a Row of Lime-Trees on each Side cut arch-wife, a Row of cut Elms by the Side-Walks, and ac each End and across the middle two Groups of beautiful Chefnut-Trees. The inner Grove is of quite a different Caft to this, being fo contrived as not to fatiate the Eye at once, but its varicus Parts present themselves gradually to view. No Spot whatever is calculated to yield a more pleafing Variety; for, except Water, it has all that could be wifhed.

This College was founded by Sir Thomas White, Alderman and Merchant-Taylor of London, Anno 1555, (1 and 2 Philip and Mary;) and afterwards re-founded by him, Anno 1557. He endowed it with feveral confiderable Manors, and at his Death bequeathed the Sum of 3000l. to purchase Lands to increase the Revenues of it. He originally defigned Merchant-Taylors School in London for the chief Seminary of th's College; but being of a more public Spirit than to confine himself to any one Place, he allowed two Fellowships to the City of Coventry, two to Bristol, two alfo to the Town of Reading, and one to Tunbridge.

The moft confiderable Benefactors fince, have been Sir William Paddy, who founded and endowed the Choir, and built that Side of the new Quadrangle, of which the Library is a Part. Archbiflop Laud, who at the Expence of above 5000 7. (exclufive of 400 l. for the Statues of the King and Queen, and 200 Ton of Timber which he obtained by Warrent from Shotover Foreft and Stow Wood) added the other three Sides. Archbishop Juxon, who gave 7000l. to this College; Dr. Gibbons, who bequeathed the perpetual Advowfon of the Living of Baynton in Yorkshire, and 1000l. to buy, Books; Dr. Holmes, the late worthy Prefident, with his Lady, who gave 15000l. to augment the Salaries of the Officers, and other Ufes, and Dr. Rawlinson, who bequeathed a confiderable Number of Books, and the Reversion of an Estate in FeeFarm Rents.

The prefent Members are a Prefident, fifty Fellows, two Chaplains, an Organift, five SingingMen, fix Chorifters, and two Sextons. The Number of Students of all Sorts being ufually about eighty.

The Vifitor is the Bishop of Winchester.

WADHAM COLLEGE.

WADHAM College is fituated without the City, in that Part of the Suburb called Holywell. It confifts chiefly of one grand Quadrangle, and another very fmall Court within it. The Front of the College is almoft oppofite to Trinity Gardens, having a large Gate, with a Tower over it, by which we enter the great Quadrangle, being near 130 Feet either Way."

The Chapel is a fpacious Edifice, at the North Eaft Angle of the great Court. What is moft admired here is a very large Window of painted Glass, at the Eaft End, of the Paffion of our Saviour, wherein there are a great Variety of Figures admirably done. This was put up in the Reign of King James I. and is faid to have coft 1500l. The Windows on the Sides feem to be of the fame Workmanfhip; but the greatest Curiofity in this Chapel is the painted Cloth, if it may be fo called, at the lower Part of the Altar. It is the only Work of its kind at present in Oxford, but the Altar of Magdalen College, before the new Wainscotting of it, was done in the fame Manner. The Cloth itself, which is of an Afh-Colour, is the Medium; the Lines and Shades are done with a brown Crayon, and the Lights with a white one; which being af terwards preffed with hot Irons, caufing the Sweat of the Cloth to incorporate with the Colours, has fo fixed them, as to be rendered Proof against a

Brush,

Brufh, or any fuch Thing, made ufe of to cleante it from Duft: It was performed by Ifaac Fuller, who painted the Altar-Piece at Magdalen College, and is generally allowed to be masterly Drawing. The Eait reprefents the Lord's Supper; the North Abraham and Melchifedeck; and the South the Children of Ifrael gathering Manna.

The Hall is fituated at the South-Eaft Angle of the great Court. The Library is a lofty fpacious Room over the Kitchen, well furniflied with Books.

The Chapel and the Library form two Wings in the Back or Eaft Front of the College. Between these is a Cloifter; and, over that, the Fellows Common Room; which is a very hand fome one, and has the Advantage of a beautiful Profpect over the adjacent Fields to Heddington

Hill.

This College was defigned by Nicholas Wadham, Efq; and founded, in purfuance of his Will, by Dorothy Wadham, his Widow, Anno 1613, who appointed one Warden, 15 Fellows, 15 Scholars, two Chaplains, two Clerks, one Mancible, two Cocks, two Butlers, and a Porter; the Warden to be a Native of Great Briton, but to quit the College on his Marriage, or Advancement to a Bishopric. The Fellows, after having compleated 18 Years from their Regency, to quit their Fellowships. The Scholars, out of whom the Fellows are to be chofen, to be taken three out of Somersetshire, and three out of Effex; the reft out of any County in Great Britain.

The moft confiderable Benefactor, fince the Founder, was John Goodridge, M. A. fome time Fellow of this College, who gave all his Lands at Walthamflore in Effex, to this Society. Dr. Hoddy added ten Exhibitions, four for Students in Hebrew, and fix for Greek, 10l. a Year to each. Lord Wyndham 20001. 1500l. to increafe the Warden's Salary, and 500l. to beautify and repair the College. Bishop

Bishop Lifle, the late Warden, gave two Exhibitions of 10l. per Ann. each.

The prefent Members of this Society are a Warden, 15 Fellows, 2 Chaplains, 15 Scholars, two Clerks, and 16 Exhibitioners; the whole Number of Students being usually about 120.

The Visitor is the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

CORPUS-CHRISTI COLLEGE.

CORPUS-Chrifti College is in St. John's Parish, between Chrift-Church on the West, Merton College on the Eaft, and Oriel College on the North; confifting of one Quadrangle, an elegant Pile of modern Buildings, in which are pleafant and commodious Rooms (that look into Merton and ChriftChurch Meadows) and a Cloyfter adjoining; alfo a neat Structure which looks Eastward towards Merton College Grove, in which are fix Apartments appropriated to Gentlemen-Commoners, whose Number the Founder has confined to Six, who are to be Sons of Noblemen, or other eminent Perfons.

On the Eaft Side of the Quadrangle is the Hall, which is 50 Feet long, and 25 broad, and of a proportionable Height.

The Cylindrical Dial in the Quadrangle is fet at Right Angles with the Horizon, the common Sections whereof, with the Hour Circles, except the Meridian Circle that divides it by the Axis, as alfo the Equinoctial, are all Ellipfes, and is a fine old Piece of Gnomonicks. In the Library is a MS. explaining every Part of its Construction.

The Chapel, which is fituated at the South-East Corner of the Quadrangle, is 70 Feet in Length, and 25 in Breadth.

The

The Library is well furnished with Books, particularly a large Collection of Pamphlets from the Reformation to the Revolution. About 300 MSS. An English Bible, fuppofed to be older than Wick-liffe's. A Parchment Roll, containing the Pedigree of the Royal Family, and the feveral Branches of it, from King Alfred to Edward VI. with their Arms blazoned, figned by the Kings at Arms; and feveral other Curiofities, particularly an ancient Manufcript Hiftory of the Bible in French, finely decorated with curious Paintings, given by General Oglethorpe, who was a Member of the College.

They fhew here alfo the genuine Crofier of the Founder, a Piece of very curious Workmanship, little impaired by Time.

This College was founded in the Year 1516, by Dr. Richard Fox, a Native of Ropesley, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, who was fucceffively Bifhop of the Sees of Excter, Bath and Wells, Durham and Winchester, and was likewife Lord Privy Seal to King Henry VII. and Henry VIII. He firft intended it only as a Seminary for the Monks of the Priory, or Cathedral Church of St. Swithen at Winchefter, and obtained a Charter for that End, but altered his Mind by the Perfuafion of Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, who engaged to be a Benefactor to the Houfe, on condition that he would convert it into a College for the Ufe of fecular Students, after the Manner of other Colleges in the Univerfity: Whereupon Bifhop Fox caufed the first Charter to be cancelled, and obtained another, whereby he was permitted to found a College for the Study of Divinity, Philofophy, and other liberal The Charter of Foundation was dated at the Caftle of Wolvefly, on the Calends of March 1516.

Arts.

He affigned a Body of Statutes for the Government of this Society, whereby he appointed, that the Fellows fhould be elected out of the Scholars, who are to be chosen from the Counties or Diocefe following, viz. two Surrey, three Hamp fhire, one Durham, two Bath and Wells, two Exe

ter,