at Peter-house, Cambridge, he happened to make me để a party of collegians, where it was proposed that each rele man should toast his favourite belle; when it came to his turn, he facetiously gave "the college-bell!"

COLLEGE FUN.

"Previous to my attending Cambridge," says Henry Angelo, in his Reminiscences, "one of my scholars (whom I had taught at Westminster School,) at Trinity College, engaged an Irish fencing master, named Fitzpatrick," more remarkable for his native humour than science, and when he had taken too much of the cratur, "was amusing to the collegians, who had engaged him merely to keep up their exercise. One day, during a bout, some wag placed a bottle of his favourite mountain dew" (whisky) on the chimney-piece, which proved so attractive, "that as his sips increased, so did the numerous hits he received, till the first so far prevailed, aided by exertion and the heat of the weather, that he lay, tanden, to all appearance dead." To keep the fun up, he was stripped and laid out like a corpse, with a shroud on, a coffin close to him, and four candles placed on each side, ready to light on his recovery. This jeu de plaisanterie might have been serious; "however, Master Push-carte took care not to push himself again into the same place.”

THE KING OF DENMARK AT CAMBRIDGE.

When the late King of Denmark was in England, in 1763, when he visited Eton, &c., he is said to have made a brief sojourn at Cambridge, where he was received with “all the honours," and took up his abode (as is usual for persons of his rank) in the lodge of the Master of Trinity. In his majesty's establishments for learned purposes, as well as throughout all Germany, &c., no provision is made for lodging and otherwise providing for the comforts of students, as in the two English universities; and when he sur

veyed the principal court of Trinity, he is said to have had so little notion of an English university, that he asked "whether that court did not comprise the whole of the university of Cambridge?" This royal anecdote reminds me that his present gracious Majesty,

WILLIAM THE FOURTH, ANNOUNCED HIS
INTENTION TO VISIT CAMBRIDGE.

As in duty bound, upon his accession to the throne of his ancestors, a loyal congratulatory address was voted by the members of the University of Cambridge in full senate. This was shortly afterwards presented to his Majesty at St. James's Palace by the then Vice-Chancellor, Dr. George Thackery, D.D., Provost of King's College, at the head of a large body of the heads of colleges, and others, en robe. His majesty not only received it most graciously, but with that truly English expression that goes home to the bosom of every Briton, told Dr. Thackery he "should shortly take pot-luck with him in Cambridge. The term, too, is worthy of particular notice, since it expresses his Majesty's kind consideration for the contents of the university chest, and the pockets of its members. Oxford, it is well known, is still smarting under the heavy charges incident upon the memorable visit of his late Majesty, George the Fourth, in 1814, with the Emperor Alexander and the King of Prussia and their suites. It would be no drawback upon the popularity of princes if they did take "pot-luck" with their subjects oftener than they do. Let there be no drawback upon hospitality, but let the "feast of reason and the flow of soul" suffice for the costly banquet. In olden times, our monarchs took pot-luck both at Oxford, Cambridge, and elsewhere, without their subjects being the less loyal. Queen Elizabeth and James the First and Second were frequent visiters at both those seats of learning. Elizabeth, indeed, that flower of British monarchs, suffered no designing minister to shake her confidence in her people's loyalty. She did not confine her movements to the dull routine of two or three royal palaces,-her palace was her empire. She went about "doing good" by the light of her countenance.

She, and not her minister, was the people's idol. I therefore come to the conclusion, that the expressed determination of his majesty, William the Fourth, to take pot-luck with his good people of the University of Cambridge, is the dawn of a return of those wholesome practices of which we read in the works of our ANNALISTS, when

""Twas merry in the hall,

And their beards wagged all.”

Wood relates, amongst other humorous incidents, that

DURING QUEEN ELIZABETH'S SECOND VISIT TO

OXFORD,

In September, 1592, besides plays, &c., there was a disputation in law and physic, and, amongst many questions, was one,- "Whether the air, or meat, or drink, did most change a man?" and a merry Doctor of that faculty, named Richard Ratcliffe, lately Fellow of Merton College, but now Principal of St. Alban's Hall, going about to produce the negative, showed forth a big, large body, a great fat belly, a side waist, all, as he said, so changed by meat and drink, desiring to see any other so metamorphosed by the air. But it was concluded (by the Moderator) in the affirmative, that air had the greater power of change. One of the questions (the next day) was,-"Whether it be lawful to dissemble in the cause of religion?" written thus, says Gutch, "Non est dissimulandum in causa religionis;" "which being looked upon as a nice question," continues Wood, "caused much attention from the courtly auditory. One argument, more witty than solid, that was urged by one of the opponents, was, 'It is lawful to dispute of religion, therefore 'tis lawful to dissemble;' and so going on, said, 'I myself now do that which is lawful, but I do now dissemble; ergo, it is lawful to dissemble. (Id quod nunc ego, de rebus divinis disputans, ego dissimulare; sed quod nunc ego, de rebus divinis disputam, ego dissimulare est licitum; at which her majesty and all the auditory were very merry."

WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH FIRST VISITED

CAMBRIDGE,

In the year 1564, she took up her residence at the lodge of the Provost of King's College, which stood near the east end of King's Chapel. We well remember the old pile and the solitary trees that branched beside; and much as we admire the splendid improvements to which they have given place, we could almost find it in our hearts to express regret at the removal of those landmarks of the topographist. The hall was her guard-chamber, the diningroom her presence-chamber, and the gallery and adjoining rooms her private apartments. Her visit lasted five days, during which she was entertained with comedies, tragedies, orations, disputations, and other academical exercises. She personally visited every college, and is said to have been so pleased with the venerable, solemn, and scholastic appearance of Pembroke Hall, that she saluted it with the words

"O Domus antiqua et religiosa!"

THE FIRST DISSENTER IN ENGLAND,

According to the author of Historical Anecdotes, &c., was Thomas Cartwright, B. D., Lady Margaret's Professor and Fellow of Trinity College. He and Thomas Preston (afterwards Master of Trinity Hall,) says Fuller, during Queen Elizabeth's visit at Cambridge, in 1564, were appointed two of the four disputants in the philosophy-act before her Majesty. "Cartwright had dealt most with the muses; Preston with the graces, adorning his learning with comely carriage, graceful gesture, and pleasing pronunciation. Cartwright disputed like a great, Preston like a gentile scholar, being a handsome man; and the Queen, upon a parity of deserts, always preferred properness of person in conferring her favours. Hereupon, with her looks, words, and deeds she favoured Preston, calling him her scholler, as appears by his epitaph in Trinity Hall chappell.

"THOMAS PRESTONE, Scholarem,

'Quem dixit princeps Elizabetha suum,' &c.

Insomuch," continues Fuller, "that for his good disputing, and excellent acting, in the tragedy of Dido, she bestowed on him a pension of 20 lib. a year; whilst Cartwright received neither reward nor commendation, whereof he not only complained to his inward friends in Trinity College, but also, after her Majesty's neglect of him, began to wade into divers opinions against her ecclesiastical government." And thus, according to the authority first cited, he became the first Dissenter in England, and was deprived, subsequently, as a matter of course, of both his fellowship and professorship.

It was most probably for the entertainment of the Royal Elizabeth, that one Thomas Still, M.A., of Christ's College, Cambridge, afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells, composed and produced

THE FIRST ENGLISH PLAY EXTANT:

A fact no Cantab need blush at, proh pudor, though the plot is none of the sublimest. It was printed as early as 1575, with the following

TITLE:

"A ryght pythy, pleasant, and merie Comedie, entytuled Gammer Gurton's Needle; played on the stage not long ago in Christe's College, in Cambridge, made by Mr. S. Master of Arts. Imprynted at London, in Fleete Streeate, beneth the Conduit, at the signe of Sainte John Evangelist, by Thomas Colwell." Though altogether of a comic cast, it was not deficient in genuine humour, and is a curious sample of the simplicity which prevailed in this country, in the early days of dramatic art. It is in metre, is spun out into five regular acts, and an awful piece it is, as may be seen by the following

BRIEF SKETCH OF THE PLOT.

Gammer Gurton having lost her needle, a great hunt is made in search of it, and her boy is directed to blow the