second year of his age, and was interred in a vault which he had caused to be made under the communion-table of the new-built chapel, without any further memorial than the initials of his name and the date of his death on his coffin.

A

In the inner court of this college, in a brick building purposely erected for its reception, is the curious astronomical machine, or hollow sphere, designed by Dr. Long, master of the college, and Lowndes's Professor of Astronomy; it was constructed by himself and Mr. Jonathan Munn, an ingenious tin-plate-worker of Cambridge. This sphere is 18 feet in diameter, and thirty persons may sit conveniently within it. The entrance into it is over the south pole by six steps. The frame of the sphere consists of a number of iron meridians, not complete semicircles, the northern ends of which are screwed to a large round plate of brass, with a hole in the centre of it: through this hole, from a beam in the ceiling, comes the north pole, a round iron rod, about 3 inches long, and supports the upper part of the sphere in its proper elevation to the latitude of Cambridge; the lower part of the sphere, so much of it as is invisible in England, is cut off, and

the lower or southern ends of the meridian, or truncated semicircles, terminate on, and are screwed down to, a strong circle of oak, of about 13 feet diameter, which, when the sphere is put into motion, runs upon large rollers of lignum vitæ. Upon the iron meridians is fixed a zodiac of tin, painted blue, whereon the ecliptic and heliocentric orbits of the planets are drawn, and the constellations or stars traced. The whole is turned round with a small winch with great ease, although the weight of iron, tin, and wooden circle, is above 1000 lbs.

GONVILLE AND CAIUS COLLEGE,

[Founded 1348,]

IN TRINITY STREET,

Is now generally known only by its latter name, though it had originally no other than the former. Its ancient site was near Bene't College. The founder, Edmund Gonville, son of Sir Nicholas Gonville, and rector of Terrington in Norfolk, obtained letters-patent under the great seal of England, dated January 28, 1347, the 22nd of Edward III., to found a Hall in Cambridge, to be called after his own name, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Of this hall, he appointed a master or keeper, and four fellows. In the year 1350 he died, and left William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich, his executor, and a great sum of money for the completion and endowment of his foundation. The bishop, being engaged