The county of Cambridge, however barren in the picturesque, is rich in historical interest. Plentiful testimony to this character exists in the descriptions that have been put on record of remains belonging to the Romans Britons and Saxons, found in various parts. Of these descriptions the Bowtell MSS. furnish many, accompanied with well executed drawings.

The Ancient Brick of which a plate is presented, is one of the objects there noticed. It was one of six representing scenes in the story of Susannah and the Elders: this, the fifth in the series, is described thus—

The writer describes them as done “in a correct and animated style”: he had seen as many as 22 besides. They were found in 1777, in repairing a chamber of Trinity Hall: many were secreted by the workmen as treasures. Subsequently they came into different hands, and the possessors inserted them in the walls of their houses as rare ornaments, having for a foil blackened the figures. Duplicates had been found in a field-pit not far from the first mile-stone ‘near the rill of water called the Vicar's Brook which crosses the London road at Pratt's Pitts,’ amongst a great quantity of other specimens of Roman pottery; which makes it probable that on that spot was once a manufactory of such ware.