years. He laid the foundation of All-Souls College in 1437; the Charter of Incorporation is dated May 20, 16 Henry VI. in which it is called Collegium Animarum omnium Fidelium defunctorum de Oxon. that is, The College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceafed of Oxford.

By the ftatutes he gave this college, he appointed forty Fellows, whereof twenty-four were directed to study Divinity and Philofophy, and the other fixteen the Civil and Canon Law. He procured from King Henry VI. a grant of the lands and revenues of several diffolved priories to endow his college, and in his life-time erected the chapel and all the rest of the original buildings, which coft him 45451. and at his death gave to the Society the fums of 1341. 6s. 8d. and 100 marks.

The moft confiderable Benefactors have been, Colonel Chriftopher Codrington, Governor of the Leeward Islands, and Fellow of All-Souls, already mentioned; George Clarke, LL. D; the late Duke of Wharton; Doddington Greville, Efq. Lieutenant General Stewart, and Sir Nathaniel Lloyd, who, at the time that he was Fellow of this college, was Head of a college in Cambridge. The Colonel bequeathed 6000l. for building the noble Library already described, his own valuable ftudy of books, and 4000l. more to purchase new ones; and Dr. Clarke gave his beautiful houfe for the use of the Wardens fucceffively of the college. He also much augmented the Chaplainfhips.

In this college are a Warden, forty Fellows, two Chaplains, and fix Clerks and Chorifters.

A very peculiar cuftom is the celebrating the Mallard Night, every year on the 14th of January, in remembrance of an exceffive large Mallard or Drake, fuppofed to have long ranged in a drain or fewer

where

where it was found at the digging for the foundation of the college. A very authentic account of this event hath been retrieved, and published to the learned world, from a manufcript of Thomas Walfingham, the hiftorian and monk of St. Alban's. It is the cause of much mirth; for on the day, and in remembrance of the Mallard, is always fung a merry old fong fet to ancient music.

F

Vifitor. The Archbishop of Canterbury.

BRAZEN-NOSE COLLEGE

ORMS the weft fide of the Radcliffe Square. It was founded in the year 1509, by the joint Benefaction of William Smith, Bishop of Lincoln, and Sir Richard Sutton, Knight, of Prefbury in Cheshire. Over the gate are the Arms of the latter.

The most probable account of the uncommon name of this College feems to be as follows. The Founders purchased from University College, for the scite of their intended building, two ancient feats of learning, Brazen-nofe and Little University Halls ; the former of which, as well as one of the fame name at Stamford, received its title from the circumftance of having a nofe of brass affixed to the gate. It was with a view to this, that the Founders ordered their new Seminary to be called the King's Hall and College of Brazen-nose: and a similar Appendage is ftill confpicuous over the portal.

Over the door of the Refectory are two very ancient Bufts the one of Alfred the Great, the first Founder (deemed one of the beft reprefentations of that great monarch); the other of John Eregina, a Scotfman, the first Lecturer in University Hall.They have been more than once engraved, and

are

are faid to have been found in digging for the foundation of the college.

The Refectory is handfome and fpacious, and adorned with some good portraits and paintings on glafs of the two Founders. It stands on the fouth fide of the firft Quadrangle; in the centre of which is a ftatue of Cain and Abel.

Through a paffage on the left-hand of the gate of the firft Quadrangle we enter the fecond, of which a cloyfter, with the Library over it, forms the east fide; the Chapel the fouth: these are more modern ftructures, and are fuppofed to have been built in 1667, conformably with a plan given by Sir Chriftopher Wren.

The Library (a light pleasant room, ornamented with a moft elegant ceiling) contains a refpectable collection of books, very commodiously arranged. The chapel is diftinguished by a neatness and fimplicity becoming the House of God. If thefe may be confidered as the Parents of Beauty, this Edifice has very strong pretenfions to it. The roof, which, being a frame of wood, is an admirable imitation of Gothic ftone-work, and the altar, with its decorations, demand our attention. The east window is enriched by painted glass, finely executed by Pearfon, from a painting of the late celebrated Mr. Mortimer.

In the Ante-chapel is an elegant monument to the memory of a late Principal, Dr. Shippen, whofe uniform attention to the interefts of his college are thereon defervedly commemorated. The buft is supposed to give a ftriking resemblance of his countenance. An elegant houfe, connected with the college, and fronting the High-ftreet, has been lately fitted up at a confiderable expenfe, for the accommodation of the Principal.

The foundation of this college is for a Principal,

twenty

twenty Fellows, thirty-two Scholars, and ten Exhibitioners.

The number of independent members at present Con the books is about 100.

Vifitor. The Bishop of Lincoln.

HERTFORD COLLEGE

S fituated oppofite to the gate of the Public

one

"

which

twenty years ago was begun to be rebuilt. The college is intended to be erected in the form of a Quadrangle, to confift of four angles, and four intermediate buildings; each angle to confift of three ftaircafes and fifteen fingle apartments; every apartment to contain an outward room, a bed-place, and a ftudy. Of these the fouth-eaft angle, and the chapel in the fouth, the Principal's lodgings in the eaft, the hall in the north, and the gateway (with the Library over it) in the weft, are already finished, agreeable to the plan of the Oxford Almanack for the year 1747.

Hertford or Hart-Hall, an ancient Houfe of Learning, was an Appendant to Exeter College. But having received an Endowment in part, was (at the request of Dr. Richard Newton, then Principal, who endowed the Senior Fellowships) incorporated Sept. 8, 1740.

And, though it is now ftyled Hertford College, it may be called by the name of any other person who will complete the endowment of it, or become the principal Benefactor to it.

This College confifts of a Principal, two fenior Fellows or Tutors, junior Fellows or Affiftants, Under-graduate Students, and four Scholars.

Vifitor. The Chancellor of the University.

NEW

NEW

NEW COLLEGE.

EW College is fituated eaft of the Schools and the Theatre, and is feparated from Queen's College only by a narrow lane. It is dedicated to St. Mary Winton, and has been called New College from its firft foundation, being at that time highly regarded for its extent and grandeur.

We enter this college by a portal, leading into the firft court, which is a quadrangle of about 168 feet long, and 129 broa, with a ftatue of Minerva in the middle of it. This court, as built at the foundation of the College, was low, with narrow arched tranfom windows, in the fashion of the times. But foon after the Restoration of King Charles II. another ftory was added over the old building, and the windows altered to their prefent form. The magnificent Gothic building on the north fide is the Chapel and the Hall; on the eaft the Library; on the fouth the Fellows Apartments, and on the west the Warden's Lodgings, which are large and commodious, 'furnished with fome valuable Portraits.

In the north-west corner of the court is the entrance into the Chapel; by much the grandeft in the Univerfity. The form of it is like that of Magdalen College, but larger. The Ante-chapel is fupported by two beautiful staff-moulded pillars. This part is upwards of 80 feet long, and 36 broad.

As the PAINTED WINDOWS of this Chapel make one of its chief Ornaments, it will not be improper to beftow on them a more particular Description.

Of those there are four diftinct forts.

1. All the windows of the Ante-chapel (the great one excepted) are nearly, if not quite, as old as the Chapel itself, and contain the Portraits of Patriarchs, Prophets,