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Steps, which are of Stone, adhering to the Wall at one End, feem rather to be upheld by the Iron Rail that is upon them, than fupported underneath at the other. The Pavement is of different coloured stone, brought from Harts Foreft in Germany.

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The Dome, which is 80 Feet high from the Pavethent, is wrought in curious Compartments in ftucco. It is chiefly lighted by Windows in the Cylindric Patt between which are Treffes of Fruits; and are for Flowers. In the circular Part, without the Piers, are the Book-cafes and Reading-tables: The Gallery above is appropriated to the fame Ufes as the Over the door is a very good

circular Fart Ryfbrack. Over the En

Statue Founder

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trance of one of the Galleries is a Bult of Gibbs, the Architect. The firft Stone of this fuperb Building was laid May 17, A. D. 1737; and being completely finished, it was opened on Thursday, April 13, 1749.

In this Library are a couple of Superb Roman Candlesticks of incomparable Workmanship, given to the Univerfity by Sir Roger Newdigate, Bart. They were found in the Ruins of the Emperor Adrian's Palace at Tivoli, in the Campania Romana,

THE Public are indebted to Dr. Radcliffe's Truftees for building and completely furnishing the PUBLIC INFIRMARY at the north fide of the City, which is maintained and fupported by voluntary Contributions. An inftitution which in this place must be productive of very extenfive Benefits, as, while it relieves the Poor, it ferves as a School for the Students in Phyfic.

The munificent Trustees of Dr. Radcliffe's Will have also built a magnificent

ASTRO

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY,

in an advantageous Situation, as it commands an extenfive Horizon, not incommoded by the Town, and which is now completed, under the Direction of that eminent artift Mr. Wyatt The Eight-Winds, after the Manner of the Temple at Athens, are placed on the third Story, and the Atlas on the top. It is built in an open Field adjoining to the north fide of the Infirmary; the Land a Benefaction of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough. The whole Building is 175 feet in length; its breadth from north to fouth in the Centre, exclufive the Portico, is 57, Feet;

and at each Wing 24 Feet.

Between the Wings in the North Front, fprings a femicircle, which includes the Hall with two adjacent Libraries on the ground floor; the stair-cafe and the Lecture-Room with two adjoining Rooms on the next ftory.

The third story confifts of an Octangular Tower, the elevation of which, including the figure on the Roof, is upwards of 50 feet. Thus is the elevation of the centre of this Building an 100 feet and upwards.

In the Eaftern Wing is contained, in three rooms, a complete set of Aftronomical Inftruments, fixed in the plane of the Meridian, made by the late unrivalled Artift Mr. John Bird, at the expenfe of above 1100 Pounds; confifting of two Quadrants; each of eight feet radius; a Tranfit Inftrument of eight Feet, and a Zenith-Sector of twelve..

In the Western Wing is placed a fet of smaller Inftruments for the ufe of fuch Students as choose to apply themselves to practical Aftronomy.

The Dwelling-Houfe for the Profeffor is very

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commodiously connected with the Eastern Wing of the Obfervatory by a Covered Way..

In the lower part of the Field is a fmall circular Building, with a moveable roof, in which is placed an Equatorial Sector for the purpose of observing the Places of the Heavenly Bodies at any distance from the Meridian.

The Duke of Marlborough was also pleased to prefent to this Obfervatory a Reflecting Telescope of twelve Feet, which coft above 1000l. It was made by the late Mr. James Short. A Building, with a moveable Roof, will foon be erected for this Inftru

ment.

THE PHYSIC OR BOTANICAL GARDEN

is fituated on the South of Magdalen College. This was the Donation of Henry D'Anvers, Earl of Danby, who purchased the Ground (containing five Acres) of Magdalen College, furrounded it with a lofty Wall, and erected, next to the Street, a parapet with Tron Palifades.

The Gateway is juftly esteemed an elegant Piece of Architecture. The defign is afcribed to Inigo Jones; nor is it unworthy of that Architect. In the Centre over the Arch is a Buft of the Founder, Lord Danby. On the Left-hand of the Entrance is a Statue of CHARLES I. and on the Right one of, CHARLES II. On the Face of the Corona and the" Frize is the following Infcription; viz. Gloria Dei Opt. Max. Honori Caroli I. Regis in Ufum Acad. et Reipub. Henricus Comes Danby D. D. Anno 1632. This Infcription is likewife on the Garden Front.

The Garden is divided into four Quarters, with a broad Walk down the Middle. Near the Entrance

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are two elegant and ufeful Green-houses, built for Exotics; of which there is a confiderable collection. In the Quarters is the greatest Variety of such Plants as require no artificial Heat to nourish them, all ranged in their proper Claffes, and numbered.

Eastward of the Garden, without the Walls, is an excellent Hot-house; where tender Plants are raised and brought to great Perfection; viz. the Anana or Pine-Apple, the Plantain, the Coffee Shrub, the Caper Tree, the Cinnamon, the Creeping Cereus, and many others. The Caper and Coffee Shrub bear well.

This useful Foundation has been much improved by the late Dr. Sherard, who provided a Salary for the Profeffor, and brought from Smyrna a valuable collection of Plants; and by the prefent learned Profeffor, who alfo refided fome Years in the Eaft, and has enriched the Collection with many new Articles. The Affiftant to the Profeffor is provided by the Univerfity; he is generally ready to attend fuch Perfons as with to be minutely informed as to the more scarce and curious Plants.

We proceed next to defcribe and give fome Account of the feveral Colleges; and as Magdalen College is the nearest to the place we last mentioned, and the firft we meet with in the Road from London, it may be most convenient to begin with that College.

MAGDALEN COLLEGE.

THE

HE College of St. Mary Magdalen is fituated near the River Cherwell, at the eaft end of the. City. The first thing worthy attention is the wef Entrance into the Chapel; over which are five fmall Figures, of elegant fculpture. That on the right, in a kneeling pofture, represents the Founder; the B

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next, William of Wykeham, the Founder of the twe St. Mary Winton Colleges; that in the middle, St. Mary Magdalen, to whom the College is dedicated; the next, in a kneeling pofture. King Henry III. who founded the Hofpital which was converted into this College; and that on the left, St. John the Baptift, to whom the faid Hofpital was dedicated.

The Building on the left hand is the Prefident's Lodgings. Near the Entrance, on the right hand, is the Chapel, which is a well-proportioned Edifice in form of a Roman T inverted. A new roof has been placed on this Chapel, after an el gant Defign (in 1793); and the whole, when completed by the Alterations which are intended to take place, will be one of the most finished Chapels in the place. In the Ante-chapel, on the left of the Organ-loft, is a Monument erected to the memory of two brothers of the name of Lyttleton, who were drowned in the River Cherwell, one by endeavouring to fave the other. The Ante-chapel has been lately adorned with an elegant new Pulpit, Lecturer's Seat, and new Paving.

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The Weft Window, painted in claro obscuro, was done after a defign of Schwartz, as appears by a print engraved by Sadelar from the original. It reprefents the Refurrection; and, by the print, was certainly a grand defign; but the beauty of the Painting was much impaired. It is at prefent taken down, and in the hands of an ingenious artift, who has undertaken to fupply the defects, which had been occafioned by a Hail Storm, and to restore the whole nearly to its original excellence. Till the time of the Civil Wars, all the Windows were painted in the fame manner. Thofe now in the Chapel were removed thither from the Ante-chapel in 1741; but not being a fufficient number to glaze the whole, two new ones have fince been added.

The

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