streets contiguous) are, in general, ancient, ill-built, and crowded closely together. The town was firft paved in the reign of Henry VIII, who caused it to be enacted by Parlia ment, that all perfons who had any houses, lands, &c, in Cambridge, bordering on the high ways, fhould pave them to the middle of the faid ways, "in length as their grounds do extend," and alfo keep them in repair, under the penalty of Sixpence for every fquare yard. This regulation being but little obferved after the lapfe of two centuries, a new act was paffed, in the year 1787, for the better paving, cleansing, and lighting the town, and widening the ftreets, lanes, &c." Many improvements, in each of thefe refpects, have fince been effected; and the town may at least boaft of neatness, and convenience, if not of elegance: and the latter is exhibited in a high degree in the appearance of the University; which makes, as it were, a part of the town, and amply compenfates for any defects fhewn therein.

A