CHAPTER IV. 



CAMBRIDGE LIFE. 



[My father's Cambridge life comprises the time between 

 the Lent Term, 1828, when he came up as a Freshman, and 

 the end of the May Term, 1831, when he took his degree and 

 left the University. 



It appears from the College books, that my father " admis- 

 sus est pensionarius minor sub Magistro Shaw" on Oct. 15, 



1827. He did not come into residence till the Lent Term, 



1828, so that, although he passed his examination in due sea- 

 son, he was unable to take his degree at the usual time, — the 

 beginning of the Lent Term, 183 1. In such a case a man 

 usually took his degree before Ash-Wednesday, when he was 

 called '* Baccalaureus ad Diem Cinerum," and ranked with 

 the B. A.'s of the year. My father's name, however, occurs 

 in the list of Bachelors "ad Baptistam," or those admitted 

 between Ash-Wednesday and St. John Baptist's Day (June 

 24th) ; * he therefore took rank among the Bachelors of 1832. 



He "kept" for a term or two in lodgings, over Bacon the 

 tobacconist's ; not, however, over the shop in the Market 

 Place, now so well known to Cambridge men, but in Sidney 

 Street. For the rest of his time he had pleasant rooms on 

 the south side of the first court of Christ's, f 



* " On Tuesday last Charles Darwin, of Christ's College, was admitted 

 B.A." — Cambridge Chronicle^ Friday, April 29, 1S31. 



f The rooms are on the first floor, on the west side of the middle stair- 

 case. A medallion (given by my brother) has recently been let into the 

 wall of the sitting-room. 



