The Institution of a Botanic Garden had long been a desideratum at Cambridge. “So long ago as 1696 the ground for a Physic Garden had been measured, and the plan drawn,” but through some unknown impediment the scheme failed. Professor Bradley made large but hollow promises on the subject in 1724, with the mere view (it should seem) of obtaining the Botanical Chair; he publicly repeated them in his lectures in 1729; but nothing was done. In 1731 there appeared more hope; for many conferences were held between the Vice-Chancellor Professor John Martyn and Mr. Phillip Miller, of the Chelsea Garden, respecting the estate of a Mr. Brownell, of Willingham, which was once intended to be devoted to the establishment of a Botanic Garden at Cambridge; but this estate was diverted into another channel. At length the plan was happily effected through the liberality of Dr. Walker, the Vice-Master of Trinity College, who gave an estate to trustees for that purpose. The ground selected was the site of the Monastery of the Austin Friars, in the parish of St. Edward's, and was purchased by Dr. Walker for £1600 in 1761.”

The site of the present Botanic Garden together with five or six tenements in Freeschool lane, amounting in all to above five acres, were made over to the University by an Indenture which exists in the Registrary's office and is dated 24th Aug. 1762.

In order to obtain a complete insight into the ancient state of the University, it is desirable to know not only what were the studies, but what were the peculiar recreations of its scholars: how the idle, if any such there were, filled up their vacant hours, and how the reading men refreshed themselves after the tedious disputations of the Schools. On these points it is not easy to satisfy our curiosity. Many of the unconnected notices which follow, being taken from ancient statutes, will throw but little light on the subject. Still they will not be without interest, as shewing the attempts made from time to time to prevent the introduction of popular sports which were thought contrary to sobriety and good discipline. We may also notice the various sources from which these decrees emanated. The King, the Visitor, the privy Council, the Heads of Colleges, the Senate—appear all in their turn to have exercised control over the habits and occupations of the University.

In the days of Chivalry, and while the University was still in its infancy, Cambridge appears to have been frequently the scene of tournaments and tiltings held by the Nobility and Gentry of the neighbourhood. The University did not patronize these rough and by no means clerk-like contests.

The principal public buildings of the University stand in immediate contiguity to one another. A full account of them should comprise a description of their aspect, structure, and the condition of the establishment to which each appertains. The buildings which contain the Library and Schools form a hollow square: they are of two stories and were erected at various dates. The changes that have taken place in the structure and the condition of the Library at different times are necessarily so closely connected that they may be traced together.

Previous to 1589, the Public Library of the University contained 177 volumes in “wretched condition.” These and the meditative employment they supplied gave way to more practical study in 1546, when the room they occupied was by a Grace converted to the purpose of a Divinity School: but in 1586 by the same authority it recovered its former character and appropriation. In 1649, the Library was increased by taking into it the Greek Schools.

The present front was for a long time spoken of as the new building: but now another rising building has succeeded to that title. On the 29th of April, 1755, the Duke of Newcastle, then Chancellor, laid the first stone. The site of the building, as well as the ground before it, had been occupied by tenements belonging to King's College, and were sold by them to the University under an Act passed for empowering the University to improve their Library.

There are four instances of a complete history of a ‘private College’, at least complete as far as they go; for the want of that wide historical research and patient authorship so rarely practised at the present day, has left a void to be filled up. Of these four, one is of Corpus Christi College, first published by Masters in 1753. A corrected and enlarged edition was in 1835 given to the public by Dr. Lamb the present Master. The other three still in MS. are of St. John's Caius and Jesus Colleges.

2. The original of the History of St. John's College, in Baker's own handwriting, is No. 7028 of the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum. A copy of it was granted to the proper desire of the College, and is there most religiously preserved; it is ere long to be given to the world, with an appendix of the since expired generations. On this account, we will say little respecting it, that the suspended curiosity of the reader may suffer no subtraction.

The projector and conductor of the work here offered for public approbation, confesses himself to be not a little solicitous about the success of his undertaking. He is anxious that credit should be done to the subject; at least that it should in no way be disparaged by his labours: and he is ambitious of the good and favourable opinion of those by whose countenance and encouragement it has been fostered. A few introductory remarks may possibly serve to pave the way for the reception he so earnestly covets.

The greater number of readers, it is hoped, will find so much interest in the matter of the work, as to be little curious about the origin of the undertaking. To those, however, who would question what could have induced the collector to project it, while other works exist similar at least as to their object, he has only to reply, that his inducement has simply been, a very strong desire to see justice done to a subject which has long engaged his own warm affections, and has, he believes, deservedly excited a powerful interest amongst all that class whose tastes he would be most anxious to gratify.

In what may be termed the external and internal structure of the University itself; its walls and buildings, its treasures and depositories, its customs ancient and modern, bygone and present, its course of studies, the effect of its habits as developed in the manners characters and amusements of its members, there is most abundant material for every department of the work, both by pen and pencil.