Ditchley, the Seat of the Right Honourable Lord Heythrop, the Seat of the Right Honourable the Lift of Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Heads of 23 91 134 139 113 THE NEW COMPANION FOR OXFOR D. OXFORD, 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 ftill 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 fite, and at the expence of the county, a large and commodious Gaol has lately been erected, which, for ftrength and convenience, will hardly be furpassed by any in the kingdom. King Henry I. built a Royal Palace on a fpot called Beaumont, on the weft fide of the city, remains of which are still seen. King Richard I. called Coeur de Lion, was born in this palace. The Univerfity of Oxford has many fabulous accounts relating to the time of its origin. It moft probably was instituted soon after the propagation of Christianity in this kingdom. Alfred is fuppofed by fome to have been its founder; but Alfred rather appears to have restored it, in an age of confufion and ignorance, and to have been the father of that establishment and fecurity, which, notwithstanding fome 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 Univerfity, incorporated by royal charter, was that of Walter de Merton, A. D. 1274; about which time 15,000 fcholars are reported to have been refident here: but in the reign of Henry III. the Univerfity is faid to have confifted of dou ble that number. In the city and its environs were feveral Monafteries, the principal of which were St. Fridefwide's, and Ofeney Abbey. The bishopric, which was heretofore part of Lincoln diocefe, was erected by King Henry VIII. in 1542. The fituation is on an eminence, rifing gradually from its extremities to the center. It is encompassed by meadows and corn-fields. The meadows, which are chiefly to the fouth and weft, are about a mile in extent; beyond which are hills of a moderate height, bounding the prospect. The 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 washed by a number of streams: on the east, by the different branches of the Cherwell; on the south and west, 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 inftructed in the houfes of citizens, or in inns or halls, fupported by benefactions from rich perfons, or their own patrimony. The town, including the fuburbs, is a mile in length from east to west, 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 spaces are comprehended within these limits, befides the many courts and gardens belonging to the respective Colleges. The city, properly fo called, formerly furrounded by a wall, with baftions at about 150 feet distance 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 |
