290 AUDUBON 



country. I dined at the Vice-Chancellor's, and found my- 

 self among men of deep research, learning, and knowl- 

 edge, — mild in expressions, kind in attentions, and under 

 whom I fervently wished it had been my lot to have re- 

 ceived such an education as they possess. 



Sunday, March 9. Cambridge on a Sunday is a place 

 where I would suppose the basest mind must relax, for the 

 time being, from the error of denying the existence of a 

 Supreme Being ; all is calm — silent — solemn — almost 

 sublime. The beautiful bells fill the air with melody, 

 and the heart with a wish for prayer. I went to church 

 with Mr. Whewell at Great St. Mary's, and heard an im- 

 pressive sermon on Hope from Mr. Henslow. After that 

 I went to admire Nature, as the day was beautifully invit- 

 ing. Professor Heath of King's College wished me to see 

 his splendid chapel, and with a ticket of admission I re- 

 sorted there at three. We had simple hymns and prayers, 

 the former softly accompanied by the notes of an immense 

 organ, standing nearly in the centre of that astonishing 

 building; the chanters were all young boys in white sur- 

 plices. I walked with Mr. Heath to Mr. Whewell's, and 

 with him went to Trinity Chapel. The charm that had 

 held me all day was augmented many fold as I entered 

 an immense interior where were upward of four hundred 

 collegians in their white robes. The small wax tapers, 

 the shadowy distances, the slow footfalls of those still 

 entering, threw my imagination into disorder. A kind 

 of chilliness almost as of fear came to me, my lips 

 quivered, my heart throbbed, I fell on my knees and 

 prayed to be helped and comforted. I shall remember 

 this sensation forever, my Lucy. When at Liverpool, 

 I always go to the church for the blind; did I reside 

 at Cambridge, I would be found each Sunday at Trinity 

 Chapel. 



March 12. I was introduced to Judge , on his way 



to court, — a monstrously ugly old man, with a wig that 



