CAMBRIDGE (ante), a city, and one of the co. seats of Middlesex co., Mass., w. of Charles river, which separates the township from the city of Boston, of which C. is practically a part, as Brooklyn is of New York. There are four principal divisions, North, East, Old Cambridge, and Cambridgcport; pop. '70, 39,634. The city spreads over a large extent of territory, and is handsomely laid out in broad avenues with abundance of shade trees, among the most interesting of which is the elm under which Washington assumed command of the revolutionary forces in 1775. The house in -which Washington dwelt is now the residence of Longfellow, the poet. The modern residences are generally surrounded with handsomely cultivated grounds, orchards, and flower and fruit gardens. The main feature of C. is Harvard college (q.v.), the build ings of which are in Old C., 3 m. from Boston, occupving a plot of 14 acres handsomely laid out and shaded with ancient elms. At a little distance n.e. of the college are the museum of comparative zoology, founded by Agassiz, the botanical garden, and the observatory, noted as possessing one of the best telescopes in the country. Near the museum are the Harvard law school and the Lawrence scientific school. Another con spicuous building is Memorial hall, erected to the memory of Harvard students and graduates who fell in the war of the rebellion: this is probably not exceeded in grandeur by any college hall in the world. It presents three apartments—a memorial vestibule, the Sanders theater for great academic assemblies, and a dining-hall with accommodation for 1000 persons. The whole structure is 310 ft. long by 115 ft. wide, with a tower 200 ft. high. There is also a granite monument near the college erected by the city in honor of the fallen soldiers. C. also contains Mt. Auburn, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. It occupies 125 acres of hill and valley, laid out in
a charmingly picturesque manner, while the monuments show a great variety of taste and munificence. This is the oldest of the splendid burial places in the country, having been dedicated in 1831. Bridges over Charles river connect C. with Boston. Brighton, and Brookline. Horse railroads connect with all adjacent towns, and the Boston and Lowell and the Fitchburg railroads pass through East Cambridge. The streets are well drained, and lighted with gas. C. is not a business place, but rather a home for the business people of Boston. Still there are manufactories of locomotives, steam-engines, glass, carriages, marble, chemicals, brushes, biscuit, candles, soap, chairs, cabinet ware, etc. The Riverside press and the university printing-office, are noteworthy; the last named is the oldest printing establishment in the country. C. has a regnlar city govern ment, vested in mayor, aldermen, and common councilmen, with the usual executive and judicial courts and functionaries. Water is supplied from two large lakes in the neigh borhood, and stored in large reservoirs. Under the influence of the college the schools of the city are of a high order, and to these are added the Dana library and free lectures at the Dowse institute. There are in C. three or four newspapers and about 30 churches or congregations. The first settlement here was in 1630, and was called Newtown, and Winthrop and others intended it to be the chief town in the colony. The first minister, Rev. Mr. Hooker, was settled in 1632. In 1638, money was voted to establish a public school, which was further aided by grants from the Rev. John Harvard of Charlestown. The city charter of incorporation was granted in 1846.