That Cambridge is entitled to take its place in this publication there can be no doubt. Is it not one of the chief centres of learning wherein books, booksellers and libraries are at their best? In the Domesday record Cambridge is designated Grentebrige, but to give an account of its history, associations etc., would not permit, and I think, owing to the very bookish nature of the place, we must confine ourselves to a short account of its Libraries which shall be taken in the chronological order of each college: PETERHOUSE, OR ST. PETER'S COLLEGE. (Founded A.D. 1284.) This library was really helped at its commencement by the large collection of Divinity and Medical Books given by its founder Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. The catalogue done in 1418 contains 380 volumes, enumerated on various subjects, the large folios of theological books being in the majority. At the present time it has a large collection of books, chiefly those suitable for the students' working purposes. But it can also claim to have some really valuable books, not forgetting to mention the early editions of Gray. To show the value attached to this library a few centuries ago it is only neces sary to mention that the French ambassador, in 1571, spoke of it as "the worthiest library in all England." When a fellow-commoner of Peterhouse, the poet Gray was the subject of a practical joke, played upon him by some undergraduates. He had more than once sustained loss by fires and he therefore provided himself with a rope ladder. The iron frame can still be seen to which he hooked his rope ladder. The undergraduates' joke was the lighting of some straw on his staircase and crying "fire! fire!" Gray opened his door and seeing the smoke, went and affixed his ladder, and descended into a butt of water. CLARE COLLEGE. (Founded 1326.) This college was called Clare Hall till 1856, and the library contains some very fine bookcases, made about 1620, and moved from the old library to its present site. (This college was rebuilt and took from 1635 to 1661 to finish). Here, again, besides working books, one can meet with some very good books, as also fine old bindings. PEMBROKE COLLEGE (Founded 1347.) To this college Gray migrated from Peterhouse, owing to the lenient view taken by the college authorities of the joke played on him by undergraduates as mentioned at foot of Peterhouse article. The library of this college in the fifteenth-century consisted of about 140 volumes (catalogued). Its chief contribution was Bishop Andrewes' library. Mention might be made also of two good items, i. e., Gower's "Confessio Amantis," and "Golden Legend," printed by Caxton. Also Gray's MSS. of the "Elegy." A good collection of ancient and modern books also it is rich in, and no student of a bookish nature would need to crave for a better library. GONVILLE AND CAIUS COLLEGE. (Founded 1348.) Contains a good library and has in abundance a good collection of early and modern medical works. It has an excellent collection of MSS., said to be second only to that of Corpus College Library. Siberch's printing place was on the present site of this college. TRINITY HALL. (Founded 1350.) The library is among the most curious buildings in Cambridge; it occupies the whole of the upper floor of a wing. It is sixty-five feet long and twenty feet broad. Some of the iron staples to which books were fastened still remain, with chains attached. The library of books, as represented in 1557, was not very large. Archbishop Parker, by his will, left some books to Trinity Hall and made arrangements whereby in certain contingences his collection of MSS. might be transferred from his own college (Corpus) to Trinity Hall. It is quoted as still being as near an approach to an Elizabethan library as we can show in England. CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE. (Founded 1352.) Archbishop Parker's fine collection, and most valuable MSS., are stored in the library. We might mention Jerome's version of the four gospels sent by Gregory to Augustine, the beautiful Peterborough Psalter and a XV century MS. of Homer taken by Parker from the Baker of St. Augustin's Abbey. Matthew Paris's own copy of his history, and many other valuable treasures, could be mentioned did space permit. It should be mentioned that Parker was able to get these from the dissolved monasteries; also rich in other books both for working purposes, and miscellaneous. KING'S COLLEGE. (Founded 1441.) The Library has about 30,000 volumes to its credit, and most of these have been acquired since 1644. A good Cambridge Collection, and a fine collection of MSS., and this latter, it would seem, no Cambridge College is without. QUEEN'S COLLEGE. (Founded 1448. Re-founded 1465.) In 1472 this college bad but 224 volumes, but now has a well filled Library. A good catalogue in two volumes was issued 1826-7; this contains, recorded, 30,000 volumes, and at the present time the number slightly exceeds 40,000. The Library contains some Turkish and Persian MSS., also a MSS. of Wycliffe and of Occleve's Poems, and some black letter Missals and Breviaries. Further, it contains a large collection of Bibles dating from 1476, and is rich in Tracts, running to several hundred volumes, on practically every subject which has been agitated during the past four centuries. ST. CATHERINE'S COLLEGE. (Founded 1473.) In 1475. 137 volumes stood to the credit of this Library, but as with all others of the Cambridge libraries it has increased its store, as one might say, in abundance. JESUS COLLEGE (Founded 1496.) An air of venerable antiquity is one feature of the Library of Jesus College; its oaken roof still remains much as it was built by the founder of the College at the close of the fifteenth century, while the bookcases date from about 1665. The Library possesses a good collection of Monastic MSS., of which one, containing portions of the Vulgate and written in the thirteenth century, is remarkable for the beauty of its writing, the fineness of the vellum, and the character of its illuminations. An interesting collection of books "de Arte Militari" was presented by the widow of Colonel John Clarke, Govenor of Senegambia: it includes a copy of Roger A cham's Toxophilus (London, 1545), which is probably unique in the possession of its frontispiece. The most valuable printed book in the library is a Bible translated into the 1nguage of the Algonquin Indians of North America by John Eliot, the "Apostle to the Indians" (1663). Apart from the rarity of the book, the Jesus College copy contains John Eliot's autograph and a dedicatory couplet in his handwriting addressed to the college, of which he was a member : "Accipias, Mater, quod alumnus humillimus offert ; Filius oro preces semper habere tuas.' CHRIST'S COLLEGE. (Founded 1505.) The new and fine Library of this college was opened in 1897. We have a good store here, comprising several scientific periodicals, the gift of Geo. Henslow. A collection of about fifty MSS. (Arabic, Persian and Hindustani), and also Mathematical, Classical, and some very uncommon books which have come in by bequest from time to time. Milton was seven years at this College; and here he wrote the 'Hymn of Christ's Nativity," "Lycidas," "L'Allegro," and "Il Penseroso." COLLEGE OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST. (Founded 1511). Lord Keeper Williams helped considerably with funds for the formation of this library, and it was finished in 1628. He also presented a good number of books including Cromwell's Bible. Thomas Baker also left his books to this college. Matthew Prior, the poet, was a fellow of this college, and presented amongst other books his own works. The library contains the service books held by King Charles I in his hand at his Coronation, a fine specimen of Caxton's typography "The Boke of Tulle of Old Age, etc.," and other fine and scarce books. John Evelyn, in his diary, August 31, 1654, quotes:-"This evening to Cambridge; and went first to St. John's Colledge, well built of brick, and Librarie, which is the fairest in the University," etc. It contains some fine stamped bindings, some with the arms of Edward VI, the badge of Elizabeth or her mother. Also contains a fine collection of autographs and bookplates. Note in the illustration the cases left open by the photographer, and there see the mode formerly used for the catalogues--by opening these cases one was able to be informed where each particular book was. MAGDALENE COLLEGE. (Founded 1519.) Here we have Samuel Pepys' library, which is placed in a separate building. The collection consists of books, pamphlets, maps and illustrations of naval matters of that period, etc. The twelve bookcases used by Pepys himself in his own house are still in use, and this portion of the College Library is housed in a fire-proof room. The General Library is on a par with the other colleges, having its full share of modern books. Here was found the famous "Pepys Diary" which was in cypher, and was first edited by Lord Braybrooke, in 1825. TRINITY COLLEGE. (Founded 1546.) Here we see a fine collection of Illuminated MSS., Milton's MS. of " Minor Poems," and his first sketch of "Paradise Lost." Original MSS. of Tennyson's "In Memoriam," and some of the most costly and earliest printed books. The library contains about 100,000 volumes and about 1,900 manuscripts. The Grylls Collection is especially fine in fifteenth-century books, but none are English-printed. It would require pages of matter to treat this library even to a small advantage, and it must therefore suffice us to refer the reader to books published on the library, not forgetting to mention Dr. Sinker's book, which gives a good account. We could hardly be expected to treat of this most excellent and esteemed library when one sees the exhaustive nature of its contents as noted above, and when even we see two complete sets of the Shakespeare folios, and a host, so to speak, of the quartos and numerous Manuscripts and Incunabula, the task to duly enumerate the luxuries this library contains, would be, as far as I am concerned, life long, and the only remedy therefore is for the library to be seen and thoroughly appreciated-one certainly should not pass it by when at Cambridge. Hazlitt (Jests, pp. 66) tells us that "When the Queen visited Trinity College, of which the the Crown is Patron, during the mastership of Whewell, the latter met her with I welcome your Majesty to my house! My house, Dr. Whewell,' the Queen rejoined." EMMANUEL COLLEGE. (Founded 1584.) Contains a good students' library, including amongst other things a good collection of classical and other really good books from a bibliophile's point of view. The library was originally built as a chapel, but a new chapel being built, 1665, it was fitted up as a library. It should be mentioned that when built for a chapel it was placed from North to South. The library contains about 25,000 volumes, and a valuable collection of letters, etc., concerning Ridley, Coverdale, amongst other reformers. A curious MS. copy of Wycliffe's Bible is also to be seen. SIDNEY SUSSEX COLLEGE. (Founded 1596.) Oliver Cromwell entered as a fellowcommoner at this college, April 23rd, 1616, and his portrait is to be seen hung in the hall. The college contains a good library, and amongst other books we might mention the following:-Pica seu Directorium Sacerdotum ad usum Eboracensem, 4to, York, 1509, which the librarian tells me is said to be unique except for an imperfect copy in York library. It was presented to the college by J. Craven, a late Master. Also should be noted books printed by Wynkyn de Worde, "The Chastysing of Goddes Children," 1491, and "The Tretyse of Love," 1493, and some fine copies of some of Sir Thomas More's works in their original state. DOWNING COLLEGE. (Founded 1800.) Contains a good working library for the students. Mr. Watts, the University Printer, deposited in the foundation stone the first stereotype plate cast in this University, dedicated to the Vice-Chancellor and Heads of Colleges. SELWYN COLLEGE. (Founded 1882.) Though this college has not been founded long it has an excellent library to its credit, and has at times received considerable additions to same by bequests. CAMBRIDGE FREE LIBRARY. On June 28th, 1855, this library was opened in Jesus' Lane, under the librarianship of Mr. John Pink. There were about 1,200 books in the reading room only, and three years later a lending department was opened. The Public Libraries Act was adopted March 1st, 1853, and the library was removed to its present site, June 23rd, 1862. Newspapers and periodicals were first supplied April 11th, 1860. The library is well filled with books suitable for all classes, and its reference department is above reproach. It contains a good Shakespeare Collection, besides, of course, well filled shelves of Cambridge literature. Two Library Association Meetings have been held at Cambridge, the last on the late librarian's jubilee as librarian. Mr. Pink died in 1906, and the library in its present form is mostly due to his good management. FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM. Founded by the bequest of Richard, Viscount Fitzwilliam, who died February 5th, 1816. He left to the University his collection of of books, illuminated MSS., etc., and £100,000 in South Sea Annuities for the founding and upkeep of this museum. Also contained in the library are a good number of volumes of manuscript music by Handel, Bach, and others. Large additions have been made in recent years, not forgetting to mention the munificent bequest of the late Mr. Frank McLean's collection of manuscripts. THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. This is the oldest of the three great English libraries, and in 1473 the catalogue then made consisted of 330 books. Its chief treasure is the "Codex Bezae," or MS. of the Four Gospels, Acts, etc., presented by Beza in 1581. It dates from the fifth century, and is one of the five earliest examples krown of the Sacred Writings. It is always kept open at the place where it records a saying of Christ, not to be found in any other text-that of seeing a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. He said, "If thou doest this with knowledge thou art blessed, but if without knowledge, accursed." It received presentations of books from Rotherham, the Archbishop of York, and Tunstall, Bishop of Durham, and others. George I presented the library of Bishop Moore, of Ely, which consisted of 700 MSS., and about 30,000 volumes. The library is one of the copyright libraries, being entitled to all English publications free of charge. It now contains more than 500,000 volumes. Henry Bradshaw was librarian here in his time, and the library greatly benefited by a large collection from his own valuable library. To treat of this library would require space out of proportion to this paper-we are inclined to compare it as another British Museum-its valuable books and MSS. at times, here, though, are allowed even to go |