JAMES BURROUGH.

James Burrough, twenty-sixth master (1754-64), was a son of James Burrough, M.D., of Bury St Edmunds, where he was born Sept. 1, 1691. His grandfather, Thomas, according to Davy, was an alderman of Bury. He was educated at Bury grammar school for eight years, under Mr Leeds; and was admitted pensioner at our college, Dec. 9, 1707. He was elected scholar Nov. 27, 1708; graduated B.A. 1711-12, and M. A. 1716. He was elected a junior fellow Nov. 22, 1712; and a senior June 26, 1719. He resided almost constantly in college, and held all the various offices there which were open to a layman. In the University he held the post of Esquire bedell from 1727 till he became master, Feb. 27, 1754. In the college affairs he seems to have been somewhat on the master's side in the long dispute between the fellows and Sir Thomas Gooch; at least he materially aided the schemes of the latter by accepting the post of "locum-tenens," with its very limited powers, and retaining it for twelve years. He was not appointed to the statutable office of president till Jan. 9, 1750-1.

In the college he does not seem to have left behind him any marked impress of his character or work, but in the University generally there are, in one department at least, plenty of traces of his activity. These are displayed in his architectural work. As Mr Clark says, he was 66 an amateur architect of some skill and considerable reputation in the University, where he used his influence to introduce the classical style which had then become fashionable" (D. N. B.). The design with which his name has been mostly associated however, viz. that of the Senate House, appears to have been his in a very general sense only. Gibbs was certainly the actual architect. What Burrough seems to have done was to give a general suggestion as to style and arrangement. The direction of the Syndicate (March 8, 1721-2) was "that Mr James Gibbs do take up with him to London Mr Burrough's plan of the intended publick buildings, and make what improvements he shall think necessary upon it; and that Mr Gibbs be employed and retained to supervise and conduct the said work."

As regards Burrough's own work, the following appear to be the buildings by which he is now represented. The north and west sides of Gonville Court were respectively built and faced by him in 1754, and left nearly as they now stand. The present cupola is older, having been designed by him in 1728. He transformed the Hall of Queens' into an Italian chamber in 1732: 'beautified' Emmanuel chapel in 1735; and designed the north wing of the front court of Peterhouse in 1736; for which he received £50 and a piece of plate. He faced with stone, in a classical style, the quadrangle of Trinity Hall in 1742-5; and designed the internal fittings of the hall. The new chapel of Clare was also his work, but he died before its completion and it was actually finished by Mr Essex. He had the credit moreover of the Doctors' Gallery in St Mary's Church, so familiar to Cambridge men until 1863, under the name of "Golgotha." Besides these works he seems to have been consulted about most of the changes, great and small, that were effected

in the town and neighbourhood of Cambridge. For instance in 1757 he gave advice respecting a new bridge at Wisbech.

The great disappointment of his professional life was connected with the east room or new façade of the University Library. The scheme already referred to (v. p. 123) was in debate for a long time. In 1752 Burrough gave a design, afterwards engraved, for the new front, which was to be in harmony with the Senate House; and which Mr J. W. Clark describes as possessing both beauty and convenience. This, however, was set aside through the influence of the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor, who had recommended, and subscribed for, another design, the present one. The transaction is thus described by Cole, "Possibly they might think the new one might be executed cheaper, as the former was on a rich Corinthian plan and design. Whatever were the motives, the friends of Mr Burrough (and he had no enemies, though the expectants voted for the lucrative side) thought this not only a great slight thrown unnecessarily on a very worthy member and old servant of the University, who had deserved better, but that the building a new front to the Library, on a different design from that of the adjoining Senate House, was absurd and ill-judged. It occasioned a good deal of animosity and ill-temper in the University; and the Duke, in order to cajole and bring into temper Mr Burrough, soon after procured him a knighthood. But the absurdity of the measure must strike everyone." It was to this that Burrough's saying refers when on being asked to what order of architecture it belonged, he replied that he did not know but supposed it was the Duke of Newcastle's order. (Add. MS. 5852, p. 136. See also Willis-Clark, 111. 62, 536.)

Prof. Willis gives the following general estimate of him, "He practised architecture to a considerable extent, but in what manner his previous education had prepared him for it does not appear. His works are certainly not characterised by great artistic power, and are all in the tamest Italian style."

During the latter part of his life he was much crippled by illness. "About three weeks ago he was struck with a fit, something of the apoplectic kind, and has continued since dangerously ill. He has a sore leg that threatens a mortification, and a habit of body that shows a great tendency to dropsy. These, with an asthma and 74 years of age, are such circumstances that his friends cannot flatter themselves with hopes of his long continuance among them'." "He died a bachelor; was a great virtuoso in painting, prints, and medals, of which he had a very choice and valuable collection. He was always my particular friend and acquaintance, and was as honest and worthy a man as ever lived; but being a very large and corpulent man, who lived freely and took no exercise, it is no wonder he fell into so ill a habit of body, or rather that he lived so long" (Cole MS. 5832, p. 83).

The following letter from Mr Betham, in Cole's collection (Add. 6400, p. 155) gives some account of his death. It is dated from King's College, Aug. 14, 1764. Dear Sir Since I was favoured with yours of the 29th of last moon, your worthy friend and acquaintance, Sir James Burrough, has left us. Ardens illud et prefulgidum

1 Letter from Mr E. Bentham, dated King's College, July 25, 1764 (Add. MS. 6400, p. 155).

lumen rei antiquaria extinctum est. He was not only member, but Father, I think, of the first Society. The modern Company, though incorporated by charter, you will excuse me if I hold for nothing; as upstarts only, of yesterday; but the former primæval worthies I hold in high veneration. I should have been proud to have had my name enrolled with them in the List of Fame, and with them to have been delivered down to posterity. Sir James departed this life on Tuesday, August the 7th, about one o'clock in the afternoon. From the first of his illness there were little or no hopes of recovery. Yet he himself seemed insensible of the least danger during the whole time. He was in tolerable good spirits; saw every day; and seemed pleased with company. He would talk as usual about affairs of the college; and particularly of repairs that were then in hand. The very Tuesday on which he died Mr Essex was with him for half an hour, talking upon that business. He was buried about 6 o'clock of the evening on Friday, Aug. the 10th, according to his own desire, in the antechapel of the College....It was not imagined his sister would have outlived him, for she is extremely ill, and for some time has taken to her bed. Sir James has particularly left the management of his sister's affairs to a friend of yours, Mr Martin of Palgrave. This to some is matter of wonder. His skill and knowledge lie in a far higher sphere....Though he is called Honest Tom, yet he is not thought altogether qualified for business of this nature, unless he take better care of the concerns of others than of his own. A Grecian or Roman coin no one can keep better; but he has no lock or key that can hold fast the current English sterling.”

He was a considerable benefactor to the college, bequeathing an estate, of about £30 annual value, in Wilton, Norfolk. He also left a large collection of Greek and Roman coins, now kept in our library, and also such books from his own valuable collection as were not already in our possession.

He is buried in the ante-chapel of the college, where there is an inscription to his memory. His portrait is in our Lodge.

He published nothing on his own account; but rendered considerable assistance to Dr T. Batteley in his work on Bury Abbey (1745); contributing a list of Abbots, a plan of the church, dated 1718, and a view of the Abbot's residence, dated 1720. Add. MS. 5846 contains extracts from his Collections for the History of Bury Abbey. Add. MS. 5852 contains a transcript by Cole of what he considers to be Burrough's note book as Esquire bedell, from 1741 for some years; but it continues after Burrough's death. Add. MS. 17391 is a transcript of his Collections for the History of Bury Abbey deposited by him in St James' Church, Bury. His will, dated Aug. 4, 1762, was proved at the P. C. C.

He leaves to the college an estate in Wilton, Norf., for the general purposes of the college also "all such of my books as they have not already in their library, and also my rosewood cabinet for coins and medals, together with all my Greek and Roman coins whatsoever." "To the University, £150, to be improved and increased till either that part of our intended publick Buildings which shall be opposite to the present Senate-House on the south shall be carryed up thirty feet above the level of the ground; or till the west end of the Senate House shall be entirely cased with stone" (carried out 1767-8). To Addenbrooke's Hospital £100. To the Physic Garden £25. To his niece Amy Burrough, his estate in Feltwell. To his sister Elizabeth Burrough, his estates in Great Wratting and elsewhere: she is left sole executrix.

Chronicle.

1754, May 31. 'That Gonville court be laid with grass in the middle, and surrounded with chains and posts. And that Caius court shall be ornamented in the same manner, as far as shall be found convenient.'

1757, Nov. 17. "That a part of the Sedge room under the little Combination be allowed to the master for a cellar' (see further under Combination Room).

1759, July 3. To send up Philip and Mary's grant of Croxley to Dr Caius, and Dr Caius' grant of the same to the college, if Mr Moxon thinks necessary, either to him at Gray's Inn, or to Hertford Assizes.' This refers to the litigation about the right of fishing at Rickmansworth; unfortunately revived a few years ago.

1760. A subscription of £15. 15. O was paid "to his Majesty's troops in Germany."

JOHN SMITH.

John Smith, twenty-seventh master (1764-95), was the second son of Henry Smith', an attorney of Hautbois and Coltishall, Norfolk; and of Elizabeth Johnson. He was born at Coltishall; was educated first at Norwich Grammar School for three years, and afterwards at Eton for six years. He was admitted pensioner at our college, June 19, 1732; his tutor being Mr Burrough, whom he succeeded as master. He was elected a scholar, Nov. 18, 1732; graduated B.A. 1735-6: M.A. 1739 and D.D. 1764. He was elected a junior fellow, Sept. 1, 1739; and a senior, Aug. 20, 1744. He held the offices of dean and bursar for some years; and was president of the college, 1754-64. He was elected master Aug. 17, 1764. He was ordained priest July 15, 1739, and for a short time held the curacy of his native parish, Coltishall. He was collated to the Chancellorship of Lincoln, May 21, 1783, and held this to his death in 1795.

As regards University offices, he was proctor, 1755-6; a preacher before the University in 1766 and 1788; and Lowndean Professor of Astronomy for 24 years, 1771 to 1795. What were his claims to this last post it is difficult to say; for, following the common practice of the times, he seems to have delivered no lectures, nor can I find that he published any work, or contributed to any scientific journal on the subject. That he did make observations in his own house-there was no University Observatory then-seems probable; for there is an entry in our Gesta Nov. 17, 1764, to allow him "to make such alterations in the south parapet, over the ante-chapel, as may be thought necessary for the reception of his Transit telescope." Perhaps the unusual possession of such an instrument caused his election to the professorship ;-his candid friend, Cole, suggests however that this was due to Court favour. The "Tripos list" of his year is missing, so we do not know his mathematical claims on this ground.

The following is his friend's account of his life and character. "This downright honest man is the son of an attorney in Norfolk who had but one leg....Dr Smith has no other preferment; but, as he is a bachelor, with a private fortune, he lives

1 A well-known man in the County, and referred to by Blomefield as "Harry Smith of Norfolk."

C. III.

9

There is an excellent Smith is a plain honest

very hospitably and much esteemed by his acquaintance. picture of him in the Lodge, by Reynolds, very like him. man of strong passions when moved...an eternal smoker of tobacco; pretends to a taste in painting, and may possibly understand it, though he looks as if he did not, and has such an inarticulate way of expressing himself that very few people understand what he says. He has a brother's widow and her children; a Mrs Smith who lives with him and keeps his house." This was Margaret, daughter of Charles Atthill and widow of his younger brother Joseph. She died in Cambridge, and was buried in St Michael's church, Jan. 13, 1804. One of these children was Joseph, afterwards fellow of the college (Vol. 11. 95). Another, Mary, married Dr Porter, bishop of Clogher (Vol. II. 164). Two other daughters, Elizabeth and Pegge, are buried in St Michael's. Cole adds an account of an unseemly quarrel in the Senate House between him and Dr Ewin, of St John's, "Dr Smith was in a most violent rage, but could not vent it publickly before the whole Senate, but muttered incessantly that he would call him to account. He immediately went to his counsellor, Dr Powell, master of St John's, who told him as he was getting into his chariot at the Senate House door that as he allowed he first called Dr Ewin a rascal he could have no pretence for prosecuting him for calling him a villain." He adds "he is now engaged, 1777, in a quarrel with his fellows on account of the election of a Mr White, he supporting Mr Edwards....A paper was just now printed on the occasion."

"Mr Smith is my old school-fellow and acquaintance; a very honest and goodtempered man, though always shy and reserved. He is also a great connoisseur in painting, and has an excellent collection of capital pieces....He and my cousin Dr Cock and myself were admitted at Eton on the same day; for, as my father and uncle Cock were carrying us up to London, and so to Eton, we met Mr Smith and his son on Epping Forest, and from thence travelled together to Eton."

"He began in his Vice-Chancellorship, and finished this year, what would have much pleased Sir James Burrough: I mean the west end of the Senate House, according to the plan drawn by Sir James himself, and agreeable to the rest of the building, all in Portland stone. It cost the University £1377, according to an estimate given in, and which was finished pretty exactly to it. Mr Essex, as architect or overseer, is to have 5 per cent. for his trouble. There is an iron balustrade, already arrived in Cambridge, which is to go from this west end to the old building; so that there will be no obstruction from Caius College, which is rather much improved by so beautiful a part of the building in view of it. The Porta Honoris, close by it, is in so ruinous a state as to be necessary to wholly take it down. The master told me it was in debate whether to erect another like it or not; which would be very expensive." (Add. MS. 5832, p. 84; 5880, p. 182.) Dr Smith died June 17, 1795, and was buried in the college chapel June 21. There is a slab to his memory in the ante-chapel.

"There is (in the Lodge) an excellent picture of the present master, by Reynolds, which cost 30 guineas, and only a three-quarter piece; dressed in a white wig, in his Convocation robes, and the ermine over his left shoulder a little turned aside, which looks airy enough. A copy of this picture was taken by