Page images
PDF
EPUB

in which the Book-cafes adhering to the Sides, form a fpacious Gallery. Here are fome valuable Curiofities, the Picture of King Charles I, which has the whole Book of Pfalms written in the Lines of the Face and on the Hair of the Head. A very beautiful and fingular Picture of St. John ftain'd in Marble. Some curious Miffals. A Chinese Dictionary; and several other Curiofities.

The Gardens belonging to this College are extremely agreeable, 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.

This College was founded by Sir Thomas White, AÍderman and Merchant-Taylor of London; and afterward's Anno 1557, he endowed it with feveral confiderable Maners, and at his Death bequeathed the Sum of 3000l. to purchase Lands to increase the Revenues of it. He originally defigned Merchant-Taylors School in London for the only Seminary for this College; but being of a more Public Spirit than to confine hmfelf 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 Side of the New Quadrangle, of which the Library is a Part. Archbishop Laud, who at the Expense of above 5000l. (exclufive of 400/. for the Statues of the King and Queen, and 200 Ton of Timber which he obtained by Warrant from Shotover Foreft and Stow Wood) added the other three Sides. Arch bishop Juxon, who gave 7000l. to this College; Dr. Gibbons, who bequeathed the perpetual Advowfon of the Living of Baynton in Yorkbire, and 1000l. to buy Books; Dr. Holmes, the late worthy Prefident, with his Lady, who gave 15000l. to augment the Salaries of the Officers, and other Ufes; and Dr. Rawlinfon, who bequeathed

bequeathed a confiderable Number of Books, and the Reverfion of an Estate in Fee-farm Rents.

The prefent Members are a Prefident, fifty Fellows, two Chaplains, an Organist, five Singing-men, fix Chorifters, and two Sextons. The Number of Students of all Sorts being ufually about feventy.

Vifitor. The Bishop of Winchefter.

WORCESTER COLLEGE.

Orrefter College is pleasantly fituated on an Eminence, just above the River Isis and the Meadows, at the Extremity of the Western Suburb. At entering into the College, we have the Chapel and Hall on each Side, both of which are 29 Feet in Breadth, and 50 in Length: These are just built. 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 Cloifter. It is furnished with a fine 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 a spacious Building. The Chambers of the Fellows and Scholars on the North and South, and the Gardens, which are to lie on a Descent to the River, on the Weft. The Apartment of the Provoft is at the North-weft Angle. From whence this College will enjoy not only the pleasanteft Situation, but be one of the most elegant Structures in the Univerfity.

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

Dr. Finney farther endowed it with two Fellowships and two Scholarships for Students from Staffordshire. Dr. Clarke founded fix fellowships and three Scholar

fhips, with a Preference to Clergymen's Sons. 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-house Scholars, to be enjoyed Eight Years.

This Houfe was formerly called Glocefter College, being a Seminary for educating the Novices of Glocesser 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 Foun der of St. John's College; in which State it continued, 'till it received a Charter of Incorporation and an Endowment from Sir Thomas Cookes.

Here are a Provost, twenty Fellows, eleven Scholars, . The whole Number about forty.

T

Vifitor. The Chancellor of the University.

EXETER COLLEGE.

HIS College is fituated oppofite. Jefus College, the Front whereof is 220 Feet long, in the Center of which is a magnificent Gate and Tower over it. The Compofition of each Front (viz. that towards the Street and that towards the Quadrangle) is a Ruftic Bafement which forms the Gateway; a Plinth whereupon are placed four Pilafters of the lonic Order, fupporting a femicircular Pediment, in the Area of which are the Founder's Arms on a Shield adorned with Feftoons; finishing with a Balustrade above all. This, with the beautiful arch'd Roof of the Gateway, is justly esteemed an elegant Piece of Workmanship. The Building within chiefly confifts of a large Quadrangle, formed by the Hall, the Chapel, the Rector's Lodg

G 2

ings,

ings, and the Chambers of the Fellows and Scholars, and is regular and uniform.

The Gardens are neatly difpofed, and though within the Town, have an airy and pleafant Opening to the East; with a Terras, from whence we have a View of fome of the finest Buildings in the University.

The Library is well furnished with Books in the feveral Arts and Sciences; and a very valuable Collection of Claffics, given by Edward Richards, Efquire.

Sir John Acland built the Hall in 1681, and Dr. Hakewell, firft Fellow and afterwards Rector, founded the Chapel in the Year 1624.

Walter Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter, Lord Treasurer of England, and Secretary of State to King Edward II. 1316, obtained a Charter for founding a College where Hertford College now ftands; but wanting Room for the Buildings he defigned, he removed his Scholars to the prefent House, and gave it the Name of Stapledon-Hall, after his own Name. He founded a Society confifting of Thirteen, i. e. A Rector and twelve Fellows; one of whom, the Chaplain, to be appointed by the Dean and Chapter of Exeter; eight to be elected out of the Archdeaconries of Exeter, Totness, and Barnfaple in Devonfire, and four of the Archdeaconry of Cornwall.

Among the fubfequent Benefactors was Edmund Staf ford, Bishop of Exeter, who obtained. Leave to alter the Name of this House, and fettled two Fellowships for the Diocese of Sarum. Sir William Petre in Queen Elizabeth's Time obtained a new Charter and Statutes, founded eight Fellowships for fuch Counties wherever he then had, or his Heirs at any Time after should have Eftates; which by this Time comprehends most of the Counties in England. King Charles I. added One Fellowship for the Ilands of Jersey and Guernsey. And by Mrs. Shiers's Benefaction, as completed and fettled by Dr. Hugh Shortridge, two other Fellowships.

were

were added, confined to the Counties of Hertford and Surrey; befides confiderable Augmentations to the Revenues of the Society. The laft Benefactor was the learned Mr. Jofeph Sanford, of Balliol College, who gave to this Society his very valuable Library.

The prefent Members are a Rector, 25 Fellows, one Scholar, who is Bible Clerk, two Exhibitioners: The whole Number of Members about eighty.

Vifitor. The Bishop of Exeter.

[ocr errors]

JESUS COLLEGE.

HE Front of this College is newly beautified and improved by a very handfome Ruftic Gateway, and other Additions.

In the first Court the Chapel on the North Side, and Hall on the Weft, are neat well-proportioned Rooms, the latter having within these few Years been much improved by the Addition of a Cieling and other Or naments done by Mr. Roberts.

The Inner Court, has three Sides uniformly and neatly built (the Hall before-mentioned making the fourth Side of this Quadrangle) and on the Weft Side of it over the Common Room, &c. is a spacious well furnished Library.

In the Principal's Lodgings is a fine Picture of King Charles I. at full Length, by Vandyke; and in the Library a half Length of King Charles II. and fome original Pieces of Dr. Hugh Price by Holben, Dr. Manfell, Sir Leoline Jenkins, &c. Benefactors to this College.

Other Curiofities in this College are, 1. a moft magnificent Piece of Plate, the Gift of the late Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, Bart. for the Ufe of the Fellows Common Room. And 2. the Statutes of the College written upon Vellum, in the most exquifite Manner, by

G 3

the

« PreviousContinue »