to Side-Wall it is 80 Feet over one Way, and 70 the other; which gave Occafion to fay, that the Foundation was on the Roof.

When properly filled, the Vice-Chancellor being feated in the Center of the femicircular Part, the Doctors on his Right and Left Hand, the Proctors and Curators in their Robes, the Masters. of Arts, Bachelors, and Under-Graduates, in their refpective Habits and Places, together with Strangers of both Sexes, it makes the moft auguft Appearance of any Room whatever.

Mr. Hogarth, when here at the Opening of the Radcliffe Library, furnifhed himself with Materials. for two different Views of it; and it were greatly to be wifhed, he would oblige the World by puting them in Execution.

On the Outfide it is adorned with Sculpture; particularly the Statue of Charles II. the old Duke of Ormond, and Archbishop Sheldon; done by Chair: Within, with Painting, viz. the Pourtraits, at full Length, of the Founder Archbishop Sheldon, the fame Duke of Ormond, and Sir Chriftopher Wren the Architect Likewife a curious Cieling; of which the following is a Defcription..

"In Imitation of the Theatres of the ancient Greeks and Romans, which were too large to be covered with Lead or Tile, fo this, by the Painting of the flat Roof within, is reprefented open; and as they ftretched a Cordage from Pilafter to Pilafter, upon which they ftrain'd a Covering of Cloth, to protect the People from the Injuries of the Weather, fo here is a Cord-moulding gilded, that reaches crofs the House, both in Length and Breadth, which fupporteth a great reddith Drapery, fuppofed to have covered the Roof, but now furled up by the Genii round about the House, towards the Wall, which discovereth the open Air, and maketh Way for the Defcent of the Arts and Sciences, that are congregated in a Circle of Clouds, to whofe Affembly Truth defcends, as being follicited and implored by them all. C 2

For

For Joy of this Festival fome other Genii fport about the Clouds, with their Feftoons of Flowers and Lawrels, and prepare their Garlands of Lawrels and Roses, viz. Honour and Pleasure, for the great Lovers and Students of those Arts: And that this Affembly might be perfectly happy, their great Enemies and Disturbers, Envy, Rapine, and Bru tality, are by the Genii of their oppofite Virtues, viz. Prudence, Fortitude, and Eloquence, driven from the Society, and thrown down Head-long from the Clouds: The Report of the Affembly of the one, and the Expulfion of the other, being proclaimed thro' the open and ferene Air, by fome other of the Genii, who blowing their antick Trumpets, divide themselves into the feveral Quarters of the World. Hitherto in Grofs.

More particularly the Circle of Figures confift, First of Theology, with her Book of Seven Seals, imploring the Affiftance of Truth for the unfolding of it.

On her Left-hand is the Mofaical Law veiled, with the Tables of Stone, to which she points with her Iron Rod.

On her Right-hand is the Gospel, with the Cross in one Hand, and a Chalice in the other.

In the fame Divifion, over the Mofaical Law, is Hiftory, holding up her Pen, as dedicating it to Truth, and an attending Genius, with feveral Fragments of Old Writing, from which she collects her History into her Book.

On the other Side, near the Gospel, is Divine Poefy, with her Harp of David's Fashion.

In the Triangle on the Right-hand of the Gospel, is alfo Logick, in a Posture of arguing; and on the Left-hand of the Mofaical Law, is Mufick, with her Antick Lyre, having a Pen in her Hand, and a Paper of Mufick Notes on her Knee, with a Genius on her Right-hand, (a little within the Partition of Theology) playing on a Flute, being the Emblem of ancient Mufick.

On

On the Left (but within the Partition for Phyfick) Dramatick Poef, with a Vizard, representing Comedy, a bloody Dagger for Tragedy, and the Reed Pipe for Paftoral.

In the Square, on the Right Side of the Circle, is Lam, with her Ruling Scepter, accompanied with Records, Patents, and Evidences on the one Side, and on the other with Rhetorick: by thefe is an attending Genius, with the Scales of fuftice, and a Figure with a Palm-branch, the Emblem of Reward for virtuous Actions; and the Roman Fafces, the Marks of Power and Punishment.

Printing, with a Cafe of Letters in one Hand, and a Form ready fet in the other, and by her several Sheets hanging as drying.

On the Left Side the Circle, oppofite to Theology, in three Squares, are the Mathematical Sciences, (depending on Demonfiration, as the other on Faith, in the firft of which is Aftronomy with the Celestial Globe, Geography with the Terrestial, together with three attending Genii; having Arithmetick in the Square on one Hand, with a Paper of Figures; Optics with the Perspective-Glafs; Geometry with a Pair of Compaffes in her Left; and a Table with Geometrical Figures in it, in her Right-Hand. And in the Square on the other Hand, Architecture embracing the Capital of a Column, with Compaffes, and the Norma or Square lying by her, and a Workman holding another Square in one Hand, and a Plumb-Line in the other;

In the midst of thefe Squares and Triangles (as defcending from above) is the Figure of Truth fitting as on a Cloud, in one Hand holding a Palm Branch (the Emblem of Victory) in the other the Sun, whofe Brightnefs enlightens the whole Circle of Figures, and is fo bright, that it feems to hide the Face of herfelf to the Spectators below.

Over the Entrance of the Front of the THEATRE, are Three Figures tumbling down; First Envy, with her Suaky Hairs, Squint Eyes, Hag's Breaft,

C 3

Breaft, pale venomous Complexion, ftrong but ugly Limbs, and rivel'd Skin, frighted from above by the Sight of the Shield of Pallas, with the Gorgon's Head in it, against which fhe oppofes her fnaky Treffes, but her Fall is fo precipitous, that fhe has no Command of her Arms.

Then Rapine, with her fiery Eyes, grinning Teeth, fharp Twangs, her Hands imbrued in Blood, holding a bloody Dagger in one Hand, in the other a burning Flambeau; with thefe Inftruments threatening the Deftruction of Learning, and all its Habitations, but the is overcome, and prevented, by a Herculean Genius, or Power.

Next that is reprefented brutifh, fcoffing Ignorance, endeavouring to vilify and contemn what the understands not, which is charmed by a mercurial Genius with his Caduceus."

In the Theatre are held the Public Acts, called the Comitia, or Encania: At which folemn Times there are feveral extraordinary Proctors appointed, who are to take Care that public Peace is obferved, and that all Perfons are placed according to their Degrees.

This Edifice, which justly deferves to be deemed one of our principal Curiofities, was built by that celebrated Architect Sir Chriftopher Wren, at the Expence of Archbishop Shelden, the Chancellor, A. D. 1669, and coft his Grace no less than 150001. befides which, he left 2000 1. to purchase Lands for the perpetual Repair of it.

On the Weft of the Theatre ftands Afbmole's MUSEUM, a handfome Edifice, built by the Univerfity, of white hewn Stone, in the Form of our modern Houses, being about 60 Feet long. It was finished in the Year 1683, when a very valuable Collection of Antiquities and foreign Curiofities was prefented to the Univerfity, and repofited in it, by Elias Albmole, Efq; this Infcription being fet upon the Front of the Building, next to the Street, viz. Mufaum

Mufaum Afhmoleanum, Schola Naturalis Hiftoria, Officina Chymica.

But the grand Entrance is at that End which is nearest to the Theatre, and oppofite to one of the Entrances into it. It is a beautiful Portico in the Corinthian Order, and very richly embellished with Sculpture: Befides which, there are Feftoons and other Decorations properly adapted to the Purpose it was built for; fuch as Shells, Snakes, Crocadiles, &c.

Among many other Benefactions, Dr. Hunting ten added fome Egyptian Hieroglyphics and other Antiquities; Mr. Aaron Goodear an entire Mummy; Dr. Martin Lifter a large Cabinet of natural Curiofities of his own collecting, and several Ro man Antiquities; Dr. Pound a numerous Collection of Plants and Animals, brought by him from China, and preserved in Spirits; the whole making one of the richest Repofitories of Curiofities in Europe.

An excellent Collection of Manufcripts, collected by Mr. Afhmole and his Father Sir W. Dugdale, is here repofited; as is likewise Mr. Anthony Wood's Library.

In a Room on the firft Floor, Dr. Bradley reads his Courfe of Lectures in Experimental Philofophy; and in the lower Part of the Building is the Élaboratory, where Lectures are read in Chymistry and Anatomy. This alfo was built by Sir Chriftopher Wren.

On the other Side of the Theatre, and North of the Schools, ftands the Clarendon PRINTINGHOUSE, built in the Year 1711, with the Profits arifing from the Sale of Lord Clarendon's Hiftory; the Copy of which was given to the University by the Lords Clarendon and Rochester, Sons of that noble Lord. It is a grand Edifice, 115 Feet in Length; and confifts of two lofty Stories built with Stone, and fafhed. Towards the Street, it has a magnificent Portico in the Doric Order; the