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wholesale business begins to be over； the gentry come in from all
parts of the county round； and though they come for their
diversion； yet it is not a little money they lay out； which
generally falls to the share of the retailers； such as toy…shops；
goldsmiths； braziers； ironmongers； turners； milliners； mercers；
etc。； and some loose coins they reserve for the puppet shows；
drolls； rope…dancers； and such like； of which there is no want；
though not considerable like the rest。 The last day of the fair is
the horse…fair； where the whole is closed with both horse and foot
races； to divert the meaner sort of people only； for nothing
considerable is offered of that kind。 Thus ends the whole fair；
and in less than a week more； there is scarce any sign left that
there has been such a thing there； except by the heaps of dung and
straw and other rubbish which is left behind； trod into the earth；
and which is as good as a summer's fallow for dunging the land； and
as I have said above； pays the husbandman well for the use of it。
I should have mentioned that here is a court of justice always
open； and held every day in a shed built on purpose in the fair；
this is for keeping the peace； and deciding controversies in
matters deriving from the business of the fair。 The magistrates of
the town of Cambridge are judges in this court； as being in their
jurisdiction； or they holding it by special privilege： here they
determine matters in a summary way； as is practised in those we
call Pye Powder Courts in other places； or as a Court of
Conscience； and they have a final authority without appeal。
I come now to the town and university of Cambridge； I say the town
and university； for though they are blended together in the
situation； and the colleges； halls； and houses for literature are
promiscuously scattered up and down among the other parts； and some
even among the meanest of the other buildings； as Magdalene College
over the bridge is in particular； yet they are all incorporated
together by the name of the university； and are governed apart and
distinct from the town which they are so intermixed with。
As their authority is distinct from the town； so are their
privileges； customs； and government； they choose representatives；
or members of Parliament for themselves； and the town does the like
for themselves； also apart。
The town is governed by a mayor and aldermen； the university by a
chancellor； and vice…chancellor； etc。 Though their dwellings are
mixed； and seem a little confused； their authority is not so； in
some cases the vice…chancellor may concern himself in the town； as
in searching houses for the scholars at improper hours； removing
scandalous women； and the like。
But as the colleges are many； and the gentlemen entertained in them
are a very great number； the trade of the town very much depends
upon them； and the tradesmen may justly be said to get their bread
by the colleges； and this is the surest hold the university may be
said to have of the townsmen； and by which they secure the
dependence of the town upon them； and consequently their
submission。
I remember some years ago a brewer； who being very rich and popular
in the town； and one of their magistrates； had in several things so
much opposed the university； and insulted their vice…chancellor； or
other heads of houses； that in short the university having no other
way to exert themselves； and show their resentment； they made a
bye…law or order among themselves； that for the future they would
not trade with him； and that none of the colleges； halls； etc。；
would take any more beer of him； and what followed？ The man indeed
braved it out a while； but when he found he could not obtain a
revocation of the order； he was fain to leave off his brewhouse；
and if I remember right； quitted the town。
Thus I say； interest gives them authority； and there are abundance
of reasons why the town should not disoblige the university； as
there are some also on the other hand； why the university should
not differ to any extremity with the town； nor； such is their
prudence； do they let any disputes between them run up to any
extremities if they can avoid it。 As for society； to any man who
is a lover of learning； or of learned men； here is the most
agreeable under heaven； nor is there any want of mirth and good
company of other kinds； but it is to the honour of the university
to say； that the governors so well understand their office； and the
governed their duty； that here is very little encouragement given
to those seminaries of crime； the assemblies； which are so much
boasted of in other places。
Again； as dancing； gaming； intriguing are the three principal
articles which recommend those assemblies； and that generally the
time for carrying on affairs of this kind is the night； and
sometimes all night； a time as unseasonable as scandalous； add to
this； that the orders of the university admit no such excesses； I
therefore say； as this is the case； it is to the honour of the
whole body of the university that no encouragement is given to them
here。
As to the antiquity of the university in this town； the originals
and founders of the several colleges； their revenues； laws；
government； and governors； they are so effectually and so largely
treated of by other authors； and are so foreign to the familiar
design of these letters； that I refer my readers to Mr。 Camden's
〃Britannia〃 and the author of the 〃Antiquities of Cambridge；〃 and
other such learned writers； by whom they may be fully informed。
The present Vice…Chancellor is Dr。 Snape； formerly Master of Eaton
School near Windsor； and famous for his dispute with； and evident
advantage over； the late Bishop of Bangor in the time of his
government； the dispute between the University and the Master of
Trinity College has been brought to a head so as to employ the pens
of the learned on both sides； but at last prosecuted in a judicial
way so as to deprive Dr。 Bentley of all his dignities and offices
in the university； but the doctor flying to the royal protection；
the university is under a writ of mandamus； to show cause why they
do not restore the doctor again； to which it seems they demur； and
that demur has not； that we hear； been argued； at least when these
sheets were sent to the press。 What will be the issue time must
show。
From Cambridge the road lies north…west on the edge of the fens to
Huntingdon； where it joins the great north road。 On this side it
is all an agreeable corn country as above； adorned with several
seats of gentlemen； but the chief is the noble house； seat； or
mansion of Wimple or Wimple Hall； formerly built at a vast expense
by the late Earl of Radnor； adorned with all the natural beauties
of situation； and to which was added all the most exquisite
contrivances which the best heads could invent to make it
artificially as well as naturally pleasant。
However； the fate o