Though of old time the subjects of Arithmetic and Geometry were reserved for Bachelors in Arts to study, we have already said all that we have to say thereanent on the topic of the Mathematical Tripos.

Concerning Astronomy we have still a few remarks to make.

The Cambridge professors seem as a rule to have done their duty by this science. First and foremost we have Newton, who by exact scientific reasoning proved the guess of Descartes in his general hypothesis of matter and motion to be true, but in a different sense for the material universe.

Isaac Newton of Trinity was Lucasian Professor 1669—1702, and had his private observatory in the college.

His deputy and successor W. Whiston, of Clare, took interest in this pursuit. He records how Sam. Clarke and his father Alderman Clarke, of Norwich, about 1707 or 1708, ‘happened to be viewing Saturn's Ring at Norwich, with a Telescope of 15 or 16ft. long; when without any prior Thought or Expectation of such a thing, as Mr Clarke assured me, they both distinctly saw a fixed star between the Ring and the Body of that Planet: which is sure evidence that the Ring is properly distinct from the Planet, and at some distance from it: which, tho' believ'd, could hardly be demonstrated before.’