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fharp Twangs, her Hands imbrued in Blood, holding a Bloody Dagger in one Hand, in the other a Burning Flambeau; with thefe Inftruments threatning the • Destruction of Learning, and all its Habitations, but fhe is overcome, and prevented, by a Herculean Ge⚫nius, or Power.

Next that is reprefented brutish, fcoffing Ignorance, "endeavouring to vilify and contemn what the under• stands not, which is charmed by a mercurial Genius with his Caduceus."

In the Theatre are held the Public Acts called the Comitia, and Encania: At which folemn Times there are feveral extraordinary Proctors appointed, who are to take Care that Public Peace is obferved, and that all Perfons are placed according to their Degrees.

This Edifice which juftly deserves to be deemed one of our principal Curiofities, was built by that celebrated Architect Sir Chriftopher Wren, at the Expense of Archbishop Sheldon, the Chancellor, in 1669, and coft his Grace 15000l. to which he added 2000l. to purchafe Lands for the perpetual Repair of it.

On the Weft of the Theatre is the ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, a handfome Edifice, built by the Univerfity at the Request of Elias Afbmole, Efq; Windfor Herald to King Charles II. who placed here all the Rarities he had collected and purchased, particularly from the two Tradefcants. The Building was finished in 1682, under the Conduct of Sir Chriftopher Wren, and is inferior to none in Symetry and Elegance. The Eastern Portico is highly finished in the Corinthian Order, and adorned with Variety of Characteristical Embellishments.

Mr. Afbmole prefented to the University a valuable Collection of Natural Curiofities, Coins, and MSS, together with three Gold Chains he had received as honorary Presents from the King of Denmark and other Princes on Occafion of his Book on the Order of the Garter.

This

This Repofitory has been greatly enriched by fe veral ample and valuable Benefactions. The principal Natural Curiofities are the Collection of Bodies, Horns, Bones, &c. of Animals preferved dry, or in Spirits; curious and numerous Specimens of Metals and Minerals: Dr. Lifter's Collection of Shells, Ores, Foffils, &c. most of which are published in his Synopfis Conchyliorum, and in the Philofophical Tranfactions.

Its two firft Keepers were Dr. Robert Plott and Mr. Edward Lhwyd, the former of which depofited here all his Natural Bodies mentioned in his Hiftories of

Staffordshire and Oxfordshire; and the latter his Collections in his Travels thro' England, Wales, and Ireland, as may be seen in his Book intitled Lythophylacii Britanici Ichnographia. Mr. Borlace, Author of the Natural Hiftory of Cornwall, prefented to this Mufeum the Specimens of Chryftals, Mundicks, Coppers, Tins,. &c. defcribed in that Work.

The large Magnet, given by the Countess of Weftmorland, is of an oval Shape, 18 Inches long, 12 wide, and fupports a Weight of 145 Pounds.

Three curious Pieces of Art deferve particular Notice, viz. a Model of a Ship; a Picture of our Saviour going to his Crucifixion, compofed of the most beautiful lively Feathers; and an ancient Piece of St. Cuthbert, made by Order of King Alfred, and worn as is related by that Monarch.

The laft, and very entertaining Present to this Coflection, was given by Mr. Reinhold Forfter, who went the Voyage round the World with Capt. Cook, confisting of a great Variety of the Manufactures, Habits, Warlike Inftruments, and an Idol, which he brought from the Island of O-Tabeitee and New Zealand.

Among the Paintings are a few very good ones: a Dead Chrift, by Hannibal Carrache. Thomas Earl of Arundel, and the Duke of Norfolk, his Son, by Vandyke. Chrift's Defcent into Hell, by Brugell.

In

In this Building are three fmall Libraries; the firft, called Afhmole's Study, contains his printed Books and Manufcripts relating to Heraldry and Antiquity, and the Manuscripts of Sir William Dugdale, Author of the Monafticon Anglicanum:-The fecond contains Dr. Lifter's Library. The third that of Mr. Anthony à Wood, with his laborious and learned Collections, relating chiefly to this Univerfity and City.

On the first Floor the Profeffor reads Lectures in Experimental Philofophy; and underneath is an Elaboratory for Courses of Chemistry and Anatomy.

On the other Side of the Theatre, and North of the Schools, stands the Clarendon PRINTING HOUSE, built in the Year 1711, with the Profits arifing from the Sale of Lord Clarendon's Hiftory; the Copy of which was given to the Univerfity by the Lords Clarendon and Rochefter, Sons of that noble Lord. It is a grand Edifice, 115 Feet in Length; and confifts of two lofty Stories. Towards the Street is a magnificent Portico in the Doric Order; the Height of the Columns being equal to the two Stories. This is answered on the oppofite Side, next the Schools, by a Frontifpiece fupported by Three-Quarter Columns of the fame Dimenfions; and the Doric Entablature encompasses the whole Building. On the Top, are Statues of the Nine Muses; and over the Entrance on the South Side a Statue of the Earl of Clarendon. As we enter on this Side, on the Right-hand, are the Apartments where Bibles and Common Prayer Books are printed, under the Privilege and Appointment of the Univerfity. On the Left is the Univerfity Prefs; and a well-finished Apartment, where the Heads of Houses and Delegates meet on the Business of the University. In it is a celebrated Portrait of Queen Anne by Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Southward of the Schools, in the Centre of a beautiful Area, adorned with a confiderable Number of Obe

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Tifks and Lamps, ftands the new Public Library; for the building whereof, that celebrated Phyfician Dr. John Radcliffe bequeathed the Sum of 40,000l. He fixed the Sallary of the Librarian at 150 per Annum; appropriated 100l. per Annum to buy Books, and 100%. per Annum to keep the Library in Repair.

The Ruftic Basement, which is 100 Feet in Diameter from Outfide to Outfide, is a double Octagon or 16 Square; either of which Squares are diftinguished by their Projection, and having over each a Pediment or Frontispiece which forms them into Gate-ways.

The Superftructure, raised upon this Bafement, is perfectly Cylindrical, and adorned with Three-Quarter Columns of the Corinthian Order; which are ranged, not at equal Distances, but in Couplets. Between thefe, there is an Alternacy of Windows and Niches all round: - over the latter, next to the Architrave, are beautiful · Festoons of Fruits and Flowers. The Entablature is much enriched with Carving; and over it is a Balluftrade furrounding the whole, finished with Vafes on the Piers perpendicular to the Columns. Above which is a Cupola, 60 Feet high. Seven of the Gateways abovementioned are Entrances into the Portico or Arcade; in the Center of which within the Piers is a wide fpreading Dome; and without them, a Cloyfter almoft encircling it. Over each of the Entrances is a Dome of smaller Dimenfions, curioufly wrought with variety of Mofaic. The Eighth Gateway is appropriated to the Stair cafe, the Well of which is Oval; the Steps, which are of Stone, eafy of Afcent, adhering to the Wall at one End, but feem rather to be upheld by the Iron Rail that is upon them, than fupported underneath at the other: This is deemed a curious Piece of Masonry. The Awe we are ftruck with at entering into the Grand Area of the Library, we leave to the Experience of those who feel it; as it is not eafily described. The Pavement is of different coloured Stone, brought from

RADCLIFFE'S LIBRARY and part of ALL SOULS COLLEGE &c.

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