1803.) 
evould it be, if the example were followed 
in every parifh. It may be proper to ob- 
ferve here, that an erroneous notion is 
prevalent in fomes parts of the country, 
refpecting the horrors of Cambridge, and 
the danger of walking in the ftreets on 
evenings ; whereas, In truth, there is no 
more danger of this kind than in other 
large towns: the ftreets are in general 
perfectly peaceable, and if now and ther 
a row (to ufe the elegant phrafeology of 
the place) happens to be made by a few 
unruly Cantabs, nobody interferes with 
them, nor they with other perfons; and, 
when they are tired of quarrelling, they 
retire in peace. Inftances to the contrary 
have occurred 3 but they are rare. 
There is no manufacture in Cambridge 
to any extent: its trade confifts chiefly 
in oil, iron, and corn, particularly oats 
and barley. The principal bufinefs of the 
inhabitants is to furnifh the univerfity 
with neceflaries of all kinds: moft of 
this bulinefs is tranfaéted upon credit to 
the tutors of the refpe&tive colleges, who 
are anfwerable for the payment of mott of 
their pupils’ bills, which they difcharge 
at flated times ; but the credit isextremely 
long, feldom being lefS than twelve 
months after the delivery of the account ; 
and is frequently protraéted to eighteen 
months, or two years. The extent and 
univerfality of this fyftem contribute ne- 
ceflarily to increafe tge price of many ar- 
cles. Ihe markets, which are under the 
fole jurifdiftion of the Univerfity, are 
fupplied in the moft abundant manner 
with every article of provifion: the quan- 
tities that are expefed for fale, are fome- 
ties aftonifhing, and its quality is in 
general excellent. The chief market- 
day is Saturday; but there is a market 
every day inthe week, except Sunday and 
Monday, for fowls, eggs, and butter : 
the laft article is always made up into 
rolls of fuch a thicknefs that.a pound of 
dutterfhall be a yard in length. Thiscurious 
practice is peculiar to Cambridge ; but it 
has its advantages, for it renders the but- 
ter much more eafily divifible into certain 
portions, called fixes, for the ufe of the 
coliegians. Great quantities of fruit are 
brought, in their feafon, from Ely and 
the villages in its neighbourhood, as well 
as thofe about Cambridge; infomuch 
that, though very little fruit is grown in 
the town, no place in the world can be 
more plentifully fupplied with it. ‘TTo- 
wards the fouth end of the market-place, 
ftands Hobfon’s conduit, from which wa- 
ter is always running, through feveral 
won pipes. This conduit was built by 
— Account of Cambridge. 
ii9 
the celebrated Hobfon the carrier, whe 
gave rife to the proverbial expreffion of 
“© Hobfon’s choice:—this or none”—by 
Jetting cut horfes to the ftudents, in fuch 
a rotation that they had an equal fhare of 
reft and work, and by refolutely refufing © 
to letany other horfe than that which, in 
its turn, was placed next the door. A 
fhort diftance behind the Conduit, is the 
Shire-hall; and ftill further backward, 
the Town-hall; the effect of which in 
appearance is Joft by its fituation. Near 
the fouthern extremity of Trumpington- 
ftreet, on a well feleéted fpot, ftands Ad- - 
denbrooke’s-hofpital, which is fupported 
by voluntary contributions. The houfe 
is a neat brick building, judicioufly con- 
trived for the purpofes of its ereétion. 
This excellent charity has been productive 
of the happieft effects to thoufands of our 
fellow-creatures, to whom every other 
means of relief was inacceflible: upon 
an average, about 790 patients have been 
relieved annually. The accounts having fal- 
len into arrear, exertions have been made, 
and are ftill making, by various benevolent 
perfons, in its favour, which it isto be hoped. 
will prove effectual. The free grammar {chool 
in Cambridge was founded by Dr. Perfe, 
of Caius college, for the education of 
100 boys, who are to be. natives of 
Cambridge, Barnwell, Chefterton, and 
‘Lrumpington; the fame gentleman alfo 
built alms-houfes for fix poor fingle per- 
fons, not lefs than 40 years of age, who 
receive an annual ftipend of ql. each. 
Befides thefe, there are feveral other cha- 
rity-{chools (frlt eftablifhed by the cele- 
brated WiLLiamM Wuiston) and alms’ 
houtts, which are refpectively fupported | 
either by legacies and endowments, bene- 
faétions from colleges, or voluntary fub- 
{criptions. It has been faid that benevo~ 
lence is more prevalent in England than 
in any other country: it is certain that no 
country in the world has yet equalled:the 
number, or the extent, of its charitable 
inftitutions, 
The manners of the inhabitants are, in 
general, focial and polifhed. The middle 
and higher ranks are well informed, and 
capable of converfing fenfibly upon many 
fubje&ts of literature, as well as the con- 
cerns of bufinefs. There are feveral 
book-focieties, upon different plans, which 
contribute to diffufe information among 
their members. The largeft and beft of 
thefe has been eftablifhed many years, and 
is now in pofleffion of an excellent library, 
which is under judicious regulations, and 
is annually increafing. The inhabitanrs 
of the town have alfo the advantage of 
Q 2 attending 
* 
