MANSEL died in 1820, and was succeeded in the mastership by Christopher Wordsworth, the brother of the poet. Wordsworth was not a strong man, nor always judicious, but he had the good of the Society at heart, and was ever willing to spend himself in its service. The building of the New Court was undertaken on his initiative. The time of his accession was one of considerable intellectual activity, and opens a new era in the history of the College.

At this time, conspicuous among the Fellows of Trinity were A. Sedgwick, the geologist; G. Peacock, the mathematician; J. Scholfield, Julius C. Hare, and C. Thirlwall, the well-known scholars; and G. B. Airy, the astronomer. It would be difficult to exaggerate their influence on the intellectual life of the College and University. The undergraduate society a few years later numbered a group of men of exceptional power, notably R. C. Trench, afterwards Archbishop of Dublin, W. M. Thackeray, Edward Fitzgerald, Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton), James Spedding, the biographer of Bacon, A. H. Hallam, A. W. Kinglake, the historian, Alfred, Charles, and Frederick Tennyson, and W. H. Thompson.

I LEAVE now the subject of life at King's Hall and Michael-House to turn to the history of the College which succeeded to their buildings. Two days after the surrender of their charters and property, Trinity College was founded by royal charter, December 19, 1546. At the same time Henry pensioned or dismissed the Master and most or all of the Fellows of Michael-House, whilst he appointed Redman, who had been Warden of King's Hall, Master of Trinity, thus definitely linking its life to that of the royal Edwardian foundation. The connection of Trinity with Michael-House is much less intimate. Henry endowed his new College liberally, adding to the belongings of King's Hall and Michael-House property, producing over £1400 a year.

The foundation of the College was contemporaneous with the introduction into the University of new studies and a new system of education, and the College was intended to be a centre for the propagation of the tenets of the reformed faith. Of the sixty original members whom Henry nominated, it is said that all were Protestants; many of these did not act on the nomination, but in 1548, apart from pensioners and fellow-commoners, there were 110 members of the foundation. Under statutes issued in 1552 the number of Fellows was fixed at fifty, of Scholars at sixty, while that of Pensioners was not to exceed fifty-four. It was further ordained that every student should be under a Tutor who was responsible for his instruction.

THE royal and ancient foundation of Trinity College—as it is termed in the University bidding prayer—is the largest collegiate foundation at either of the ancient English Universities, and few, if any, visitors to Cambridge leave without walking through its Courts. This booklet is written in the belief that there are many such visitors who would like to know rather more about the College than can be learnt from a stroll round its buildings. It is hoped also that some of its members will be interested in possessing an outline of its history, and an account of the life of their predecessors in former times. In this and the next chapter, I describe briefly the buildings and walks, and in subsequent chapters I give a sketch of the history of the Society.

I may commence by reminding a reader who is a stranger to the place that the College is the home of a large Society, and, though its Courts are generally open to any one, the interiors of its public buildings can be visited only at times when they are not being used by its members ; the hours at which they are open may be learnt by inquiry at the Porter's Lodge. For this reason I will describe first those parts which are generally accessible, leaving to another chapter the description of the interiors which are accessible only at stated hours.

Probably a stranger visiting the town will approach the College by Trinity Street from the direction of King's Parade.

THE period immediately succeeding Nevile's death does not seem to have been one of particular interest. The College prospered, and no marked changes in its policy or habits became prominent. Probably on the whole the presbyterian party gained strength in the College, especially among the junior members; but, though their leaders were sincere, clever, and energetic, they did not secure the confidence of their opponents. I think the cause is to be found partly in the intemperate hostility they showed to all who differed from their views, and partly to the irritation felt at their objections to the time-honoured and harmless hospitalities and small courtesies which tend, especially in collegiate society, to make the wheels of life run smoothly.

About this time the fall in the value of money caused a considerable increase in the revenue of the House, and at the same time rendered the statutable stipends inadequate for the maintenance of the Fellows. After some discussion it was decided, in 1630, to divide the surplus in certain proportions among members of the Society, and from this originates the current system of fellowship dividends.

During the early part of the seventeenth century, the College seems to have been especially favoured by the poets.