two very ancient Bufts: The one of the glorious Alfred the first Founder, the other of John Erigena, a Scotfman, who first read Lectures there in the Year 882.

The Refectory itself is neat and convenient, adorned with the Pictures of the Principal Benefactors, and very good Paintings on Glass of the two Founders. It ftands on the South Side of the firft Quadrangle. In the Center of which is a Statue of Cain and Abel.

Through a Paffage on the left Hand of the Gate of the first Quadrangle we enter the second. This is a more modern Structure, and is fuppos'd to have fallen from the Hands of that great Architect Sir Chriftopher Wren.

A Cloifter with a Library over it forms the Eaft Side, the Chapel the South. The Area is difpos'd in the Form of a Garden Planted with flow'ring Shrubs.

The Library is rather calculated for real Ufe than ornamental Shew. The Chapel has a Neatnefs and Simplicity becoming the Houfe of God. If these may be confidered as the Parents of Beauty, this Edifice has very strong Pretentions to it. The Roof and Altar-Piece are each refpectively fine.

The Ante-Chapel has an elegant Monument to the Memory of the late Principal, Dr. Shippen, who during his prefiding over the College had the utmoft regard to its intereft. His Buft gives the ftrongest Features of his Face.

The Foundation of this College is for one Principal, twenty Fellows, thirty-two Scholars, and four Exibitioners.

The Number of Names in the Book at prefent are about ninety.

Vifitor. The Bishop of Lincoln.

HERTFORD COLLEGE

S fituated oppofite to the Gate of the Public

about fifty Years ago was begun to be rebuilt. The College is intended to be erected in the Form of a Quadrangle, to confift of four Angles, and four intermediate Buildings; each Angle to confift of three Stair-Cafes and fifteen fingle Apartments; every Apartment to contain an outward Room, a Bed-Place, and a Study. Of these the South Eaft Angle, and the Chapel in the South, the Principal's Lodgings in the Eaft, the Hall in the North, and the Gateway (with the Library over it) in the Weft, are already finished, agreeable to the Planof the Oxford Almanack of the Year 1747.

Hertford or Hart-Hall, an ancient House of Learning, was an Appendant to Exeter College. But having received an Endowment in Part, was, at the Request of Dr. Richard Newton, then Principal, who endowed the Senior Fellowships, incorporated, Sept. 8. 1740.

And, though it is now ftiled Hertford College, it may be called by the Name of any other Perfon who will compleat the Endowment of it, or become the Principal Benefactor to it.

This College confifts of a Principal, two Senior Fellows or Tutors, Junior Fellows or Affiftants, thirty Undergraduate-Students, and four Scholars.

Vifitor. The Chancellor of the University.

NEW COLLEGE.

NEW College is fituated Eaft of the Schools and

Theatre, and North of Queen's, from which it is feparated only by a narrow Lane. It is dedicated to St. Mary Winton, and has been called New College from its firft Foundation, being at that time highly regarded for its Extent and Grandeur.

We enter this College by a Portal, leading into the first Court, which is a Quadrangle of about 168 Feet long, and 129 broad, with a Statue of Minerva in the Middle of it. This Court, built at the Foundation of the College, was low, with narrow arch'd tranfom Windows, in the Fashion of the Times: But foon after the Restoration of King Charles II. another Story was added over the old Building, and all the Windows altered to their prefent Form. On the North Side is the Chapel and the Hall; on the Eaft the Library; on the South the Fellows Apartments, and on the West the Warden's Lodgings, which are large and commodious, furnished with fome valuable Portraits.

In the North-West Corner of the Court is the Entrance into the Chapel, by much the grandef in the University. The Form of it is like that at Magdalene College, but larger. The AnteChapel is fupported by two beautiful Staff-moulded Pillars. The large Western Window was lately Painted by Mr. Pecket of York. This part is upwards of 80 Feet long, and 36 broad. The inner Chapel 100 Feet long, 35 broad, and 65 high. As we enter the inner Chapel the moft ftriking Object is the Altar-piece; the Painting whereof

was

was done by our ingenious Countryman Mr. Henry Cook, who flourished about ninety Years ago. It reprefents the Concave of a Semi-Rotunda in the Ionic Order, with a Cupola adorned with curious Mofaic Work; in which, the Eaft End of the Chapel feems to terminate. The Altar which is partly built of Wood and partly Painted, intercepting in fome Degree the View, greatly favours the Deceptio; particularly, two large open Pannels in the lower Part thereof, which have a good Effect.

In the upper Part of the Altar-Piece, which is painted in fuch a Manner as to feem the Finishing of the Wood-work that fupports it, is a Frame and Pannel, wherein is reprefented the Salutation of the Virgin Mary; And above the Entablature hangs hovering a most beautiful Cloud with great Numbers of Angels and Cherubs in various Attitudes, waiting the return of the Angel Gabriel. The proper Place to view it from to Advantage, is the Entrance into the Choir; the Perspective being contrived on purpose, to answer that Height and Distance. The Communion Table and the center Pannel are covered with Crimson Velvet, and the whole is enclofed within a Rail of curious wrought Iron-work.

The Windows on the South Side are most at

tracting to Strangers: Each Window containing eight Portraits as big as the Life, of Saints and Martyrs, done by Mr. Price of London in 1737, at the Expence of 100l. per Window, which was defrayed out of a certain Fund fet apart for repairing and beautifying the College. The Stalls are remarkably elegant in the Gothic Manner: But the painted Figures in the Pannels somewhat Disgrace the Architecture.

The Brafs Sconces against the Stalls and on the Defks, together with two large and beautiful Branches fufpended at the Ends of two long gilded Chains in the middle of the Choir, are very great Embellishments.

On the North Side of the Chapel is preserved the Crofier of the Founder, which is ufually fhewn to Strangers; a well preferved Piece of Antiquity, and almoft the only one in the Kingdom. It is near feven Feet high, is of Silver gilt, finely embellifhed, with variety of rich Gothic Architecture. Though it is near 400 Years old, it has loft little of its original Beauty.

Here is an admirable Organ, first built by Dolham, and fince improved by Mr. John Byfield, who added the Clarion Stop, and the Swelling Organ. Cathedral Service is performed here twice every Day, viz. at Eight and Five. This Room is efteemed one of the beft in England for Mufic: which probably is owing to its being very fpacious, and having no Breaks (fuch as Arches and SideIfles) to divide the Sounds. Upon the whole; when the Windows on the North-Side are perfected in the fame Manner with those on the South, which they are intended to be, this Room will furpass almost every Thing of the Kind. Adjoining to the Chapel is a fpacious Cloifter, and Garden ; on the North-Side of which is a Tower with a Peal of Ten Bells.

The Way up to the Hall is at the North-Eaft Corner of the Quadrangle. It is handsomely wainfcotted, and adorned with the Portraits of the Founder William of Wykeham, William of Wainfleet the Founder of Magdalene College, and Archbishop Chichele the Founder of All-Souls, both Fellows of this College in the Founder's Life-time, The