THE

NEW COMPANION

FOR

OXFORD.

OXFORD, as we read in our Chronicles, was, even in the British age, confecrated to the Muses. It was called by the Romans Bellofitum. When the place was first fortified does not appear; but the walls, of which fome parts are ftill remaining, were raifed upon former foundations, about the time of the Conqueft, by Robert D'Oilie, who erected the Castle 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 present 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 furpaffed 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 Cœur de Lion, was born in this palace.

The University of Oxford has many fabulous accounts relating to the time of its origin. It most probably was inftituted soon after the propagation of Christianity in this kingdom. Alfred is supposed 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 University, 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 University is faid to have confifted of double that number.

In the city and its environs were several Monafteries, the principal of which were St. Fridefwide's, and Ofeney Abbey. The bifhopric, 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 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 prospect.

The

The eastern profpect has likewife fome hills at a little diftance; the valley growing confiderably narrower towards the fouth: but the north is open to corn-fields and enclosures 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 fouth and weft, by thofe 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 houses of citizens, or in inns or halls, fupported by benefactions from rich persons, or their own patrimony.

The town, including the fuburbs, 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 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 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 suburbs, 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 HighStreet, and continuing almoft to the Clarendon Printing House, 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 spacious 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 perspective; whereas, had it been straight, every object would have been feen at one and the fame inftant, but more forefhortened than at present.

The fecond ftreet is that which runs from fouth to north, croffing the street already defcribed. The fouth fide is called Fifh-Street, and the other the Corn-Market; from whence we pafs into Magdalen parish and St. Giles's, which form a very fpacious street, 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 street is terminated by St. Giles's Church, and adorned with the front of St. John's College.

On