OXFOR

XFORD, as we read in our Chronicles, was, even in the British Age, confecrated to the Mufes. It was called by the Romans Bellofitum. When the place was firft fortified does not appear; but the walls, of which fome parts are still remaining, were raised upon former foundations, about the time of the Conqueft, by Robert D'Oilie, who erected the Caftle at the command of the Conqueror in 1071; a work of great ftrength, and confiderable extent, of which the Tower is the only part at prefent remaining: the old building being much decayed, on its fcite, and at the expenfe of the County, a large and commodious Gaol has lately been erected, which, for ftrength and convenience, will hardly be furpaffed by any in the Kingdom. King Henry I. built a Royal Palace on a spot called Beaumont, on the weft fide A

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of the City, remains of which are ftill feen. King Richard I. called Coeur de Lion, was born in this Palace.

The University of Oxford has many fabulous accounts relating to the time of its origin. It moft probably was inftituted foon after the propagation of Christianity in this kingdom. Alfred is fuppofed by fome to have been its founder; but Alfred rather appears to have reftored it, in an age of confufion and ignorance, and to have been the father of that eftablishment and fecurity, which, notwithstanding some temporary fhocks and interruptions, it has maintained ever fince. Alfred erected certain Schools or Halls, and affigned penfions to the students. The firft College of the University, incorporated by royal charter, was that of Walter de Merton, A. D. 1274; about which time, 15,000 scholars are reported to have been refident here: but in the reign of Henry III. the University is faid to have confifted of double that number.

In the City and its environs were feveral Monafteries, the principal of which were St. Fridefwide's, and Ofeney Abbey. The Bifhopric, which was heretofore part of Lincoln Diocese, was erected by King Henry VIII. in 1542.

The fituation is on an eminence, rifing gradually from its extremities to the centre. It is encompaffed by meadows and corn fields. The meadows, which are chiefly to the south and weft, are about a mile in extent; beyond which are hills of a moderate height, bounding the profpect.

The eastern profpect has likewife fome hills at a little distance; the valley growing confiderably narrower towards the fouth: but the north is open to corn fields and enclofures for a confiderable extent, without any hill to intercept the air. It is wafhed by a number of streams: on the eaft, by the different branches

branches of the Cherwell; on the fouth and weft, by those of the Thames: all which meet and join a little below the City, forming one beautiful river. The foil is dry, being on a fine gravel, which renders it not lefs healthful than pleasant.

Before the Colleges were erected, the Students were instructed in the houses of citizens, or in inns or halls, fupported by benefactions from rich perfons, or their own patrimony.

The Town, including the Suburbs, is a mile in length from eaft to weft, and almoft as much in breadth from north to fouth, being three miles in circumference; but it is of an irregular figure; and feveral airy fpaces are comprehended within these limits, befides the many courts and gardens belonging to the refpective Colleges.

The City, properly fo called, formerly furrounded by a wall, with baftions at about 150 feet diftance from each other, is of an oblong form, and about two miles in circumference. Magdalen College, with the eastern as well as the northern fuburbs, which contain the parishes of Holywell, Magdalen, and St. Giles, with Balliol, Trinity, St. John's, and Wadham Colleges, are without the old walls, of which fome part remains as a boundary to New College; beginning near the east end of the High-Street, and continuing almoft to the Clarendon Printinghoufe, where there was a Portal and a Chapel; fome remains of which are ftill visible.

The principal Street of the City runs from east to weft, the entire length of the Town, but under different names; the High-Street, beginning at Magdalen Bridge, includes at least two-thirds of that length; the remainder is to the end of Caftle-Street. The High-Street is perhaps without a rival, being of a fpacious width and length, adorned with the fronts

of three Colleges, St. Mary's and All-Saints Churches, terminated at the east end with a view of Magdalen College Tower, and a beautiful bridge. Every turn of this ftreet prefents a new object, and a different view, each of which would make an agreeable picture in perfpective; whereas, had it been ftraight, every object would have been seen at one and the fame inftant, but more foreshortened than at present.

The fecond street is that which runs from fouth to north, croffing the ftreet already defcribed. The fouth fide is called Fish-Street, and the other the Corn-Market; from whence we pafs into Magdalen Parish, and St. Giles's, which form a very fpacious freet, and in fome refpects is preferable to either of the former, it having the pleasure and advantage of the country, though connected with the town. One end of this ftreet is terminated by St.. Giles's Church, and adorned with the front of St. John's College.

On the east fide of Fifh-Street (commonly called St. Old's, by corruption from St. Aldate's) ftands Chrift-Church College, the magnificent front whereof is extended to 382 feet in length. On the fame fide is the TOWN HALL, where the Town and County Seffions, and the Affizes, are held; which was rebuilt at the expenfe of THOMAS Rowney, Efq. late representative in Parliament, and High Steward of the City.

The principal Bridges are, 1. Magdalen Bridge, over the Cherwell, being 526 feet in length, by which we enter the town from London. 2. High-bridge, in the western suburb, over the Ifis; confifting of three Arches. 3. Folly-bridge, as it is commonly called, in the fouthern fuburb, on the fame river, where formerly stood an arched entrance, over which was the celebrated Friar Bacon's Study; it confifts of three arches, and is, like the reft, entirely built

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