Talth TH HIS College will consist of a Master, two Professors (one of the Laws of England and one of Medicine,) sixteen Fellows (two of which only are Clerical,) and six Scholars. The objects of the foundation are stated in the Charter to be Students in Law, Physic, and other useful arts and learning. At present only the Master, Professors, and three Fellows, are appointed, for the purpose of taking possession of the estates, administering the revenues, superintending the building of the College, and for the other necessary purposes. The appointment of the remaining Fellows is reserved until after the erection of the buildings necessary for the College.

The Scholars will also be elected after that period; but not more than two in each year. There are also two Chaplains, nominated by the Master.

The Master is elected by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Masters of St John's and Clare Hall, from among those who are or have been Professors or Fellows. The electors to the Professorships are the same as to the Mastership, with the addition of the Master.

The Professor of Law must be, at the time of his election, D.C.L. M.A. or B.C.L. of Cambridge or Oxford, of ten years' standing from matriculation, and a barrister at law. The Professor of Medicine must be M.A. licensed to practise Physic for two years, or M.D. or M.B. of Cambridge or Oxford, or a Member of a Scotch University of seven years' standing, and twenty-five years of age, and who shall have attended the medical lectures in one of the Scotch Universities for four years. The Professors are bound to read a course of lectures in their respective faculties, on the usual terms upon which public lectures are given in the University. The Professorships are not vacated by marriage, or by the possession of any property, and the Professors are capable of holding any of the lay offices in the College.

The electors to the Fellowships are, the Master, Professors, and Fellows of the degree of M.A. After the building of the College

is completed, the elections will be annually on the 21st of February. All graduates of Cambridge or Oxford are eligible; but, after the completion of the College, Lay Fellows must be under the age of 24, and Clerical Fellows under 30, and above 23, at the time of election. The only restriction is, that there shall never be eight Fellows natives of the same county at one time. While the College remains uncompleted, the elections to Fellowships are at uncertain times, depending upon the vacancies, and not subject to the conditions of the statutes.

The Clerical Fellowships will be tenable for life; and subject to residence for a certain part of each term. The Lay Fellowships continue only for twelve years, and are not subject to any residence. Every Lay Fellow must declare either for Law or Physic. Those who declare for Law must be called to the bar within eight years after their election; and the Medical Fellows must take the degree of M.D. within two years after they are of sufficient standing. A Lay Fellow may also take orders after six years, without thereby vacating his Fellowship. Under certain circumstances, the four electors to the Mastership have a power to suspend the vacancy of a lay Fellowship; but this power is limited to two Fellows living at any one time.

The sole founder of this College was Sir GEORGE Downing, Bart.1 of Gamlingay Park, in this county; who, by a will, dated 20th December 1717, devised his estates in the counties of Cambridge, Bedford, and Suffolk, first to Sir Jacob Gerrard Downing, and afterwards to other relations in succession, and, in failure thereof, to build and found a College in this University, upon a plan to be approved by the two Archbishops and the Masters of St John's and Clare Hall. This direction was the reason for giving them the power which they possess in elections and other matters, by the charter and statutes.

Sir George died in 1749, and Sir Jacob in 1764, and (the other devisees having previously died without issue) upon this event the foundation ought immediately to have been carried into execution. But the estates were in the possession of Lady Downing, and afterwards of her devisees, without any real title; and when the University sued in Chancery for the establishment of the College, the party in possession resisted the suit in that court. In 1769, a decree was obtained in favour of the foundation.

The persons named as trustees in the founder's will having died in his lifetime, the execution of the trusts devolved upon the heirs at law; who after combating a long series of opposition and litigation, and overcoming obstacles of various descriptions, preferred a petition to the Crown for a Charter; and at length, in 1800, the Privy Council decided to recommend the foundation to his Majesty.

1 He was installed a Knight of the roost honourable Order of the Bath, June 30, 1732.

On the 22d of September, 1800, the Great Seal was affixed to the Charter by Lord Loughborough. By this Charter the College is incorporated, with all the privileges belonging to any College in the University, and endowed with the estate devised by the founder, with a power to hold landed property (in addition thereto) to the value of £1500. per annum.

The Charter directs statutes to be framed for the government of the College, which was done in July 1805, and shortly afterwards the stipends of the members began to be paid.

By the statutes, no beneficial leases of the College estates are allowed, nor any fine to be taken for a grant or renewal. It is also provided that no new foundation shall be ever engrafted on this College, which shall be inconsistent with the Charter and Statutes. But the College may accept any additions to their property in augmentation of the number or value of their present appointments, or to be applied in any other manner consistent with their present constitution.

There is also a power given to the four electors and the Master to alter the statutes, on application by a certain portion of the College.

The members appointed in the Charter were, Francis Annesley, D.C.L. Master: Edward Christian, M.A. and Barrister, Law Professor; Busick Harwood, M.D. Professor of Medicine; John Lens, Sergeant at Law, and M.A., William Meeke, Barrister, and M.A., and William Frere, B.A. Fellows.

The late Mr John Bowtell, of this town, who gave by his will a considerable property to charitable uses, bequeathed to Downing College a collection of books, manuscripts, fossils, and antiquities, with a request that the book-cases containing them might be placed in the college library. Among the manuscripts is a History of the Topography and Antiquities of this town, prepared for publication by Mr Bowtell.

A piece of land nearly thirty acres having been purchased for the site, and for grounds and walks, on the 18th of May, 1807, the first stone was laid; since which time the building has proceeded at intervals, at the expense of above £60,000. In 1821, buildings sufficient for opening the College, and comprizing nearly two sides of a large court, were completed: and in May, 1821, undergraduates were admitted to reside and keep Terms.

THE PRESENT SOCIETY.

Master, Rev. Thomas Worsley, M.A., F.G.S. elected 1836.

Professor of Medicine,

*Cornwallis Hewett, M.D.

Professor of the Laws of England,
Thomas Starkie, M.A.

Bursar, Thomas Starkie, M.A.

Tutor,

Philip Howard Frere, B.A.

Dean, The Master.

Steward, Philip Howard Frere, B.A.

Fellows.

Philip Howard Frere, B.A.
William Webster Fisher, M.B.

Chaplains.

Lucas, Rev. St John Wells, M.A.
Browne, Rev. Edward Harold, M.A.

Formerly Fellow.