great antiquity, made no improper part of Blomefield's subject, though it certainly makes no part of minea.

So much for our University writers. I must add, that Mr. Masters, late Fellow of Bene't College, is the only writer who has published any thing like an attempt at a complete history of a private college, of Cambridge. He justly observes, "It must be no small reproach to learned societies to be deficient herein. They cannot be ignorant of their foundations, without being liable to be censured, nor suffer the memories of their benefactors to perish without betraying a want of due respect and gratitude; whilst yet, I fear, too many have been negligent in making this small return for their benevolence."

The severity of these observations should, however, be tempered with the testimony of a well informed inquirer, confirming an observation that I made a few pages back. "Our registers," says he, "are so imperfect, that, as far as I understand such things, it is hardly possible to give a perfect account of any thing"."

"Mr. Masters made his remarks from the laudable desire of exciting others to similar undertakings; and from the same desire they are quoted here. Works of this kind are very useful, and require no extraordinary genius or learning; moderate industry, and common sagacity, the possession of some good feelings, and a free access to the archives of a college, are the great requisites, and to whom

a I shall however just add, that Mr. Bentham has given a fine engraving of it, and that it contains the effigies, names and arms of forty soldiers, who came over with William the Conqueror, (so Mr. B. thinks), together with as many monks of the monastery of Ely, with whom they lived as guests, but over whom they were in fact guards, to prevent an insurrection. A description of it may also be seen in Fuller's Church History, p, 168.

▸ Mr. Baker.

should we look for these, if not to the Fellows of the respective Colleges? Mr. Masters's History, if it displays no great genius, exhibits what is of more value in works of this kind--faithfulness. He had the free use of his college library, registers, and MSS. so that his history is authentic and valuable; as also, in reference to the University, is his Life of Mr. Baker."

And let this suffice, as a short account of the principal manuscripts, and printed works, relating to Cambridge.

"It has been often mentioned," says M. M. "as a matter of surprise and regret, that Cambridge has never produced a work, similar to the Athenæ Oxonienses: and the surprise and regret from the abundance, actually prepared for such a work." This must now further appear from the preceding account. It is indeed evident, there are more ample, regular materials, than Anthony Wood possessed for his; and it must be confessed, his work is rambling, collected (often with difficulty) from accidental communications, and containing after all numerous articles confused, and disjointed, remotely, or not all, connected with Oxford history.

And is the question now asked, What has been attempted here? What are the present author's pretensions? Is it to supply the great desideratum of an Athenæ Cantabrigienses? He replies in one word-No! An Athenæ Cantabrigienses, in its plan correct; in its views extended; in its literature critical; in its principles and execution, generous; might furnish half a score of students full employment for twenty years together; whereas the present work is, unfortunately, circumscribed by limits scarcely ample enough for the history of a single college; and I was obliged to be so.

And yet though my boundary is confined, my design is

liberal. The reader has already been indirectly informed of what has been attempted. So I make no recapitulations -by balancing together the advantages and disadvantages of the author for the undertaking, readers will judge how far he has succeeded, and wherein he has failed; in what respects he may be charged with presumption, and in what entitled to candour.

Anthony Wood, had in view certainly a great object, and he took a right aim: he knew that the History of an University should embrace the history of the place, and the history of the men; but as he possessed ample room, and unprescribed time, he judiciously formed his materials into two distinct works, as, his History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, and his Athenæ Oxonienses, are well known to be. To judge from his list of subscribers, his patrons indeed, at the time, were not numerous; but he enjoyed something more auspicious, a hearty love for his employment.

I soon saw that Wood's plan was excellent; but how was it to be followed? If when constrained to comprehend objects numerous and interesting, within the narrow and prescribed limits of two small volumes; if, in endeavouring to combine in one work, what I am convinced should be considered separately; I have faintly succeeded, or entirely failed, I must request the reader not to complain of disappointment, nor allow myself to feel too much mortification; for who can put Homer in a nutshell ?

And

I aim, then, to compromise matters which I cannot alter; I labour to meet difficulties which I cannot remove. how was this to be done? but by attempting in matters of history and antiquities to be faithful, yet concise; in literary, select, yet accurate; in biographical, cautious, yet impartial; by leaving willingly that to others, in which, as being

of more private concern, or consisting of mere trifling localities, the public are less interested; by shutting out alike university and sectarian prejudices, that the more ample room might be left for the spirit of liberty and universal justice; and by excluding fancy from regions, scarcely spacious enough for the sober exercises, and regular steady pursuits, of truth; by recollecting, after all, that every writer should have principles and a manner of his own, and therefore, by occasionally deviating from a plan, (I mean Mr. Anthony Wood's,) which, in general, I admire.

I have thus stated what is attempted in the following pages.

I have sometimes heard talk of prejudices: but a writer superior to party himself, and whose views are purely literary, has no right to meet with prejudices; so I say nothing on that subject: let prejudice yield to inquiry, and dislikes be regulated by execution: but having heard certain difficulties of my situation formed into objections, and having sometimes felt those difficulties myself, I shall briefly make a balance of my disadvantages and advantages, in reference to what I am now engaged in.

I have hinted that a work of any consideration, concerning ancient and learned establishments, might find many men employment for many years: what, then, is the entire production of an individual must partake of his particular imperfections; and his want of room will but render them the more prominent and glaring. This may be deemed a disadvantage.

The not being a Master of Arts in our academia has been represented to me as a disadvantage: true; I have felt it to be so. None below a Master of Arts can, in his own right, have the use of books and MSS. in the public Li

brary. But it should be known, these books and MSS. are not its public archives: and it has been observed too already that, with the exception of Baker's, the English MSS. in this Library, immediately relating to the University, are not worth mentioning; and to what I have wanted, I have always, through the kindness of friends, found the readiest access.

My not living at Cambridge has been mentioned to me as a disadvantage almost insuperable; and of not residing constantly on the spot, so as not to be always in the way of consulting archives and registers, for some purposes of immediate inquiry, I have certainly, I own, sometimes, felt the inconvenience. But my frequent and long residence in, or near Cambridge, or occasional visits, which I have been in the habit of paying it, sometimes twice or thrice a year, for more than five-and-twenty years, could, though not wholly, remove the inconvenience, in a great measure over-rule it; and, even by my absence from Cambridge, I found resources which the University could not have supplied.

Among advantages, then, may be reckoned a habit of visiting various public libraries throughout the kingdom— This, for some years, had been my favourite passion—in the indulgence of it there are but few cathedral libraries in England, few at Oxford, and no public library in Scotland, which I have not visited, and relative to the contents of which I have not some useful memoranda; and as I have been in the habit of travelling alone, and with some of my own books," my idle hours have not been idly spent.”

A frequent residence in the metropolis, and near the British Museum, may be accounted another favourable circumstance. In this library, it is well known, are vast sources of information relating to Cambridge, of which,