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ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE

S 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 firft 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 wellproportioned, and handfomely wainfcotted, with a beautiful arched roof, a screen of Portland Stone, and a grand variegated marble chimney-piece, containing picture of St. John the Baptift, by Titian. 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 Society.

The Chapel, which is adjoining to the Hall, is in all refpects neat and commodious. It is divided from the Ante-chapel by a new and elegant Screen, over which has been erected a very complete new Organ. It has now an elegance which refults from feveral high-finished, yet fimple ornaments. In particular the Stand on which the Bible is placed is adorned with mafterly 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

fnarling at the Cat under the table, cannot be overlooked. Nor will the curious obferver be at much lofs, by the striking likenesses 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 veffel, is the Heart of Dr. Richard Rawlinfon. In this Chapel cathedral fervice is performed twice a day, at eleven and five.

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 taste, each column confifting of one fingle bluish stone, dug from a part of the college estate 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 itself, agreeable to that of the piazzas. 2. The Ionic, which fupports a femicircular pediment. Between four of thefe columns, viz. two on each 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 3d, viz, the Corinthian, is very artfully introduced in the conftruction of the niche. The whole is richly embellifhed, 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 stored with printed books in all Faculties, regularly difpofed: the eaft with a most valuable collection of manufcripts; in which the book-cases adhering to the fides form a fpacious gallery. Here are fome 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

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fingular picture of St. John, ftained in a compofition, which has the appearance of polished marble; fome curious Miffals; a Chinese Dictionary; and on the eaft window, in elegant painted glass, are the Arms of the Founder, the Company of Merchant-Taylors, and feveral other Benefactors to the College.

The Gardens are very extenfive, and laid out with all thofe graces which arife from a fucceffion of beauties fo difpofed as to ftrike 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-Taylors School in London as the only Seminary for this College; but being of a more public fpirit 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.

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 expenfe of above 5000l. (exclufive of 400l. for the ftatues 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 Yorkihire, and 1000l. to buy books; Dr. Holmes, the late worthy Prefident, with his Lady, who gave

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15000l. to augment the falaries of the Officers, and other uses; and Dr. Rawliafon, who bequeathed the reverfion of an eftate in fee-farm rents.

The prefent members are, a Prefident, fifty Fellows, two Chaplains, an Organift, five Singing-men, fix Chorifters, and two Sextons: the number of Students of all forts being usually about 80.

Vifitor. the Bifhop of Winchefter.

WORCESTER COLLEGE.

WOR

TORCESTER College is pleafantly fituated on an eminence, juft above the River Ifis. and the Meadows, at the extremity of the western fuburb. 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 Cloyfter. 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 defcent to the River, on the weft. The Apartment of the Provost is at the north-weft angle; from whence this College will enjoy not only the pleafanteft fituation, but be one of the most elegant ftructures in the Univerfity, efpecially if the Society carry their defign into execution, of opening an ave nue from the College to Magdalen Parish Church.

The College was founded anno 1714, by Sir Thomas Cookes, for a Provoft, fix Fellows, and fix Scholars.

Dr..

Dr. Finney farther endowed it with two Fellowfhips and two Scholarships for Students from Staffordfhire. Dr. Clarke founded fix Fellowships and three Scholarships, with à preference to Clergymen's fons. And Mrs. Eaton, daughter to Dr. Eaton, Principal of Glocefter Hall, founded fix Fellowships. Lady Holford gave two Exhibitions of 201. a year each, for Charter-houfe Scholars, to be enjoyed eight years.

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This Houfe was formerly called Glocefter College, being a Seminary for, educating the Novices of. Glocefter Monaftery. It was founded A. D. 1283, by John Giffard, Baron of Brimsfield. When fuppreffed at the Reformation, it was converted into a Palace for the Bishop of Oxford; but was foon afterwards erected into an Academical Hall, by Sir Thomas White, the Founder of St John's College;in which ftate it continued till it received a Charter of Incorporation, and an Endowment from Sir Thomas Cookes.

Here are a Provoft, twenty Fellows, feventeen Scholars, &c. The whole number about 70: Visitor. The Chancellor of the University.

EXETER COLLEGE.

HIS College is fituated oppofite Jefus College, the front whereof is 220 feet long; in the centre of which is a magnificent Gate and Tower. The compofition of each front (viz. that towards the ftreet and that towards the quadrangle) is a ruftic bafement which forms the gateway; a plinth, whereupon are placed four pilafters of the Ionic order, fupporting a femicircular pediment, in the area of which are the Founder's Arms on ashield adorned with feftoons, finishing with a balustrade above all.

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