TO CHARLES, DUKE OF SOMERSET, a ftrenuous defender of the rights of the University, a moft ardent affertor of Public Liberty, THIS STATUE, the gift of two moft excellent matrons, was erected with the utmoft pleasure by the University of Cambridge, which he, as CHANCELLOR, had protected by his patronage, and augmented by his munificence, during more than fixty years." On the reverfe are the words: Hanc Statuam Sua in Parentem pietatis Ornatiffimæ Famine Francifca Marchionis de Granby Conjux S. P. faciendam curaverunt. The most accomplished ladies, FRANCES, wife of the Marquis of Granby, and CHARLOTTE, Baronefs of Guernsey, caufed this ftatue to be erected at their own expence, in the year 1756, as a monument of their filial duty to their parent, and their affection to the University." | The Statue on the north fide is an emblematical figure of GLORY, executed by Borotta, an Italian, and presented to the University by Sir Peter Burrell: on the fcroll are these words: Cuncti Adfint, Meritaq. Expectent Præmia. Palmæ ; ** Letall be present, and accept the palm, the reward of merit," On the front of the Pedestal is this infcription: Gloria. Eterna Alma. Matris. Academiæ Sacrum Doctrina. Feliciter. Exculta Perpetuam. Laudem E Et Excolenda Felicem. Operam Petrus. Burrell In Pietatis. Sua. Et. Fidei M. D. CC. XL, VIII. "This statue, facred to the everlasting glory of ALMA MATER, the Univerfity, was, in confequence of the uninterrupted renown of LEARNING, happily cultivated, and the profperous endeavour for its future improvement; joyfully erected by PETER BURRELL, as a public teftimony of his love and friendship, in the year 1748." The building of the Senate-Houfe, coft near £20,000. about £11,000. being fubfcriptions, King George I. gave £2,000. and King George II. £3,000. towards it; and a numerous list offmaller benefactions, from generous individuals, completed the fum. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY Is fituated on the weft fide of the quadrangle, and confifts of four rooms on the upper floor; the ground floor being occupied on three fides by the Schools, and forming behind the fquare a small court. The new room, which is the only part that fronts the fquare, was rebuilt in 1775, by Stephen Wright; it is an elegant building of stone, in a different style of architecture from the Senate-Houfe, with a spacious piazza in front, and furmounted with a handsome balustrade and urns. The entrance is from the cloifter, which leads into the veftibule; in which is recently placed an antique Coloffal Statue of Ceres, brought from the Temple at Eleufis, by Meffrs. Clarke, and Cripps, of Jefus College; and near is placed a claffical relick particularly interesting to the Univerfity, viz. the Cip pus from the Tomb of Euclid. A number of antique marbles, infcriptions, &c. brought from Greece, by the fame Gentlemen, furround these valuable pieces of antiquity. The ascent to the Library is by an elegant geometrical staircase of stone. The firft room is called the old Library,and confifts of eighteen claffes. In this apartment is a copy of the Magna Charta on veilum, from the Cottonian Library; and an ancient painting of the Cycle of Proctors, Taxors, &c. for a feries of 50 years, with the arms of the respective Colleges. At the end of this room is a hand fome fquare apartment, ornamented with carved Oak, and fitted up with doors of gilt wire placed before the shelves; which are filled with a valuable collection of M. S. S. This apartment is lighted by an elegant dome and one large window. Here is a cabinet given by the Rev. Archdeacon Lewis, which contains fome valuable Oriental Manuscripts, and other curiofities: in the lower part is a curious Chinese Pagod, made of boiled rice, which has the appearance and confiftence of marble; a fheet of paper 4 yards long by 1. . wide; the jaw of a fhark; tulks of wild boars; &c. In the drawers are a book written on reed, fuppofed to be the ancient Papyrus, with a Stylus; a pack of Chinese playing cards on tortoife-fhell, confifting of fix fuits; two medals, of the King and Queen of Denmark; a Queen Anne's farthing; &c. In the upper part of the cabinet is a beautiful copy of the Koran, remarkable for the excellence of its writing and the paper made from cotton; alfo, a beautiful and fplendid Perfian M. S. written in 1338, and entitled "The wonders of the Creation" being a treatise on Aftronomy and Natural Hiftory. The leaves of this elegant manuscript are of cotton paper, embellished with drawings of beafts, birds, reptiles, &c. many of which are finely executed, and the colouring is uncommonly brilliant; being as fresh as if lately finished: the paintings are ornamented with gold intermixed with the most beautiful colours, amongst which Ultramarine shines unrivalled; and the volume is bound in a remarkably rich and fuperb binding. The volume coft in Perfia 100. In the next room, on the right hand, are the first editions of the Greek and La tin claffics, and a great part of the works of William Caxton, the first Printer in England; a valuable manufcript of the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apoftles, written on vellum in Greek and Latin Capitals; it was given to the University by Theodore Beza, and supposed to be one of the oldest manufcripts extant. This class was also enriched by several valu able M. S, S. purchased at the fale of Dr. Afkew's collection. This apartment and the next (running over the schools, and forming the west and north fides of the court,) contain twentyfix fpacious claffes, confifting of the Library given by George I. comprifing 30,000 volumes; which were the entire collection of the late Dr. Moore, Bishop of Ely, and were purchased for 6000 guineas. His Majefty, besides this, gave £2000. to, wards fitting up these apartments. In this part of the Library are also a collection of coloured fhells most admirably done, and allowed to be exquifitely natural; an ancient Egyptian Mummy above 2000 years old; and a canopy of cloth of gold with the royal arms, &c. curiously embroidered on it, which was carried over Queen Elizabeth, when the honoured the Univerfity with a vifit in 1556. The east room, which fronts the fquare, has been newly built in a very elegant manner, and is fitted up with much tafte; it contains commodious and handsome new claffes, an elegant ftuccoed ceiling, and uncommonly rich cornice of flowers and fruit. This room opens on the ftaircase, from which we entered the Library. In the north room of the Library, are the following paintings: Roger Gale, Efq. by Sir Peter Lely; King Charles II. fmall; Peter Gunning, Bishop of Ely; John Moore, Bishop of Ely; Lord Viscount Townfhend; Queen Elizabeth; Prince Charles, fon of James I. by D. Mytens; King Charles I. a very fine one, by Vandyke; Anthony Shepherd. late Profeffor of Experimental Philosophy, in his robes, fitting with a book; and several others. On the staircase: a plan of the city of Je rufalem; a large painting representing two proceffions of the University, one for a Doctor of Divinity, and one for a Doctor of Laws' degree, &c. containing 74 figures in their proper dreffes, a very curious painting; deigns for the intended new building at Cambridge, by Mr. Soane; a defign for a bath, by Mr. Humfrey; an excellent whole length, by Reinagle, of the late Jobu Nicholfon, a well-known Bookfeller of Cambridge ufually called Maps. His Majefty George II. gave £3000. towards building the new Library. THE SCHOOLS Are on the ground floor, under the fouth, north, and eat rooms of the Library, forming together a small court. On the weft fide are the Philofophy Schools where difputations are held in term time by the Sophs; on the north the Divinity Schools; and on the fouth the Law and Phyfic; where the candidates for degrees perform their exercises in the feveral faculties. At the north end of the Philofophy School is a room where is depofited Dr. Woodward's collection of fosfils, ores, minerals, fhells, and other rarities; which are well worth the inspection of the curious. On the east, behind the piazza. is a handsome lecture-room, where feveral of the Profeffors deliver their lectures during term. THE BOTANIC GARDEN Is fituated at the east end of the town, near Bene't College: it contains near five acres, and is well fupplied with water by a canal in the middle. It belonged originally to the Auguftine Friars, and was purchased, for its prefent use, by Dr. Walker, Vice-Mafter of Trinity College, for £1600. An elegant and commodious Green-house has been erected, chiefly by subscription, which is above 100 feet long, and furnished |