If I may trust my memory Denman told me that among his annual perquisites as auditor was a case of audit ale, and that on one occasion he gave it to Livingstone who he knew would appreciate it. The case travelled with the explorer through Africa, [142] ]and as long as the ale lasted glasses of it were circulated, to the great satisfaction of the natives, whenever solemn treaties were ratified.
The next holder of the office was George Valentine Yool, 1829–1897, a chancery barrister, who had been third wrangler and second Smith’s prizeman in 1851, and had been elected to a fellowship in 1853. Yool took but little part in public affairs. He was appointed auditor in 1863, and gave up the office at the end of 1869.
After Yool’s resignation the College reverted to its former practice, and appointed as auditor a resident, Augustus Arthur VanSittart. VanSittart had been bracketed senior classic in 1847, and had been elected to a fellowship in the following year. After once standing unsuccessfully for parliament, he devoted himself to literary work, and among other things collected and collated the various readings of the New Testament. His annual speech at the audit feast, wherein he gave a witty sketch of the more interesting developments of academic life during the preceding year, was one of the features of the time, and served somewhat the same purpose as the Tripos verses of earlier ages. He held the office till his death in the spring of 1882. He was wealthy, and a most generous benefactor of the Fitzwilliam Museum and other Cambridge institutions.
[143]
]On VanSittart’s death the post was given to John Willis Clark, 1833–1910. Clark had come up to Trinity in 1852, obtained a first class in the classical tripos, 1856, and was elected to a fellowship in 1858. He made his home in Cambridge, and his unceasing activities in zoological, library, and theatrical matters are chronicled in the local records. He completed the Architectural History of the University—a permanent and invaluable record of Cambridge history—which had been commenced by his uncle, and wrote on various library and antiquarian subjects. He held the registraryship of the University from 1891 to his death in 1910.
Clark vacated the office of auditor in 1908, and since then the College has appointed to the post a professional accountant.
[144]
]CHAPTER VIII.
WREN’S DESIGNS FOR THE COLLEGE LIBRARY.
In 1914 the College obtained an interesting series of photographs of Wren’s original drawings and plans for our library in Nevile’s Court. They will well repay inspection by those who are interested in our history or in architecture.
The present library is the third building assigned by Trinity for the purpose. During the first half-century of its existence the Society used the library[26] of King’s Hall, a good first-floor room, some twenty feet long by ten feet broad, which had been built in 1416–21 near the north-west corner of the cloister court of that House. This room was connected with the old oratory of King’s Hall by a gallery over the west cloister.
Soon after the foundation of Trinity the provision of a larger library was contemplated, and in the order (about providing building materials for the chapel) of queen Elizabeth of 1560, it is said that its erection had been already begun. In fact however it was then only under discussion.