a town of England, and capital of the county of that name. It takes the name of Cambridge from the bridge over the Cam, which divides the town into two parts. Either it or a place Cambridge in the neighbourhood was styled Camboritum, in the time of the Romans. It suffered much during the wars with the Danes. Here was a castle built by William the conqueror, of which the gatehouse yet remains, and is now the county goal. By Doomsday-book it appears, that it then had ten wards, containing 387 houses. In William Rufus's reign it was quite destroyed by Roger de Montgomery; but Henry I. bestowed many privileges upon it, particularly an exemption from the power of the sheriff, on condition of its paying yearly into the exchequer 100 merks (equivalent to 1000 pounds now), and from tolls, laffage, pontages, palfage, and (laffage, in all fairs of his dominions. There is a ditch still called the king's ditch, made by Henry III. during the barons wars, to secure it against the rebels in the isle of Ely. In the rebellion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, in the reign of Richard II. the university records were burnt. The place now called the Jewry was formerly inhabited by Jews. The glory of Cambridge is its university; but when it had its beginning, is uncertain. At first there was no public provision for the accommodation or maintenance of the scholars; but afterwards inns began to be erected by pious persons for their reception, and in the time of Edward I. colleges began to be built and endowed.

The university enjoys great privileges; and is governed by the chancellor, who is always some nobleman, and may be changed every three years, and has a commissary under him; the high steward, chosen by the senate; the vice-chancellor, chosen by the whole body of the university, out of two named by the heads of the colleges; two proctors chosen every year; two taxers, who, with the proctors, regulate the weights and measures. The other officers are, a registrar, or keeper of the archives, three esquire-beadles, one yeoman-beadle, and a library-keeper. Each college has its schools and library, as at Oxford, of which those of Trinity and St John are the most considerable. King George I. purchased for 1000 l. the library of Dr Moor bishop of Ely, consisting of 30,000 volumes, and made a present of it to the university, which, out of gratitude, erected, in 1739, a fine marble statue of that prince in the senate-hall of king's college. A professor of modern languages and history was also established here and at Oxford, with a salary of 400 l. for himself and two to teach under him, by king George I. in 1724. In 1728, a professorship for natural philosophy was erected by Dr Woodward, a professor at Gresham college London, with a salary of 150 l. a-year. The same gentleman left them also his collection of fossils, and a part of his library. The master and fellows of Catherine-hall are trustees of an hospital for the cure of poor diseased people gratis; for the building and furnishing of which, Dr Addenbrooke left 4000 l. Each college has its chapel for worship; but public sermons are preached at St Mary's church. The following are the most remarkable structures: 1. The chapel of kings-college, which for its contrivance and extent, fine carved work in wood and stone, and painted windows, is hardly to be equalled in the world. It is entirely of free stone, roof and all, without one pillar to support it. 2. Trinity-college and library, wonderful both for the design and execution. We must not omit to observe, that a fellowship was founded at Magdalen-college, called the travelling Norfolk fellowship, because it is appropriated to gentlemen of that county. Any person that is qualified, may borrow whatever book he has occasion for from the libraries at Cambridge; and any one that is qualified may study in those of Oxford. The privilege of sending members to parliament was first granted to the university by James I. The town is governed by a mayor, high-steward, recorder, 13 aldermen, of whom the mayor is one, 24 common council men, a town clerk, and other inferior officers. The mayor, when he enters on his office, takes an oath to maintain the privileges of the university. The town has 14 parish-churches, and is pretty large; but the situation is low and dirty. E. Long. o. 7. N. Lat. 52. 15.