There are four instances of a complete history of a ‘private College’, at least complete as far as they go; for the want of that wide historical research and patient authorship so rarely practised at the present day, has left a void to be filled up. Of these four, one is of Corpus Christi College, first published by Masters in 1753. A corrected and enlarged edition was in 1835 given to the public by Dr. Lamb the present Master. The other three still in MS. are of St. John's Caius and Jesus Colleges.

2. The original of the History of St. John's College, in Baker's own handwriting, is No. 7028 of the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum. A copy of it was granted to the proper desire of the College, and is there most religiously preserved; it is ere long to be given to the world, with an appendix of the since expired generations. On this account, we will say little respecting it, that the suspended curiosity of the reader may suffer no subtraction.