on the South, the Afcenfion. The reft are all of old Glass, remarkable for the Liveliness of the Colours. There is a Paffage between the Chapel and the Hall from the South to the North Court, the Walls of which carry a handfome Cupola with eight Ionic Columns, and all the proper Ornaments of that Order. The Outfide of the whole is a Doric Building, and the Infide of the Hall beautified with the fame Order: But the Infide of the Chapel is entirely Corinthian, the Cieling of which is not inferior to the reft. pre The Hall is 60 Feet long, and 30 broad, with an arched Roof of a suitable Height. It is furnished with Portraits of the Founder and principal Benefactors; to which has lately been added a good Picture of her fent Majefty Queen Charlotte. It is extremely well illuminated, and has a Chimney Piece of beautiful Marble; and there is an Opening from the Gallery over the Weft Cloifter, which feems defigned for Mufic; and hither Strangers are frequently brought, who defire to fee the Society at Dinner. The Library on the Weft Side of the North Court, about 123 Feet in Length, is a noble Building of the Corinthian Order, with a spacious Cloister to the Eaft, and the Statue of the Founder, and principal Benectors to the College, in Niches to the Weft, and is adorned with Stucco Work by the late Mr. Roberts. It has beautiful Claffes, a fplendid Orrery, and is furnished with a valuable Collection of Books and Manufcripts in moft Languages and Sciences. It is alfo ornamented with a high-finished Figure of a Wild Boar. Robert Egglesfield, a Native of Cumberland, Confeffor to Queen Philippa, and Bachelor of Divinity in this Univerfity, having purchafed feveral Tenements in the Parish of St. Peter's in the East, erected there a Collegiate Hall, at the Inftance (and, probably by the Encouragement) of Queen Philippa, Confort of King Edward III. giving it the Name of Aula Schola rium Regina de Oxon; and on the 18th of January 1340, obtained the Royal Charter for incorporating the Society of this Hall or College; by virtue whereof he conftituted a Provost and twelve Fellows, ordering, that the Provoft fhould be chofen out of the Fellows, and be in Holy Orders; and that for the future the Fellows fhould be elected out of the Counties of Cumberland and Weftmorland. The principal Benefactors, befides the Founder, were King Edward III, and his Queen Philippa; King Charles I. who gave this College three Rectories and three Vicarages in Hampshire; Sir Jofeph Williamfon, Knight, fometime Fellow, who rebuilt Part of the College, and left 6000l. towards the finishing of it, befides a most valuable Library of Books; Dr. Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln; Dr. Lancaster, the Provoft of this College, and Dr. Timothy Halton, were great Benefactors. And of late feveral very confiderable Exhibitions have been given by Sir Francis Bridgman, Lady Elizabeth Haftings, and Mr. Michell of Richmond. The Members in this College are a Provost, fixteen Fellows, two Chaplains, eight Taberdars, (fo called from Taberdum, a fhort gown which they formerly wore) 16 Scholars, two Clerks, and forty Exhibitioners; Mr. Michell's eight Fellows, and four Scholars'; befides a great Number of Mafters, Bachelors, Gentlemen Commoners, Commoners, and other ftudents; in all about 110. A Custom here is, that they are call'd to Dinner and Supper by the Sound of the Trumpet, and the Fellows, as the Founder's Statutes direct, place themselves on the further Side of the Table, the Taberdars on Sundays and Holidays dispute on some of the most controverted Questions in Divinity; and on other Days render fome Parts of Ariftotle's Rhetoric, Poetics, or Ethics. Another Cuftom is, that the Burfar of the College, on New-Year's Day, gives each Member a Needle and Thread, Thread, faying, Take this, and be thrifty, as a Rebus on the Founder's Name (Aiguile) in French, fignifying a Needle, and Fil, a Thread, Egglesfield. Another is, having a Boar's Head on Christmas Day, ufher'd in very folemnly with a celebrated Monkish Song. Vifitor. The Archbishop of York. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. Side of Over the Street, ftands Univerfity College. The magnificent Front extends 260 Feet. In it, at proper Distances, are two Portals, with a Tower over each. That on the Weft leads into the old Court, which is a handsome Gothic Quadrangle, of 100 Feet fquare. Gate, at our Entrance, on the Outfide, is a Queen Anne, and within another of James II. Eastern Entrance, on the Outside, is a Statue of Queen Mary, Wife of William III. On the South of the Western Quadrangle are the Chapel and Hall. The Statue of St. Cuthbert is over the Door of the Chapel. The Altar Window was given by Dr. Radcliffe, as appears by its Infcription, A. D. 1687, the other Windows are of fine old Painted Glass, well worthy Attention. The Roof of the Chapel is a well-wrought Frame of Norway Oak. The Hall, at the Entrance of which is a Statue of King Alfred, has been lately fitted up in a very beautiful Gothic Style, at the Expenfe of many generous Contributors, and is a moft complete Room of the Kind. From this Court, through a narrow Paffage on the Eaft, we are led into another Area of three Sides, 80 Feet either Way. It is opened to a Garden on the South. The Eaft, and Part of the North Side, is taken E up by the Lodgings of the Mafter, which are commodious and extenfive. In a Niche over the Gate on the North, is a Statue of Dr. Radcliffe. King Alfred in the Year 872, erected certain Halls in Oxford, near, or on the Spot where this College. ftands; and gave the Students in them fmall Penfions iffuing from the Exchequer. But it is certain that these Halls were foon alienated to the Citizens, and that their Penfions were fuppreffed about the Reign of the Conqueror. The Founder of this College appears to be William Archdeacon of Durham, who purchafing, A.D. 1219, one of the Halls which had been originally erected by King Alfred, and very probably ftyled University Hall, of the Citizens, endowed it with Lands. A So. ciety being thus eftablished, many other Benefactors improved the Revenues and Buildings. Of these the most confiderable are Walter Skirlaw, Bishop of Durham, who founded three Fellowships. Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland, A. D. 1443, added the fame Number. Sir Simon Bennet, in the Reign of Charles I, established four Fellowships, and four Scholarships. As to the Buildings, the prefent fpacious and uniform Structure began to be erected, A. D. 1634, by the Benefaction of Cles Greenwood, formerly Fellow, and was foon carried on by Sir Simon Bennet abovementioned. Nor were fucceeding Patrons wanting to continue fo noble a Work; till it was finally compleated by Dr. John Radcliffe, who erected the whole Eaftern Quadrangle at his own Expense. He fettled on the College 600l. per Annum, for two travelling Fellowfhips, Students in Phyfic, to improve themselves in the Medical Art. The prefent Society confifts of a Master, twelve Fellows, feventeen Scholars, with many other Students, amounting in the whole to about 70. Vifitor. The KING. ALL |