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The Altar-Piece was painted by Ifaac Fuller, an English Hiftory-painter, about 140 Years ago; who having ftudied and admired the muscular manner of Michael Angelo, feems to have neglected the graceful elegance of Raphael: for although many of the Figures may juftly be deemed excellent Anatomical Drawings yet, for want of that eafy and natural difpofition peculiar to the laft-mentioned great Mafter, and better colouring, the whole appears crude, and perhaps had not the last finishing. Underneath this Piece of the Refurrection is an admirable Picture of our Saviour bearing his Cross, supposed to be painted by Guido. It was at Vigo, and brought into England by the late Duke of Ormond: but afterwards falling into the hands of William Freeman, Efq. of Hamels in Hertfordshire, he gave it to the College. To this Gentleman the College is likewife chiefly obliged for an excellent Organ, two additional Bells to the Peal of Eight, and other confiderable benefactions.

The Altar was built, in the prefent manner, about the year 1730. The Defign is elegant, and the Workmanship well performed: befides the common embellishments of the Corinthian Order, there are Feftoons over every Pannel, extremely well carved, which greatly enrich it.

Each Window contains fix Figures nearly as large as the life, reprefenting the Apoftles, primitive Fathers, Saints, and Martyrs. Cathedral Service is performed here every day at ten and five, except Sundays and Holidays, when the morning Prayers begin at Eight, on account of the University Sermon.

From hence, on the right, we pafs into the Cloyfter, which remains in its primitive ftate; the whole making the moft venerable Appearance of any College in Oxford, having undergone the fewest altera

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tions of any fince it was founded. On the south fide are the Hall and Chapel; on the weft the Library; and on the north and eaft, the Lodgings of the Fellows, Demies, &c. At the fouth-eaft corner of the Cloyster, is the way up to the Hall, which is a very fpacious Room, handfomely fitted up, and adorned with four whole-length Portraits, viz. of the Founder, Dr. Butler formerly Prefident, William Freeman, Efq. and Prince Rupert; two halflengths, viz. Bishop Warner, a great Benefactor to the Library, and Dr. Hammond.

The interior Part of this Cloyfter is ornamented with Hieroglyphics, of which (though a celebrated Antiquary* hath been pleased to call them whimsical Figures which ferve to amufe the vulgar, but are only the licentious Inventions of the Mafon) we fhall here give a particular, and, we truft, a rational account, from a Latin + Manufcript in the Library of this College.

Beginning therefore from the fouth-west cor< ner, the two firft Figures we meet with are the • Lion and the Pelican. The former of these is the • emblem of Courage and Vigilance; the latter, of parental Tenderness and Affection. Both of them together exprefs to us the complete Character of a good Governor of a College. Accordingly they are placed under the Window of those Lodgings

* See Dr. Stukely's Itinerarium Curiosum, p. 42.

This Piece is intituled Oedipus Magdalenenfis: Explicatio viz. Imaginum, et Figurarum, quæ apud Magdalenenfes in interiori Collegii Quadrangulo Tibicinibus impofitæ vifuntur. It was written by Mr. William Reeks, fometime Fellow of this College, at the Requeft of Dr. Clark, who was Prefident from the year 1671 to 1687, and to whom it is infcribed. It is divided into two Parts. In the first, the general Doctrine of Hieroglyphics is very learnedly difcuffed. In the latter, he defcends to a particular confideration of the Hieroglyphics at Magdalen; and from this Part the Account here given is extracted.

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'which originally belonged to the Prefident, as the inftructions they convey ought particularly to re'gulate his Conduct.

Going on to the right Hand, on the other fide ' of the Gateway, are four Figures, viz. the Schoolmafter, the Lawyer, the Physician, and the Divine.`. These are ranged along the Outfide of the Library, ' and represent the Duties and Business of the Students of the Houfe. By means of Learning in ge'neral, they are to be introduced to one of the three learned Profeffions; or elfe, as hinted to us by the Figure with Cap and Bells in the Corner, they must "turn out Fools in the End.

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"We come now to the north fide of the Qua'drangle; and here the three firft Figures represent the Hiftory of David, his Conqueft over the Lion and Goliah; from whence we are taught, not to be 'difcouraged at any Difficulties that may ftand in our Way, as the Vigour of Youth will eafily enable us to 'furmount them. The next Figure to these is that of the Hippopotamos, or River-Horfe, carrying his young one upon his Shoulders. This is the Emblem of a good Tutor, or Fellow of a College, who is "fet to watch over the Youth of the Society, and by 'whofe Prudence they are to be led through the Dangers of their first entrance into the World. The Figure immediately following reprefents Sobriety, or Temperance, that most neceffary Virtue of 'a Collegiate Life. The whole remaining train of 'Figures are the Vices we are inftructed to avoid. Those next to Temperance are the oppofite Vices of Gluttony and Drunkenness. Then follow the Lucanthropos, the Hyana, and Panther, reprefenting Violence, Fraud, and Treachery; the Griffin reprefenting Covetousness, and the next Figure, Anger or Morofenefs. The Dog, the Dragon, the Deer, Flattery,

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• Envy,

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Envy, and Timidity; and the three laft, the Mantichora, the Boxers, and the Lamia, Pride, Conten• tion, and Luft.

We have here, therefore, a complete and inftruc-. ❝tive Leffon for the ufe of a Society dedicated to the ' advancement of Religion and Learning; and, on this plan, we may fuppofe the Founder of Magdalen thus fpeaking, by means of thefe Figures, to the Students of his College.

"It is your Duty, who live under the Care of a "Prefident, whofe Vigilance and Parental Tender"nefs are the proper Qualifications to fupport the "Government of my Houfe, attentively to pursue "your Studies, in your feveral Profeffions; and fo "avoid the Follies of an idle, unlettered, and diffipat"ed Courfe of Life. You may poffibly meet with "many Difficulties at your first fetting out in this "Road; but thefe every Stripling will be able to over"come by Courage and Perfeverance. And remem"ber, when you are advanced beyond thefe Difficul"ties, that it is your duty to lend your Affiftance to "thofe who come after you, and whose Education is "committed to your Care. You are to be an Example "to them of Sobriety and Temperance: fo fhall you guard "them from falling into the Snares of Excefs and "Debauchery. You fhall teach them that the Vices "with which the World abounds, Cruelty, Fraud, "Avarice, Anger and Envy, as well as the more "fupple ones of abject Flattery and Cowardice, are "" not to be countenanced within thefe hallowed Re-. "tirements. And let it be your Endeavour to avoid "Pride and Contention, the Parents of Faction, and, "in your Situation, the worst and most unnatural of. "all Factions, the Faction of a Cloyster. And laftly, you will complete the Collegiate Character, if you "crown all your other Acquirements with the un-,

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