couraged to hope you will give me much credit for what. I am about to say; namely, that had I no money at all, either from my friends or Mr. Simeon, I could manage to live here. My situation is so very favourable, and the necessary expenses so very few, that I shall want very little more than will suffice for cloaths and books. I have got the bills of Mr.**, a Sizar of this College, now before me, and from them and his own account, I will give you a statement of what my College bills will

amount to.

will not be more than I shall not have any oc

Thus, my College expenses 12 or 151. a year at the most. casion for the whole sum I have a claim upon Mr. Simeon for, and if things go well, I shall be able to live without being dependent on any one. The Mr. whose bills I have borrowed, has been at College three years. He came over from ** with 101. in his pocket, and has no friends, nor any income or emolument whatever, except what he receives for his Sizarship: yet he does support himself, and that too very genteelly. It is only men's extravagance that makes College life so expensive. There are Sizars at St. John's, who spend 1501. a year; but they are gay dissipated men, who chuse to be Sizars in order that they may have more money to lavish on their pleasures. Our dinners and suppers cost us nothing, and if a man chuse to eat milk-breakfasts, and go without tea, he may live absolutely for nothing; for his

College emoluments will cover the rest of his expenses. Tea is indeed almost superfluous, since we do not rise from dinner 'till half past three, and the supper bell rings a quarter before nine. Our mode of living is not to be complained of, for the table is covered with all possible variety, and on feast days, which our fellows take care are pretty frequent, we have wine.

You will now, I trust, feel satisfied on this subject, and will no longer give yourself unnecessary uneasiness on my account.

I was unfortunate enough to be put into unfurnished rooms, so that my furniture will cost me a little more than I expected; I suppose about 151. or perhaps not quite so much. I sleep on a hair matrass, which I find just as comfortable as a bed; it only cost me 41. along with blankets, counterpane, and pillows, &c. I have three rooms-a sitting room, a bed room, and a kind of scullery or pantry. My sitting room is very light and pleasant, and what does not often happen, the walls are in good case, having been lately stained green.

I must commission my sister to make me a pair of letter racks, but they must not be fine, because my furniture is not very fine. I think the old shape (or octagons one upon another) is the neatest, and white the best colour. I wish Maria would paint vignettes in the squares, because then I should see how her drawing proceeds.

You must know that these are not intended as mere matters of shew, but are intended to answer some purpose; there are so many particular places to attend on particular days, that unless a man is very cautious, he has nothing else to do than to pay forfeits for non-attendance. A few cards, and a little rack, will be a short way of helping the memory.

I think I must get a supply of sugar from London, for if I buy it here, it will cost me 1s. 6d. per pound, which is rather too much. I have got tea enough to last the

term out.

*

Although you may be quite easy on the subject of my future support, yet you must not form splendid ideas of my success at the University, for the lecturers all speak so low, and we sit at such a distance, that I cannot hear a syllable. I have, therefore, no more advantage than if I were studying at home.

I beg we may have no more doubts and fears at least on my score. I think I am now very near being off your hands, and since my education at the University is quite secure, you need not entertain gloomy apprehensions for the future; my maintenance will at all events be decent and respectable, and you must not grieve yourself because I cannot be as rich as an alderman.

VOL. I.

Do not shew this letter to all comers, nor leave it about, for people will have a very mean idea of University education, when they find it costs so little; but if they are saucy on the subject, tell them-I have a lord just under me.

TO MR. CHARLESWORTH.

CUM diutius à te frustra litteras expectâssem memet in animum tuum revocare aut iterum otio obtrudere nole'bam.

Penes te erat aut nobiscum denuo per litteras colloqui aut familiaritatem et necessitatem nostram silentio dimittere. Hoc te prætulisse jam diu putaveram, cùm epistola tua mihi in manus venit.

Has litteras scribebam intra sanctos sanctissimi Johannis Collegii muros, in celeberrimâ hâc nostrà academia Cantabriga.

Hic tranquillitate denique litterarum propriâ, summâ cum voluptate conjunctâ fruor. Hic omnes discendi vias, omnes scientiæ rationes indago et persequor: nescio quid tandem evasurus. Certe si parum proficio, mihi culpæ jure datum erit; modo valetudo me sinat.

Haud tamen vereor, si verum dicere cogor, ut satis proficiam: quanquam infirmis auribus aliorum lecturas vix unquam audire queam. In Mathematicis parum adhuc profeci: utpote qui perarduum certamen cum eruditissimis quibusque in vet. Linguis et moribus versatis jam jam sim initurus.

His in studiis pro mea perbrevi sanè et tanquam hesternâ consuetudine haud mediocriter sum versatus.

Latinè minus eleganter scribere videor quam Græcè : neque vero eadem voluptate scriptores Latinos lectito quam Græcos: cum autem omnem industriæ meæ vim Romanis litteris contulerim haud dubito quin faciles mihi et propitias eas faciam.

Te etiam revocatum velim ad hæc elegantia deliciasque litterarum. Quid enim accommodatius videri potest aut ad animum quotidianis curis laboribusque oppressum reficiendum et recreandum aut ad mentem et facultates ingenii acuendas quam exquisita et expolita summâque vi et acumine ingenii elaborata veterum scriptorum opera?