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118 Ditto of a Grecian..

119 Ditto of a Woman clothed.
120 Ditto of a Philofopher.
121 Philofophy, a Buft.
122 A Buft of Niobe.

123 A Ditto of one of her Sons.
124 Ditto of Venus de Medicis.
125 Ditto of a Woman clothed.
126 A Buft clothed, wants the head.

127 Ditto.

128 Ditto.

129 Ditto.

130 A Buft naked, head wanting.

131 A Buft of an old Man half naked.

132 Ditto of a Roman.

133 Buft of Hen. VIII. modern.

124 Ditto (modern) of Rob. C. Pal, Rhen. D. Bay. 1637: Etat. 17.

135. A Coloffal Head of Apollo.

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The Front of this Building is oppofite to the Divinity School, adorned with Corinthian Pillars, and the Statues of Archbishop Sheldon and the Duke of Ormond. Its Roof is flat, compofed of fhort pieces of timber, continued to a great breadth, without Arch-work or Pillar to fupport them, being fuftained only by the fide-walls, which are at the diftance of 80 feet one way and 70 the other.

When properly filled, the Chancellor or ViceChancellor being feated in the centre of the femicircular part, the Noblemen and Doctors on his right and left hand, the Proctors and Curators in their Robes, the Mafters of Arts, Bachelors, and UnderGraduats, in their respective habits and places, together with Strangers of both fexes, it makes a moft august appearance.

On

On the north fide is the Statue of Charles II. Within are the Portraits of the Founder (Archbishop Sheldon), the Duke of Ormond, and Sir Chriftopher Wren, the Architect. Likewife a curious Ceiling by Streater; the following Defcription of which is taken from Plott's Natural Hiftory of Oxfordshire.

1.

“ IN Imitation of the Theatres of the ancient Greeks and Romans, which were too large to be covered with lead or tile, fo this, by the Painting of the flat roof within, is represented open; and as they ftretched a cordage from pilafter to pilafter, upon which they strained a covering of cloth, to protect the people from the injuries of the weather, fo here is a Cord-moulding gilded, that reaches crofs the house, both in length and breadth, which fupporteth a great reddifh Drapery, fupposed to have covered the roof, but now furled up by the Genii round about the house, towards the wall which discovereth the open air, and maketh way for the Defcent of the Arts and Sciences, that are congregated in a circle of clouds, to whofe affembly Truth defcends as being folicited and implored by them all.

For joy of this feftival fome other Genii fport about the clouds, with their Feftoons of flowers and laurels, and prepare their Garlands of laurels and roles, viz. Honour and Pleasure, for the great lovers and students of thofe arts: And that this affembly might be perfectly happy, their great enemies and disturbers, Envy, Rapine, and Brutality, are by the Genii of their oppofite virtues, viz. Prudence, Fortitude, and Eloquence, driven from the fociety, and thrown down headlong from the clouds: the report of the affembly of the one, and the expulfion of the other, being proclaimed through the open and ferene air, by fome other of the Genii, who blowing their antick Trumpets, divide themselves into the feveral quarters of the world.

Thus far in general.

More

More particularly, the circle of figures confifts, Firft of Theology, with her Book of Seven Seals, imploring the affiftance of Truth for the unfolding of it.

On her left-hand is the Mofaical Law veiled, with the Tables of Stone, to which the points with her iron Rod. On her right-hand is the Gospel, with the Crofs in one hand, and a Chalice in the other.

In the fame division, over the Mofaical Law, is Hiftoxy, holding up her pen as dedicating it to Truth, and an attending Genius, with feveral fragments of Old Writing, from which the collects her hiftory into her books.

On the other fide, near the Gospel, is Divine Poefy with her harp of David's fashion.

In the Triangle on the right-hand of the Golpel, is alfo Logick, in a posture of arguing; and on the lefthand of the Mofaical Law, is Mufick, with her Antick Lyre, having a pen in her hand, and a paper of Mufick Notes on her knee, with a Genius on her right-hand, (a little within the partition of Theology) playing on a Flute, being the emblem of ancient music,

On the left (but within the partition for Phyfick) Dramatick Peefy, with a Vizard, reprefenting Comedy, a bloody Dagger for Tragedy, and the Reed Pipe for Paftoral.

In the fquare, on the right fide of the circle, is Law, with her Ruling Sceptre, accompanied with Records, Patents, and Evidences on the one Side, and on the other with Rhetorick: by thefe is an attending Genius, with the Scales of Justice, and a figure with a Palmbranch, the emblem of reward for virtuous actions; and the Roman Fafces, the marks of Power and Punish

ment.

Printing, with a Cafe of Letters in one Hand, and a Form ready fet in the other, and by her feveral sheets hanging to dry.

On the left fide the circle, oppofite to Theology, in three Squares, are the Mathematical Sciences, depending

on

on Demonftration, as the other on Faith; in the first of which is Aftronomy with the Celestial Globe, Geography with the Terreftrial, together with three attending Genii; having Arithmetick in the fquare on one hand, with a paper of figures; Optics with the Perfpective Glafs; Geometry with a pair of Compaffes in her left-hand; and a table with Geometrical figures in it, in her right-hand. And in the fquare on the other hand, Architecture embracing the Capital of a Column, with Compaffes, and the Norma or Square lying by her, and a Workman holding another Square in one hand, and a Plumb-Line in the other.

In the midst of these fquares and triangles (as defcending from above) is the figure of Truth fitting as on a cloud, in one hand holding a Palm Branch (the emblem of victory), in the other the Sun, whofe brightness enlightens the whole circle of figures, and is so bright, that it feems to hide the face of herself to the fpectators below.

Over the entrance of the front of the THEATRE, are Three Figures tumbling down; first Envy, with her Snaky Hairs, Squint Eyes, Hag's Breaft, pale venomous Complexion, ftrong but ugly Limbs, and riveled Skin, frighted from above by the fight of the Shield of Pallas, with the Gorgon's Head in it, against which the oppofes her fnaky Treffes; but her fall is fo precipitous, he has no command of her arms.

Then Rapine, with her fiery Eyes, grinning Teeth, harp Twangs, her hands imbrued in blood, holding a bloody Dagger in one hand, in the other a burning Flambeau; with these inftruments threatening the deftruction of Learning, and all it's habitations; but the is overcome, and prevented, by a Herculean Genius, os power.

Next that is reprefented brutifh, fcoffing Ignorance, endeavouring to vilify and contemn what he understands not, which is charmed by a mercurial Genius, with his Caduceus."

IN the Theatre are held the Public Acts called

the

the Comitia, and Encænia, and Lord Crewe's annual Commemoration, in June or July, of the Benefactors to the University; when the Prizes adjudged to particular Performances are publicly recited.

This fuperb Edifice, which juftly deferves 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 purchase lands for the perpetual repair of it.

THE MUSEUM.

On the weft fide of the Theatre ftands the Afhmolean Museum, a handfome Edifice, built by the University at the request of Elias Afhmole, 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 completed in 1682, under the conduct of Sir Christopher Wren, and is admired for its Symmetry and Elegance. The Eaftern Portico is highly finished in the Corinthian Order, and adorned with Variety of Characteristical Embellishments.

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

This Repofitory has been greatly enriched by feveral ample and valuable benefactions. The principal Natural Curiofities are the Collection of Bodies, Horns, Bones, &c. of Animals preserved dry, or in

Spirits;

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