ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE

Is fituated north of Balliol and Trinity Colleges, having a terras, with a row of lofty elms before it.

The buildings of this College chiefly confift of two large quadrangles. We enter the first by a handfome old gateway with a tower over it. It is formed by the Hall and Chapel on the north, the Prefident's Lodgings on the east, and the chambers of the Fellows, Scholars, and other Students, on the fouth and weft fides. The Hall is elegant, being well proportioned, and handfomely wainfcotted, with a beautiful arched roof, a fereen of Portland ftone, and a grand variegated marble chimney-piece, containing a picture of St. John the Baptift, by Guarini. It is likewife adorned with many other pictures; viz. at the upper end, by a whole-length portrait of the Founder; on his right hand Archbishop Laud, and on his left Archbishop Juxon. On the north and fouth fides of the room are thofe of Bishop Mew, Bishop Buckridge, Sir William Paddy, and other eminent men, who have been members of, and benefactors to, this fociety.

The Chapel, which is adjoining to the Hall, is in all respects neat and commodious. It is divided from the Ante-chapel by a new and elegant fcreen, over which has been erected a very complete new Organ. It has now an elegance which refults from feveral high finished, yet simple ornaments. In particular

the ftand on which the Bible is placed is adorned with masterly carving. The Altar is of the Corinthian order, and very properly adapted. Over the communion-table is a fine piece of tapestry, reprefenting our Saviour with the two Difciples at Emmaus, copied from a painting of Titian. The Dog fnarling at the Cat under the table cannot be overlooked. Nor will the curious obferver be at much lofs, by the ftriking likeneffes in the four figures, in discovering they are the then Pope, Kings of France and Spain, and Titian, in the characters of our Saviour, his Difciples, and Servant. On the north fide of the Choir, in a marble urn, inclosed in a filver vefel, is the heart of Dr. Richard Rawlinfon, with this fingular-infcription: "Ubi thefaurus, ibi cor." In this Chapel cathedral fervice is performed twice a day, at eight and fix. In the Post-Chapel, the roof of which is of carved ftone and very elegant, are three monuments of deceased Presidents; particularly of Dr. Holmes, Dr. Derham, and the late Prefident, Dr. Dennis.

Through a paffage on the eaft fide of the first quadrangle we enter the fecond; on the eaft and weft fides whereof are handsome piazzas in the Grecian tafte, each column confifting of one fingle bluish ftone, dug from a part of the College-eftate near Fifield in Berkshire. In the centre of each piazza is a magnificent gateway, confifting principally of two orders. 1. The Doric, which forms the gateway itfelf, agreeable to that of the piazzas. 2. The Ionic,

which fupports a femicircular pediment. Between four of these columns, viz. two on cach fide, in a niche, is a brafs ftatue; that on the east of King Charles I. and that on the weft of his Queen, caft by Fanelli of Florence. That neither of the Greek orders might be wanting, the third, viz. the Corinthian, is very artfully introduced in the conftruction of the niche. The whole is richly embellished, and is the defign of that celebrated architect Inigo Jones.

The Library includes the upper ftory of the fouth and eaft fides. The fouth fide is well ftored with printed books in all faculties, regularly difpofed : the east with a most valuable collection of manuscripts; in which the book-cases adhering to the sides form a fpacious gallery. Here are some valuable curiofities, viz. the picture of King Charles I. which has the whole Book of Pfalms written in the lines of the face and on the hairs of the head; a very beautiful and fingular picture of St. John, ftained in a compofition, called Scagliola, which has the appearance of polished marble; fome curious Miffals; a Chinese Dictionary; and on the east window, in elegant painted glafs, are the Arms of the Founder, the Company of Merchant-Taylors, and several other benefactors to the College.

The Gardens are very extenfive, and laid out with all those graces which arife from a fucceffion of beauties, fo difpofed as to strike us gradually and unexpectedly. The celebrated Mr. Browne, by removing a few embarraffing overgrown chefnut-trees,

has fo changed the aspect of this garden, that few can at prefent vie with it.

This College was founded by Sir Thomas White, Alderman and Merchant-Taylor of London; who afterwards, anno 1557, endowed it with feveral confiderable manors, and at his death bequeathed the fum of 3000l. to purchase lands to increase the revenues of it. He originally defigned Merchant-Tay lors School in London as the only feminary for this 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, together with fix to the kin to the Founder.

The most confiderable benefactors fince have been Sir William Paddy, who founded and endowed the choir, and built that fide of the new quadrangle, of which the Library is a part; Archbishop Laud, who at the expence of above 5000l. (exclufive of 4001. for the statues of the King and Queen) added the other three fides; 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, formerly Prefident, with his Lady, who gave 15000l. to augment the falaries of the Officers, and other ufes; and Dr. Rawlinfon, who bequeathed the reverfion of an eftate in fee-farm rents.

The prefent members are, a Prefident, fifty Fellows, two Chaplains, an Organist, five Singing-men,

fx

fix Chorifters, and two Sextons: the number of Students of all forts being usually about 80. Vifitor. The Bishop of Winchefter.

WORCESTER COLLEGE.

WORCESTER College is pleafantly fituated on an eminence, just above the river Ifis and the meadows, at the extremity of the western suburb. At entering the College we have the Chapel and Hall on each fide, both of which are 29 feet in breadth, and 50 in length. The Library, which is a magnificent Ionic edifice, on the weft of the Chapel and Hall, is 100 feet in length, fupported by a fpacious Cloifter. It is furnished with a valuable collection of books, chiefly the library of Dr. Clarke, late Fellow of All-Souls College; in which is Inigo Jones's Palladio, with his own manufcript notes. According to the plan propofed, this College is to confift of the chambers of the Fellows and Scholars on the north and fouth, and the Gardens, which are to lie on a descent to the river, on the west. The apartment of the Provost is at the north-weft angle; from whence this College will enjoy not only the pleafantest situation, but be one of the most elegant structures in the University; efpecially if the fociety carry their defign into execution, of opening an avenue from the College to Magdalen Parish Church.

The College was founded anno 1714, by Sir Tho