cient in wood, and grows gradually worse as it comes nearer Cambridge, except that it wears a pleasanter aspect about Huntingdon, where the Ouse (a river in character much like the Neu) winds in a broad stream through a spacious green meadow. I did not mention in my last that the Neu is navigable as high up as Northampton, as the Ouse is at least as high as Huntingdon. The road almost all the way from that town is extremely dreary, being very flat and almost entirely destitute of trees and hedges. The new inclosure will soon supply the latter deficiency.

As soon as we had drunk tea we were both disposed to wander about the town, under a very bright moonlight. It has shown us Trinity College and King's College Chapel to greater advantage probably than they will appear by day. The former is more splendid and palace-like, but not equal in sublime effect to Christ Church. As for the latter, where shall I find words to express my admiration and delight? As I stood almost close under it and looked up, it reminded me of a description in Milton,

"A rock

Of alabaster piled up to the clouds."

The other buildings seemed like toys after it. But more of this to-morrow or the following day. It is now ten o'clock, and we rose at six and have had little rest since.

October 18. We have this morning walked over

most of the Colleges. effect by moonlight. The Senate-house alone, which is a beautiful structure of the Corinthian order, is improved by the full view afforded of all its parts by the light of day. What is called the backs of the Colleges is extremely pleasing. It is a walk that passes behind several of the Colleges with the river Cam between (a narrow, deep, muddy stream either bordered with stone or stone-like brick piers, or with a very smooth green bank), and is shaded by avenues of large trees, lime, elm, and some willows, in different directions.

The buildings had a finer

We have not entered the inside of any of the buildings except Pembroke, and that was accidental, as we were inquiring of an old servant which were Gray's rooms. He showed them to us, and then led us into the hall, out of which he helped to carry Gray, when he was suddenly seized with the fit that terminated his life. On further recollection, we also walked into the hall of Trinity College, which, though a fine room, is very inferior to that at Christ Church.

Mr. Charles Blick is coming to dine with us, and in the evening we are engaged to Mr. Boon, whom you may remember to have seen at our house the winter before last.

On the whole I am much more gratified by this place than I expected. The town particularly is far better than I supposed. The streets indeed are narrow, but they are well flagged and tolerably neat

and clean, and both Wilkes and I think it appears larger than Oxford.

In my next letter I hope to be able to tell you when we shall leave Cambridge. There is much yet to be seen, and something I trust out of the University library, from which Mr. Boon has very kindly promised to get me books. I write in great haste. Believe me to be, dearest Jane, ever yours truly and faithfully,

H. F. CARY.

TO THE SAME.

Ely, October 20, 1804.

MY DEAR JANE,

We left Cambridge this morning at seven o'clock, and having seen the cathedral here, are about to set out for Peterborough. It is uncertain what route we shall take from that place, but I hope to reach either Coleshill or Kingsbury on Wednesday, or at farthest, on Thursday next. It will not, therefore, be likely that another letter will reach you. You will not get this perhaps till Tuesday. Not one from you have I seen since I left home, and now certainly shall not see one. We yesterday saw the inside of the libraries and public buildings best worth attention in Cambridge. The inside of the public library is very inferior to the Bodleian. That of Trinity is a noble room. I inquired there for a copy of my great grandfather's admission into that college and obtained it.

The road from Cambridge here, though entirely flat, is much less dreary than I expected, exhibiting at present very little appearance of fen, but in winter, I am told, it is covered with water.

The chaise is at the door; and I have no time to add more than that I long to see you once more. Love to all around you.

Ever yours truly and affectionately,

H. F. CARY.

Wilkes is not ready. I may therefore tell you that this cathedral, though exhibiting a very grand specimen of Saxon architecture, is much injured by time and injudicious alterations. It is besides very dirty.

Since mention was last made of his children, his family had been increased by the addition of two sons; one born in June, 1802, another in February, 1804. About the latter date his father married a third wife, Mary, daughter of Bunbury, Esq., of Bath, by whom he had one child, a daughter; and in the autumn of the same year the subject of this memoir had the gratification to see his sister Georgina united in marriage to his friend the Rev. Thomas Price.

CHAPTER VI.

1805-1812.

Mr. Cary's translation of the Inferno of Dante is published.-Correspondence with Miss Seward about his version of Dante.— Literary Journal for 1806.-Death of his youngest daughter.— His consequent illness.-Letter to Mr. Birch, and to his Wife.Settles in the neighbourhood of London.-Appointed reader at Berkeley Chapel.-Letter to his Father.-Literary Journal for 1811 and 1812.

EARLY in the year 1805, the first volume of his version of the Inferno of Dante made its appearance before the public; and was followed by the second volume in the next year. In this edition the original is printed with the translation,, a plan which, while it enables the reader to test the fidelity of the English version, at the same time much facilitates the study of the most difficult of Italian authors. There is probably no metrical version in our language of any poet, ancient or modern, which would so well bear, in point of faithfulness at least, to be thus put side by side with its original.

The success of the publication was not at all answerable to its merit; and the translator had to endure the mortification, common to the most gifted authors, of seeing the fruits of many years of toil received with coldness and indifference. In the "Cri