120 
attending the lectures of moft of the pro- 
feffors in the univerfity, on the ufual 
terms ; an advantage of which feveral of 
them hav# availed themfcives. . Mufic- 
meetings, and private concerts, are fre- 
guently held, by different parties: an ex- 
cellent mufic-club meets every fortnight at 
the Black Beat, where the compofitions 
. of the fir mafters are performed in a 
fuperior ftyle. Befide thefe, there are 
feveral public concerts, efpecially in term- 
time, when the firft performers are en- 
gaged from London: thefe concérts are 
generally well attended both by members 
of the univerfity, and by the inhabitants 
of the town. Propofals have been lately 
iffued for building a new concert-room 
by fab{cription, which will probably be 
carried into effect. ‘There is one trait in 
.the character of the inhabitants of Cam- 
bridge, which is probably derived -from 
their intercourfe with the univerfity. It 
is commonly obferved, that the univerficy, 
as a body, keep themfelves detached as 
muchas poflible from the townfmen; and, 
bough fubordination of rank, and a great 
regard to perional. confequence, are un- 
doubtedly neceflary in a place of educa- 
tion, yet this is carried fo far that a 
gownfiman feldom condefcends to be on 
terms of intimacy with a townfman, and 
is more rarely full feen to walk with him. 
Accordingly, it has alfo been obferved, 
that the giadations of fociety in the town, 
are diftinQly preferved: they are not fuf- 
fered to run into each other, nor are the 
“<< fhades” of diftin€tion ** fo fottened,” 
as to form “one harmonious whole.” 
This certainly leflens the opportunities for 
focial enjoyment, and mutual affociation ; 
but whether, under prefent circumilances, 
it would be poflible, or proper, to remedy 
it, I fhall, having given the hint, leave it 
to wifer cafuifts to determine. 
The country about Cambridge does 
not abound with any extenfive views, or 
picturefque feenery. Scarcely a tree is to 
be feen in many direftions; and the pro- 
{pect is bounded by hills, which always 
look bare, except on the approach of 
harveft. Great quantities of cora, bar- 
ley, wheat, and rye, with all forts of 
pulfe and black grain, are grown in the 
adjacent fields, The mode of agriculture, 
however, is by no means admirable. Al- . 
together, Cambridge is very favourable 
to health, as thofe who refide in it from 
different parts of the country can teftify : 
‘and its general healthinefs arifes from the 
goodnels of its air, its water, and its 
walks. aR ie 
“Lhe prefent diterary charafter of this 
Paffage from the Perfian Poet Ferdu/i. { March 1, 
Univerfity, and the conteft for priority 
and literary fuperiority between it and Ox- 
furd I leave to be decided by any other — 
of your readers or correfpondents who 
may be better qualified for the tafk. 
Iam, Sir, your’s, &c. 
, ALPua Beta. 
Se 
(Io the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIRs 
WV = are informed by Diodorus Siculus, 
that after the death of Alexander 
the Great his body was placed in a coffin 
of beaten gold, filled with fpices or aro- 
matics, &c.—-According to Strabo, this 
coffin was afterwards changed for a farco~ 
phagus of gla/s. Being defirous of com- 
paring the claffical anecdotes refpeéting 
Alexander, with the traditions preferved in 
Eaftern manufcripts, I applied to an 
Orientalift of my acquaintance, who lately 
favoured me with feveral curious extracts 
on that fubject, and one, among others, 
which confirms the tradition of the goldex 
cofin. ‘This paflage is from a celebrated 
Perfian Poet, named Ferdvfi, who flou- 
rifhed in the tenth century of the Chriftian 
wera, and has been ityled, by a learned | 
Orientalit, The Homer of Perfia. » He- 
infurms us, that Alexander having ‘ex- 
pired at Babylon, his body was placed in 
a golden cheft or cofiin, wathed with rofe- 
water and mufk, ang iprinkled over with 
camphor—-that it was wrapped in fine 
linen of Cheen or Tartary, and covered 
with cloth of gold. In ail this the Per- 
{ian Poet agrees fufficiently with Diodorus 
Siculus; and to this rich farcopnagus the 
faciruk Fuvenal alludes—whev, fpeaki®g 
of Alexander’s immoderate ambition, he 
faysi— 
‘© Cum tamen a figulis munitam intraverit urbem, 
Sarcophago contentus erit.” (Sat. X. v. 172.) 
This paffage appears not unlike an- 
‘other extraéted from the Perfian Poem 
above quoted :—~ 
“© Kuja aun bufb ve rai danefh to 
Keb een tenk-i taboot foud jai too.” 
sc Where (exclaims Ariftotle, lament- 
ing over the body ot his pupil) where is all 
thy wifdom ?—where are the pawers of thy 
great mind? Alas! this narrow coffin is 
the abode of Alexander!’ 
Fan. 4, 1803. -A. M. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SiR, ey 
MONG the various trifles which 
have become objeéts of antiquarian 
refearch, I know not whether the bic 
an 
