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General DESCRIPTION.

XFORD, diftinguifhed by its illuftrious Univerfity, and remarkable for it's Antiquity, was called by the Romans, Bellofitum. We learn,

that before their Conquefts, the Britains confecrated it to the Mufes. When the Place was first fortified does not appear: But the Walls now remaining were probably raifed upon fome former Foundation about the Time of the Conqueft. Robert D'Oilie erected the Castle, at the Command of the Conqueror in 1071. its maffy Ruins fhew its Strength and Ex

tent.'

King Henry I. built a Royal Palace on Beaumont, near Gloucefter-Green, the Ruins of which are still vifible, where King Richard I. furnamed Cœur de Lion, was born. Many fabulous Accounts have been collected relating to the Origin of the UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD; but Archbishop Ufher informs us, that in

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King Henry the Third's time, 30,000 Students refided here; and Rifhanger (who lived in the fame Reign) fays, that notwithstanding the Civil Wars had fo much difturbed the Peace and Quiet of this venerable Seat of Learning, there were remaining 15,000 Students. John Balliol (Father of Balliol King of Scots) built a College, now called by his Name, in 1263: And Walter de Merton Bishop of Rechefer Incorporated by Royal Charter that which is now called Merton College in 1274; and these were the firft endowed Colleges.

In the City and it's Environs were feveral Monafteries, the most remarkable of which were St. Fridefwide's, and Ofeney Abbey.

The Bishoprick, which was heretofore part of the See of Lincoln, was erected by King Henry VIII. and placed firft at Ofeney in 1542.

The Situation is on an Eminence, rifing gradually from its Extremities to the Center. It is encompaffed by Meadows and Corn-fields. The Meadows, which are chiefly to the South and Weft, are about a Mile in extent; beyond which are Hills of a moderate Height, bounding the Profpect..

The Eastern Profpect is likewife bounded by Hills at a little Distance; the Valley growing confiderably narrower towards the South: But the North is open to Corn-fields and Enclosures for many Miles together, without any Hill to intercept the free Current of Air, which purifies it from all noxious Vapours. It is washed by a Number of Streams: On the Eaft, by the different Branches of the Cherwell on the South and Weft, by thofe of the Thames; all which meet and join a little below the City, forming one beautiful River. The Soil is dry, being on a fine Gravel, which renders it not less healthful than pleasant.

The Town, including the Suburbs, is a Mile in Length from Eaft to Weft, and almost as much in Breadth from North to South, being three Miles in Circumference;

Circumference; but it is of an irregular Figure, and feveral airy Spaces are comprehended within these Limits, befides the many Courts and Gardens belonging to the refpective Colleges.

The City, properly fo called, formerly furrounded. by a Wall, with Bastions at about 150 Feet Distance from each other, is of an oblong Form, and about two Miles in Circumference. Magdalen College, with the Eastern as well as the Northern Suburbs, which contain the Parishes of Ho'y-Well, Magdalen, and St. Giles's, with Balliol, Trinity, St. John's and Wadham Colleges, are without the old Walls, of which fome Part remains as a Boundary to New College; beginning near where Eaft-Gate ftood, and continuing almoft to the Clarendon Printing-house, where there was a Portal and a Chapel; fome Remains of which are ftill visible The Walls make an entire Boundary to the Eaft and South Sides of Merton and Corpus Chrifti Colleges. The Fortifications and Outworks, raifed by the Royalifts in the Time of the Civil Wars, included all the Suburbs, but they are now almoft entirely demolished.

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The principal Street of the City runs from Eaft to Weft, the entire Length of the Town, but under different Names; the High-Street, beginning at Magdalen Bridge, includes at least two Thirds of that Length; the Remainder is from Carfax to the End of Caftle-Street. The High-Street is perhaps without a Rival; being of a spacious Width and Length, adorned with the Fronts of three well built Colleges; St. Mary's and All-Saints Churches'; terminated at the Eaft End with a View of Magdalen College Tower, and the beautiful new Bridge; which confifts of fix large Arches, and five fmaller ones. Every Turn of it prefents a new Object, and a different View; each of which would make an agreeable Picture in Perfpective: Whereas, had it been ftrait, every Object would have been

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