The population of Cambridge is very confiderable; the town confifts of fourteen parishes, which are as follow; the number of inhabitants, as returned on 10th of March, 1801, being annexed to each :

9273

(Of these 4162 were males, and 5111 females). Members of the University,

811

10,084

The

The corporation confifts of a Mayor, High-Steward, Recorder, twelve Aldermen, twenty-four Common CouncilMen, four Bailiffs, a Town Clerk, and other Officers. Mayor, on the day of his election, has the privilege of be flowing the freedom on any one perfon he may think proper. The choice of fending Reprefentatives to Parliament is vefted in the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Freemen, not receiving alms: the voters are about 200. The Mayor on his election takes an oath, to obferve and maintain the privileges of the Univerfity. The police of the town is extremely judicious, being formed by the Officers of both the University and Town; the ViceChancellor being always a magiftrate by virtue of his office; and no place can boast of more strict and impartial justice in its government, than the Town of Cambridge..

The town is divided into four wards; viz. 1. Bridge-ward, which extends from Jefus-lane, to Cattle-End; 2. High-ward, which extends the length of Trumpington-ftreet; 3. Preacher's. ward, which extends from the entrance of the town, by St. An

P

drew's Street, to Jefus-lane; 4. Market-ward, which contains the Market-place, and the adjoining ftreets, lanes, and

Each of the fourteen parishes, with one exception, is provided with a church; but those only of Great St. Mary, and St. Sepulchre, prefent objects of fufficient importance for particular obfervation.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH

Is fituated in the middle of the town, oppofite the University Library, &c. To this church the Univerfity repair on Sundays and Holidays, to hear Sermons; though the parishioners have feats, and the use of the church at different times in the day. It was erected by voluntary contribution; but whether the charges exceeded the estimate, or from whatever cause, the fubfcriptions were raised fo flowly, that the ftructure was not completed till the expiration of more than one hundred years. It was commenced in 1478; but was not finished with the tow. er till 1608. It confifts of a nave, chancel, and fide aisles e the whole length is about 120 feet; the breadth, 68. Bel tween the nave and the chancel, is a grand and noble gallery, called the Throne, in which are the feats of the Vice-Chancellor, Heads of colleges, Noblemen, and Doctors; in the lower part of the church is the Pit, containing feats for the Proctors, Masters of Arts, Fellow-Commoners, &c. and over the fide aifles, are extenfive galleries for the Bachelors and Undergraduates. At the west end is a fpacious Organ-loft, containing a large and fine-toned Organ. On the performance of Oratorios, or the taking of Musical degrees, at the Com

* The mile-stones in the neighbourhood of Cambridge (said to be the first of the kind in England) were set up at the expence of Dr. Monfey, of Trinity Hall. In Bloomfield's Collectanea Cantab. p. 214, the meafurement is affirmed to begin at a circle, cut in the right hand jamb of the welt door of this church. This circle is now effaced.

* {

mencement, the Organ loft is much enlarged, for the accommodation of the vocal and inftrumental performers, engaged for the occafion. This church, which is in the Gothic style, is adorned with a handsome and lofty tower, crowned with four elegant pinnacles, and containing twelve remarkably mufical bells, which are fet in motion on all public occafions. A few years fince about £1500. was expended in repairing this ftructure; the University paying two thirds, and the parish one third of the expence. Trinity College always repairs the chancel.

ST. SEPULCHRE's CHURCH,

Ufually called, from its form, the Round Church, on account of its fingular shape, excites the curiofity of the antiquary; though its primary form has been much disfigured by fubfequent buildings, and in its prefent ftate appears under many difadvantages. "It is evidently," fays Mr. Effex, "a ftory higher than its original architect intended it should be. This alteration was made in the reign of Edward II. för the reception of bells, when the windows were also altered, the chancel added, and the ornaments about the door defaced, and partly hidden by a wooden portal." The more ancient part is completely circular, with a periftyle in the interior, of eight round pillars of great magnitude, and far greater folidity than could be neceffary to fupport the conical roof, with which it appears to have been originally furnished. The arch over the weft door is embellished with round and zigzag mouldings, in the Saxon ftyle of architecture. This entrance was probably the only one when the church was first built, but the circular area is now thrown open to the chancel. The pillars of the upper portico were formerly hidden by a projecting gallery, but this has been lately removed, and the infide of the fabric, repaired and white-washed.

The proper name of this building is, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Jewry," an appellation which geno rated the erroneous opinion, that it was originally a Jewish fynagogue; but the ingenious architect just quoted, affirms, that it was built by the Knights Templars, or by fome perfons concerned in the Croisades, who took the church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerufalem, for their model."It will be eafier," obferves our author, "to afcertain the age, than the founder of it;" and he afterwards expreffes his decided opinion, that it was erected in the reign of Henry I. or between the first and fecond Croifades, and is the oldest church of the form in England.+

THE MARKET PLACE, &c.

Which is fituated nearly in the centre of the town, confifts of two fpacious oblong squares, united together, and forming the Roman L. At the bottom stands the SHIRE HALL, which was built at the expence of the County; it is a handsome ftructure of brick and flone; the upper part is fupported on arches faced with ftone, beneath which the butchers have their ftalls on the principal market-days. This building is ornamented with a parapet, and a pediment in the centre; and is upwards of 80 feet in length. The interior is divided into, two courts, in one of which the affizes are held, and in the other the quarter feffions.

Behind this fabric is the Tow N-HALL, rebuilt for the ufe of the Corporation, in the year 1782. It is a modern and elegant building of brick, confifling of a fpacious Court-room, 70 feet long, 28 broad, and 23 high; befides two large par

*The Knights Templars were instituted, in the year 1118, to protect the pilgrims who visited the facred places about Jerufalem. Apartments were allotted them, near the church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The only two fimilar churches in England are, Little Maplested, in Effex, and the Temple church at London.

lours, for the Aldermen and Common Council-men. In the large room, the greatest part of the concerts and balls are generally held; as well as the public dinners of the Corporation,

In the front of the Shire-Hall stands the CONDUIT; erected in the year 1614, at the charge of Thomas Hobfon, the celcbrated carrier, on whofe death Milton wrote a whimfical epitaph; it is built with stone, decorated with rude carvings, and enclosed with an iron palifade. The water is brought by a small channel from a brook about three miles from the town, and is conveyed beneath the principal street, by an aqueduct, to the conduit; which continues always running. through four spouts, fupplying the neighbourhood with a never failing stream of excellent water. An infcription on the north fide records its erection, in the year 1614; and also that Hob fon, on his death, which happened January 1ft, 1630, bequeathed the rents of fome pasture land, lying in St. Thomas' Leys, to preferve it in order. The rents of two tenements were alfo given for that purpose, by Edward Potts, an Alderman of Cambridge. It may be worthy of remark, that one of the most general proverbial expreffions in the English language originated with the above benevolent carrier; who rendered himself famous by furnishing the ftudents with horses, and making it an unalterable rule, that every horse should have an equal portion of reft, as well as labour, he would never let one out of its turn; and hence the derivation of the faying, "Hobfon's Choice: this, or none."

The market is abundantly fupplied with every kind of provision; but, from the unvarying confumption of the University, the articles are comparatively dear. The principal market-day is Saturday; when the immenfe quantity of every neceffary article expofed for fale, is aflonishing; here is alfo a market every day in the week, except Sunday and Monday, for poultry, eggs, and butter. The fale of the last article is attended with the peculiarity of every pound, defigned for the