late Captain George Clarke, R.N., brother of the celebrated traveller.

A fine bust of the late Dr. E. D. Clarke, executed by Chantrey, has recently been added to this collection.

The ascent to the Library is by an elegant staircase of stone. On the staircase are hung, drawings by Lancelot Brown, Esq. the celebrated Landscape-gardener, for the improvement of the College walks, and by Mr. Humfrey for a bath; designs by Mr. Soane for a Museum; an excellent whole-length painting, by Reinagle, of Mr. John Nicholson, a well-known bookseller, of Cambridge, who died in 1796, portraits of Archbishop Whitgift, Professor Sanderson, Erasmus, Prince Arthur, Dean Colet, Archbishop Laud, Anthony Shepherd, D.D., F.R.S., by Vander Puyle, Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond, and a View of Jerusalem in 1674.

The Library contains about 110,000 printed books, and 2000 MSS. of almost every age and language. That division of it at which it is entered, is called the Old Library. Here the Library-keepers attend to deliver out books, and to show the Library to strangers. In this part is a copy of Magna Charta on vellum, from the Cottonian Library. At the end of this range is a handsome square compartment, fitted up with bookcases of oak, protected by gilt wire, which are filled with a valuable collection of MSS., among which, there is a most valuable MS. of the

Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, in uncial letters, on vellum, in Greek and Latin, that claims especial notice. It was presented to the University by the celebrated Theodore Beza, in 1581 :—it had been in his possession about nineteen years, and was found in the monastery of Saint Irenæus at Lyons, where it had lain concealed for a long time. It is considered by all critics to be one of the most ancient manuscripts extant. A splendid and most accurate facsimile of it was published at the expense of the University, in 1793, under the editorial care of Dr. Thomas Kipling.

This class was greatly enriched some years since by several valuable classical MSS., purchased at the sale of Dr. Askew's collection. Here is a cabinet given by the late Rev. Archdeacon Lewis, which contains some valuable Oriental manuscripts, and other curiosities: in the lower part is a Chinese Pagod. In the drawers are, a book written on reed, (supposed to be the ancient Papyrus,) with a Stylus; a pack of Persian playing-cards on tortoise-shell, consisting of six suites; two medals of the King and Queen of Denmark, &c. In the upper part of the cabinet is a beautiful copy of the Koran, remarkable for the excellence of the writing; also a splendid Persian MS. written in 1388, entitled "The Wonders of the Creation;" being a treatise on Astronomy and Natural History. This elegant manuscript is embellished with drawings of beasts, birds, reptiles, and other figures, to illustrate the descrip

tions. Some of these are finely executed, the paintings are ornamented with gold, intermixed with the most beautiful colours, and the volume is enveloped in a remarkably superb binding. This book cost in Persia 100%. The collection of manuscripts has lately been considerably enriched by some which are probably among the most ancient that the East can produce. Part were presented to the University by Dr. Claudius Buchanan, late Provost of the College of Fort William, in Bengal; and the rest were the bequest of the celebrated traveller, Burckhardt. In this square are the portraits of the Rev. Henry Martyn, translator of the New Testament into the Persian, and of Professor Porson.

In the next range, on the right hand, are the first editions of the Greek and Latin Classics, and many works executed by the early printers, especially the chief of those by William Caxton, the first printer in England. Amongst the more rare are, the Catholicon, printed by Faust, in 1460; Tully's Offices, Mentz, 1466; Cicero's Orations, 1470, and Tully's Epistles, on vellum, 1471, both printed by Cornelius Janson; The Book of Chess, by Caxton, in 1474-this was the first book printed in England; and Pliny's Natural History, on vellum, 1476, with a beautiful type. There is also a fine copy of King James the First's works in Latin, presented by his Majesty. It is bound in velvet and gold, and embellished with the royal arms, and has the autograph, "Jacobus R., D.D." Some curious draw

In this part of the

ings and prints are also preserved here: among the latter is a large folio of Rembrandt's Etchings, extremely rare and valuable. library are portraits of Queen Elizabeth, Charles II. and Archbishop Abbot, together with an admirable collection of coloured shells, presented to the University by the King of Denmark, in 1771; a cast of the face of Charles XII. of Sweden, taken a few hours after his death; a cast of Sir Isaac Newton; and also casts of Pitt, Fox, and Perceval, by Nollekens. King George I., besides his noble contribution before mentioned, bought for 6000 guineas, and presented to the Library, the collection of Dr. Moore, Bishop of Ely, amounting to 30,000 volumes, which are deposited chiefly in this compartment.*

This noble donation gave rise to the following witty Epigrams: the first is by Dr. Trapp, the Poet, an Oxford man, and zealous Tory:

"Our royal master saw, with heedful eyes,

"The wants of his two Universities:

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Troops he to Oxford sent, as knowing,-why

"That learned body wanted loyalty:

"But books to Cambridge gave, as well discerning,

"That that right loyal body wanted learning.”

The answer by Sir William Browne, of St. Peter's College, a staunch Whig, is generally admired:

"The King to Oxford sent his troop of horse,
"For Tories own no argument but force;
"With equal care to Cambridge, books he sent,

"For Whigs allow no force, but argument."

In the third, or northern division, is a facsimile, in plaster, of the remarkable triple inscription found at Rosetta, and delivered by the French to the late Dr. E. D. Clarke, at Alexandria, on the evacuation of that city. The eastern division, which fronts the square, and opens on the staircase, has been recently fitted up, and is furnished with handsome new cases, and contains a large collection of very valuable books, having been enriched with many copies of scarce and curious editions, given by various benefactors.

Here are portraits of Charles I. by Vandyck, Peter Gunning, Bishop of Ely, Lord Burleigh, Bishop Moore, and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.

Two thermometers, upon a new construction, brought from Paris, exhibiting at one view the scales of Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Reaumur, are suspended in the north window of the Old Library.

This Library is entitled by Act of Parliament to a copy of every new book published in the kingdom. It is also supported by the bequests of Tobias Rustat, Esq. and William Worts, Esq.; and all the members of the University (some few being exempted,) make to it a contribution of six shillings per annum. The late Rev. John Manistre, Fellow of King's College, lately bequeathed 5000l., to purchase books.

The management of the Library is committed to Syndics, who are the Vice-Chancellor, the Heads of