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 artist 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 of 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 ftory 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 fet 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 fmaller Inftruments for the use of fuch Students as choose to apply themselves to practical Aftronomy. The Dwelling-Houfe for the Profeffor is very commo 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 obferving 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 Inftrument. 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 Iron Palifades. The Gateway is juftly efteemed 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 Inscription; 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 are 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 fuch 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-houfe; 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 ufeful 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 present 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 wifh to be minutely informed as to the more scarce and curious Plants. We proceed next to defcribe and give some Account of the feveral Colleges; and as Magdalen College is the nearest to the place we laft mentioned, and the first we meet with in the Road from London, it may be most convenient to begin with that College. MAGDALEN COLLEGE. THE THE College of St. Mary Magdalen is fituated near the River Cherwell, at the east end of the City. The first thing worthy attention is the west Entrance into the Chapel; over which are five small Figures, of elegant fculpture. That on the right, in a kneeling pofture, reprefents the Founder; the B next, |