ed by their projection, and having over each a Pediment or Frontispiece which form them into Gate-ways. The Superftructure, raised upon this Basement, is perfectly Cylindrical, and adorned with Three-Quarter Columns of the Corinthian Order; which are ranged, not at equal Distances but in Couplets. Between these there is an Alternacy of Windows and Niches all round: over the latter, next to the Achitrave, are beautiful Feftoons of Fruits and Flowers. The Entablature is much enriched with Carving; and over it is a BalluRrade 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 Cloyster almost encircling it. Over each of the Entrances is a Dome of fmaller Dimenfions, curiously wrought with variety of Mofaic. The Eighth Gateway is appropriated to the Stair-Cafe, the well of which is oval; and the Steps, which are of Stone, adhering to the Wall at one End, feem rather to be upheld by the Iron Rail that is upon them, than fupported underneath at the other. The Pavement is of different coloured Stone, brought from Harts Foreft in Germany.

The Dome, which is 80 Feet high from the Pavement, is wrought in curious Compartments in Stucco. It is chiefly lighted by Windows in the Cylindric Part thereof: between which are Treffes of Fruits and Flowers. In the circular Part, without the Piers, are the Book-cafes and Reading-tables: The Gallery above is appropriated to the fame Ufes as the circular Part beneath. Over the Door is a very good Statue of the Founder by Rybrack. Over the Entrance of one of the Galleries is a Bust of Gibbs, the Architect. The first Stone of this fuperb Building was

laid

laid May 17. A. D. 1737; and being compleatly finifhed, it was opened on Thursday, April 13, 1749.

In this Library are a couple of Superb Roman Candlesticks, of incomparable Workmanship, given to the University by Sir Roger Newdigate, Bart. They were found in the Ruins of the Emperor Adrian's Palace at Tivoli, in the Campania Romana.

THE Publick are indebted to Dr. Radcliffe's Trustees for the building and compleatly furnishing the PUBLIC INFIRMARY at the North Side of the City, which is maintained and fupported by voluntary Contributions. An inftitution which in this place must be productive of very extenfive Benefits, as, while it relieves the Poor, it ferves for a School for the Students in Phyfic.

The munificent Trustees of Dr. Radcliffe's Will have also built a magnificent

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY,

in an advantageous fituation, as it commands an extenfive Horizon, not incommoded by the Town, and which is now nearly completed, under the Direction of that great Artift Mr. Wyatt. The Eight-Winds, after the Manner of the Temple at Athens, are ready to be placed on the third Story, as is the Atlas to be placed on the top. It is built in an open Field adjoining to the North Side 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 South 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 Semicircle, which includes the Hall with two adjacent Libraries on the ground floor; the Stair cafe

and

and the Lecture-Room with two adjoining Rooms on the next Story.

The third Story confifts of an Octangular Tower, the elevation of which, including the figure to be placed on the Roof, will be upwards of 50 feet: Thus the elevation of the centre of this Building will be upwards of 100 feet.

In the Eaftern Wing is contained, in three rooms, a compleat set of Aftronomical Inftruments, fixed in the plane of the Meridian, made by the late unrivalled Artift Mr. John Bird, at the expence 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 fett of smaller Inftruments for the use of fuch Students as chufe to apply themselves to practical Aftronomy.

The Dwelling-Houfe for the Profeffor is very 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 purposes 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 cost 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 PHYSICK, 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)

cf

of Magdalen College, furrounded it with a lofty Wall, and erected, next to the Street, a parapet with Iron Palifades.

The Gate-way is juftly esteemed an elegant Piece of Architecture. The Defign is afcribed to Inigo Jones; nor is it unworthy of that Architect. In the Center 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 Infcription; viz. Gloria Dei optimi maximi Honori Caroli I. Regis in Ufum Academic et Reipublica Henricus Comes Danby, Anno 1632. This Infcription is likewise on the Garden Front.

The Garden is divided into four Quarters, with a broad Walk down the Middle. Near the Entrance are two elegant and useful Green Houses, built for Exotics; of which there is a confiderable Collection. In the Quarters is the greatest Variety of fech 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-house; 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 prefent learned Profeffor who also refided fome Years in the Eaft, and has enriched the Collection with many new Articles. Dr. Sherard built the Library adjoining to the Garden, and furnished it with a curious Collection of Botanical Books. The Eaft End of this Building is the Apartment

Apartment for the Profeffor. The Affiftant to the Profellor is provided by the University; he is generally ready to attend fuch Perfons as wish to be more minutely inform'd as to the more scarce and curious Plants.

We proceed next to describe and give some Account of the feveral Colleges; and as Magdalen College is the nearest to the Place we laft mentioned, and the firft we meet with in the Road from London, it may be most convenient to begin with that College.

MAGDALEN

ΤΗ

COLLEGE.

HE 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 Sculpture. That on the right, in a kneeling pofture, reprefents the Founder; the next William of Wykeham the Founder of the two St. Mary Winton Colleges; that in the middle, St. Mary Magdalen, to whom the College is dedicated; the next, in a kneeling posture, King Henry.III. who founded the Hospital which was converted into this College; and that on the left, St. John the Baptist, to whom the faid Hofpital was dedicated.

The Building on the left hand is the Prefident's Lodgings. Near the Entrance, on the right-hand, is the Chapel, which is a well-proportioned Edifice in form of a Roman T inverted. In the Ante Chapel, on the left of the Organ-loft, is a Monument erected to the memory of two brothers of the name of Lyttleton, whe were drowned in the river Cherwell, one by endeavouring to fave the other. The whole of the Ante Chapel has been lately adorned with an elegant new Pulpit, Lecturer's Seat, and new Paving.

B

The