shades. Nor does it arise from any stateliness, or magnificence, by which art combines with nature, to form the majestic, extended park, where over-head upgrow Insuperable height of loftiest shade, Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, Shade above shade, a woody theatre Of stateliest view. Milton. nor does it arise from a mere diversity of tints, nor the agreeable variety of odorous sweets, as in a flower-garden. A university botanic-garden combines the gratifications of sense with those of association and intellect: and in reference to its more peculiar object, resembles the closet of a student, which comprehends the productions of genius in every climate. This is the more habitual feeling. Occasionally walking in such a garden, composed of trees, and plants, and flowers, of different countries, and different growth, resembles conversing with people of all climates and languages; as the delight experienced in a plain English garden, does a conversation with a more intimate friend. And this must suffice for the Botanic Garden. Art thou, young student, the child of fancy? Then, may'st thou indulge it in yon Botanic Garden. It is a rural seat, of various hue. Milton. Thou may'st occasionally choose, perhaps, to adopt the theory, and borrow the language of one of your predecessors, a Cambridge-poet, and to say with him, "Whereas, P. Ovidius Naso, a great necromancer, in the famous court of Augustus Cæsar, did, by art poetic, transmute men, women, and even gods and godesses, into trees and flowers, I will undertake, by similar art, to restore some of them to their original animality, after having remained prisoners so long in their respective vegetable mansions":" And if criticism authorizes poetry to give to "airy nothings a local habitation and a name," Who shall say thou art not justified in giving to the vegetable tribes animal existence, and by an easy, regular ascent, to endue them with delicate passions, and to confer on them pretty, feminine names? And thus far is general in reference to the University, Here, perhaps, I might descend still lower, from generals to particulars: for, what concerns the admission and examinations of youth, when entering a college, and the course of studies, pursued by undergraduates; as well as the exercises in the public schools and senate-house, previously to the taking of degrees, together with the ceremonies to be performed, the prizes to be obtained, the honours to be conferred, and the subscriptions to be required; and, again, the different orders and ranks of graduates, and the various officers of the University, with their habits, duties, fees, and emoluments; nor less the defects in some offices, with the improvements which might be made in them; these particulars, I allow, might all find their proper place in an University-history professing minuteness: but my history does not, and cannot admit of it. Besides, there are distinct accounts, where such subjects are separately handled, and exclusively considered : and, I believe-for they are drawn up by official, at least by college men, with critical correctness and professional care. ■ Proem to Darwin's Botanic Garden. Further still, the present state, the settled funds, the government of the University, with the regulations of private colleges; the condition of the press ", with an account of the books printed, and a comparison, in regard to its finances, condition, and management, with the Clarendon-press at Oxford, all these things might afford some amusement, and are naturally enough connected with the Literary History of the University of Cambridge. But each of the above subjects, with suitable reflections, might form a distinct chapter, and all together, compose a tolerable volume: a brief zigzag account would have been trifling, scarcely consistent with the dignity of history; and one, extended, would have been too multifarious for my present views: so I shall pass them. He who wishes to be amused, and properly in a I cannot help noticing here, that the first book supposed by Mr. G. North to have been printed here, was only compiled; it was printed at St. Alban's in 1480. The Correspondence between Mr. North and Mr. Ames on the subject may be seen, vol. v. p. 431, of Nichols's Anecdotes, and the matter is set right by Mr. Ames, Typograph. Antiq, vol. v. 431, by Herbert. Mr. A. supposes the book first printed at Cambridge was in 1521. Nor can I forbear just noticing one extraordinary improvement, introduced into the printing office, by means of the Stanhope stereotype press, by which the copies of more saleable books are wonderfully multiplied; which, whether it be a discovery, or only the realizing of a discovery, and giving effect to it, matters not; it is an improvement of prodigious extent and utility, for which we are indebted to the ingenious nobleman, whose name it bears: he has carried the same principle into engravings, which may be multiplied in a similar proportion: the new Porsonian Greek type, also, (called after the late Greek professor, who introduced it) may be mentioned as an improvement on, and giving a more elegant and beautiful form to, the Greek letters. Specimens of this type may be seen in Mr. Blomfield's edition of Eschylus's Prometheus, and in Mr. Monk's edition of Euripides's Hippolytus Coronifer. formed on these particulars, will do well to consult the several treatises in the notes a. I shall just add here, that the hostels, or inns, were, even in Dr. Caius's time, seventeen, besides three hospitals for regulars. The colleges and halls are now sixteen; the members two thousand three hundred. By the Population Abstract, May, 1811, the resident members at Oxford were one thousand and fifteen; at Cambridge, eight hundred and fourteen.-So to proceed in order with our Colleges. a Hints respecting some of the University Officers, its Jurisdiction, its Revenues, &c. of the University of Cambridge. By Robert Plumptre, D. D. late Master of Queen's College.-An Account of Ceremonies and Customs, &c. By Mr. Wall, late Fellow of Christ College.-An Account of Officers, Forms in taking Degrees, &c. By Mr. Beverley, one of the present Esquire-beadles; The Cambridge Guide, and University Calendars: though, indeed, several of the matters above referred to are to be found in two or three of the Histories of Cambridge. VOL. I. APPENDIX. I HAVE hinted, more than once, in the preceding volume, that my history would not attempt a detail in regard to academical habits, degrees, &c.: but a friend having asked me the meaning of the term, Bachelor of Arts, and suggested whether bachelor did not mean bas chevalier, an inferior knight, I was led to see the expediency of saying something, at least, on degrees, previously to beginning the next volume, where the word will be perpetually recurring and so, finding two or three pages at the end unoccupied, I place my few observations where the introduction of them will not interrupt the general course of the history. It has already been observed, that our college-language is derived from the church and monastery. In the first Christian churches, Bishops, or Presbyters, (I have nothing to do here with the dispute, whether they were different, or the same officers,) and Deacons were two orders, or degrees. They that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good DEGREE. 1 Tim.iii. 13. wipa alienam rem sibi vindicant, Budai περιποιούνται |