1803.] 
270 years before Chrift, Re this as it 
may, its eftablifhment probably very foon 
followed the intyaduction of Chriflianity 
into this ifland, in the fourth century. 
The firft authentic charter is faid to be 
dated 15. Hen. III. (an. 1231), and to 
be found amc ng the records in the Tower. 
Of the colleges which form the Univerfity 
in its prefent ftate, Sr. Peter’s, or Peter- 
houfe, is the molt ancient, having been 
founded in the year 1257, by Hugh Bal- 
fham, Prior, afterwards Bifhop of Ely. 
Before this time the ftudents lodged or 
boarded entirely in the town{fmen’s houfes, 
and hired halis, or hotels,* for their exer- 
eles and difputations. Other colleges and 
halis were afterwards added by different 
perfons, zealous for learning, and defi- 
rous to confer honour on their country, 
until, by continued acceffions of revenue, 
and various gradations of improvement, 
the univerfity was at length advanced to 
that degree of fplendour and utility which 
it now boafts. Itis compofed of tweive 
colleges and four halls, which poffefs 
equal privileges with the colleges: their 
names follow, in chronological order, to- 
gether with thofe of their refpective foun- 
gers. 1. Peterhoufe, mentioned above. 
2. Clare-hall, founded in 1326, by Rich- 
ard Badew, chancellor of the univeriity ;- 
being burnt, it was rebuilt in 1342. 3. 
Pembroke-hall, founded in 1343, by Ma- 
ry, third wife of the Earl of Pembroke. 
4. Gonville and Caius college, in 1348 by 
Edmund Gonville; and enlarged, in 1557, 
by Dr. Caius. 5. Trinicy-hall, founded 
in 1350, by Bateman, Bifhop of Norwich. 
6. Corpus Chrifti, or Benét-college, in 
13515 and compieted by Henry, Duke of 
Lancafter. 7. King’s-college, founded 
in 1441, by Henry VI, but not finithed 
till the reign of Henry VIII. 8. Queen’s- 
college, founded in 1443, by Margaret 
of Anjou, wife of Henry VI; perfected by 
Elizabeth Grey, queen of Edward IV. 
9. Catharine-hall, founded 1475, by Ro- 
bert Woodlark, Provolft of King’s. 10, 
Jefus-college, in 14.96, by John Allcock, 
Bithop of Ely. az- Chrilt’s-college, in 
r505, by Margaret, Countels of Rich- 
mond, mother of Henry VII. 12. St. 
John’s college, in 1509, by the Countefs 
of Richmond. 13. Magdalen college, in 
1519, by Edward Stafford, Duke of 
Buckingham. 14. Trinity-college, in 
; 
* The only one of thefe of which any 
part ftill remains, is that denominated Py- 
thagoras’s School, which was fituated on the 
north fide of the river, and is now converted 
into a barn, 
Account of Cambridge. 
Q7 
1546, by Henry VIII. and afterwards 
augmented by Queen Mary. 15. Eimna- 
nuel-college, founded in 1584, by Sir 
William Mildmay. 16. Sidney Suffex- 
college, in 1598, by Lady Frances Rad- 
cliffe, Countefs of Suffex. Befides thefe, 
a new college is fhortly to be ereéted in 
purfuance of the will of Sir George 
Downing, and to bear his name. This 
gentleman, in 1717, devifed various, 
eftates for this purpofe, in failure of cer- 
tain iffue, &c. and the validity of the 
will, after many years litigation, is now 
completely eftablifhed. The mafter, the 
profeffors, and three of the fellows are 
already appointed’: thirteen other fellows: 
are to be chofen when the college is built. - 
The Univerfity, as compofed of a chan- 
cellor, the matters, or heads, and fel- 
lows of thefe colleges, and the ftudents, 
amounting in the whole to more than 
2,000 Members, 1s incorporated asa fo-, 
ciety. for the ttudy of all the liberal arts 
and {ciences. Each college, or hall, is a 
body of itfelf, and bound by its own fta- 
tutes; but is likewile controuled by the 
paramount law of the Univerfity : each 
turnifhes members for the government of 
the whole, which government is adminif- 
tered by a chancellor, high-fteward, vice- 
chancellor, proétors, caput, &c. 
Though I have made thefe preliminary, 
ftatements for the purpofe of giving a 
general notion of the formation and origin 
of this famous Univertity, I mult decline 
any further detail on this head ; efpecially 
as {uch abundant information may be ob- 
tained from the Cambridge Guide, and 
from Raworth’s Univerfity Calendar, for 
1302. It is my defign to make a few 
remarks on the prefent ftate of its difci- 
pline, and the tendency of its mode of 
inftruétion. To thefe I fhall immediately 
proceed, . 
The very liberal fyftem of education 
purfued in this Univerfity, the various in- 
centives to excellence, and the numerous 
rewards of merit, are exquifitely adapted 
to roule genius into energy, and fluggith- 
nefs into aétion; to give refolution, to ti- 
midity, and turnifh modefty with hope. 
When a youth, poffeiling an ardent thirt 
fer knowledge and wifdom, is once en- 
tered into this feat of learning, he finds 
himielf farrounded by almott all his heart 
can wifh for—books, tutors, lectures y 
and, what many a neglected genius 
languifhes for in vain, retirement and 
leifure to profit by his other. advantages, 
Befides, ‘* the Genius of the place’’ is a 
very powerful motive to exertion. It is, 
as an able writer oblerves, ‘a fort of in- 
Dia fpiring 
