corporated, and endowed with almost all the lands they at this time poffefs, and provided with the fame ftatutes, by which, without any alteration or addition, they are now governed. Thefe, by the recourse had to them, were of much ufe to the after-foundations both in Oxford and Cambridge; and, with fo much prudence was this college founded, that Edward I. recommended it to Hugh de Balfam, bifhop of Ely, as a model for his intended munificence in Cambridge; according to which Peterhouse was afterwards erected in that univerfity.

There are alfo in this houfe poft-mafters, who are of a distinct and different foundation, which took place about an hundred years after the other. The number, and their revenues, have been fince increated by several benefactors. Befides the poftmafters, there are four other fcholars of the foundation of Mr. Henry Jackson, formerly of this college, which commenced in 1753. In the election of a warden, the fellows choose three perfons, whom they present to their vifitor, who appoints one of them.

Merton College'is fituated eaft of Corpus Chrifti; from which it is feparated by a fmall grove of elms, and confifts of three courts. The largeft, or inner court, is 110 feet long, and roo broad, and was erected in 1610; from the fouth apartments there is a pleasant profpect over the meadows. The terrace in the gardens, formed on the city wall, is no lefs well fituated for a profpect. The gardens, for their pleafing variety, are generally much reforted to in fummer.

The Chapel, at the weft end of the first court, is likewife the parish church of St John Baptift de Merton. It is one of the largest and best proportioned Gothic structures in the university, 100 feet in length and 30 in breadth, and has a very capacious tower and ante-chapel. But, large as it is at prefent, it has been thought, from its whole appearance, and from the form and manner of the arches clofed up in the wall of the weft end, on each hand of the great window, to have been built with a view to a farther addition of a nave and fide aifles, the prefent building being no more than the choir and crofs-aifle. Such a defign was more easy to be imagined than executed; and, after all, moft likely reached no farther than the carrying on the building, as far as it went, in the cathedral manner.

In the Hall, to which the afcent is by a flight of fteps, is a well imagined picture, by the late Dr. Wall, reprefenting the expulfion of idle monks to make room for the liberal education of youth, defigned by the founder.

The Library is in the fmall old quadrangle, fouth of the cha pel, and is furnished with fome ancient and modern books, and fome manufcripts.

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The members are, a warden, twenty-four fellows, fourteen poft-mafters, Mr Jackfon's four fahelars, two chaplains, and two clerks.

Vifitor. The archbishop of Canterbury.

ORIEL COLLEGE. This, college was founded, by Edward II. on petition of Adam de Brome, his almoner, in 1374, who was the firft provoft. Edward III. gave the large meffuage of Le Oriel, fituated in St John's parifh, by which name the college was afterwards called, and whence it has been free quently held to be a royal foundation. He likewife gave the hofpital of Saint Bartholomew, near Oxford, with the lands thereunto belonging. Other benefactors were John Frank, mafter of the rolls in the reign of Henry VI, who gave 1000l. to purchase lands for the maintenance of four fellows; John Carpenter, formerly provoft, and afterwards bishop of Worcefter; William Smith, bifhop of Lincoln and De Richard Dudley, fometime fellow, and afterwards chancellor of the church of Sarum, who gave the manor of Swainfwick in Somerfetfhire for the maintenance of two fellows and fix exhibitioners; Dr John Tolfon, who was provoft in 1640, gave 1150l. toward the buildings of the quadrangle, befides other confiderable donations. Queen Anne annexed a prebend of Rochetter to the provoftfhip for ever; Dr. Robinfon, bishop of London, befides the new building, gave 25col to augment the fellowships and to found three exhibitions; Dr. Carter not only left money for the erection of the oppofite wing, but also for the purchafe of livings for the benefit of the provoft and fellows. The late duke of Beaufort gave rool. per ann. for four exhibitioners.

Oriel College is fituated between St. Mary's church on the north, Corpus Chrifti College on the fouth, and Christ Church on the weft; the entrance is on the west. It chiefly confifts of one regular, uniform, and well built quadrangle; on the north fide whereof are the provost's lodgings; on the caft the hall, and the entrance into the chapel, which runs eastward from thence, and on the fouth and weft fides are the chambers of the fellows and other ftudents.

Oppofite to the great gate, a large flight of fteps, having a portico over them, leads to the ball, which is a well proportioned room, handfomely wainscotted, with a Doric entablature, and adorned with portraits..

The chapel has that beauty which is derived from a decent fimplicity.

The library is an elegant modern building, in which are placed the late Lord Leigh's library, given to the fociety.

The Members are, a provoft, eighteen fellows, and thirteen exhibitioners.

EXETER College. This college derives its foundation from Walter Stapledon, bifhop of Exeter, lord treasurer of England, and fecretary of state to Edward II., who, in 1316, obtained a charter for founding à college where Hertford college now ftands; but wanting room for the buildings he defigned, he removed his fcholars to the prefent houfe, and called it Stapledon Hall, after his own name. He founded a fociety 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, Totnefs, and Barnstaple, in Devonshire, and four from the archdeaconry of Cornwall. Among the fubfequent benefactors was Edmond Stafford, bifhop 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 Elizabeth's time, obtained a new charter and ftatutes, founded eight fellowships for fuch counties wherever he then had, or his heirs at any time after fhould have eftates; which, by this time, comprehends most of the counties in England. Charles I. added one fellowship for the iflands of Jerfey and Guernsey; and by Mrs. Shier's benefaction, as completed and fettled by Dr. Hugh Shortrige, two other fellowships were added, con fined to the counties of Hertford and Surry; befides confiderable augmentations to the revenues of the fociety. The laft benefactor was the learned Mr. Jofeph Sandford, of Baliol College, who gave this fociety his valuable library; for the reception of which, they, in the year 1781, erected a neat modern edifice in a part of their garden near their former library.

Exeter College is fituated oppofite Jefus College; its front is 220 feet long, having in the centre a magnificent gate and tower. 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 Ionic order, fupporting a femi-circular pediment, in the area of which are the founder's arms, on a fhield adorned with feftoons, finifhing with a balustrade above all. This, with the beautiful arched roof of the gateway, is juftly esteemed an elegant piece of workmanfhip. The building within chiefly confifts of a large quadrangle, formed by the hall, the chapel, the rector's lodgings, and the chambers of the fellows and fcholars, and is regular and uniform.

The Gardens are neatly difpofed; and, though within the town, have an airy and pleafant opening to the east,' and a ter

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race commanding a view of fome of the fineft buildings in the university.

The Library is well furnished with books in the several arts and feiences, and a very valuable collection of claffics given by Edward Richards Efq.

The Members are, a rector, twenty-five fellows, one scholar, who is bible-clerk, and two exhibitioners.

Vifitor. The bishop of Exeter.

QUEEN'S COLLEGE. Robert Egglesfield, a native of Cumberland, confeffor of Queen Philippa, and bachelor of divinity in the university of Oxford, having purchafed feveral tenements in the parish of Saint Peter in the caft, erected there a collegiate hall, probably by the encouragement of Queen Philippa, confort of Edward III. giving it the name of Aula Scholarium Regina de Oxon; and, on the 18th of January 1340, obtained the royal charter for incorporating the fociety of this hall or college; by virtue whereof, he constituted 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 Westmorland. The principal benefactors, befides the founder, were Edward III. and his queen Philippa; Charles I. who gave this college three rectories and three vicarages in Hampshire; Sir Jofeph Williamfon, knight, some time fellow, who re-built part of the college, and left 6000l. towards the finishing of it, befides a valuable library of books; Dr. Barlow, biflop of Lincoln, Dr. William Lancaster, and Dr. Timothy Halton, provosts. Some valuable exhibitions have been fince founded by Lady Margaret Hungerford, Sir Francis Bridgman, Mr. Tylney, Lady Elizabeth Haftings, and Dr. Holmes. Eight fellowships, four scholarships, and four exhibitions have been eftablished by the late Mr. Mitchell of Richmond; and this inftitution is called the New Foundation in Queen's College. Several very liberal donations were received by the fociety in 1779, for the purpofe of re-building the weft wing of the front quadrangle, which had been deftroyed by fire; and in particular the fum of 1000 l. from her prefent Majefty, patronefs of the college.

Queen's College is fituate on the north fide of the High-street, oppolite University College. The whole area, on which it is built, is an oblong fquare of oo feet in length, and 220 in breadth, which, being divided by the hall and chapel, forms two fpacious courts.

The Chapel is 100 feet long, and 30 broad. In the arched roof is a piece of painting by Sir James Thornhill. The windows are admirably painted.

The

The Hall is 60 feet long, and 30 broad, with an arched roof of a fuitable height.

The Library on the weft fide of the north court, about 133 feet in length, is a noble building of the Corinthian order, with a fpacious cloister to the eaft. It has a fplendid orrery, and is furnished with a valuable collection of books and manuscripts in moft languages and fciences. It is alfo ornamented with a caft, in plaister of Paris, of the Florentine boar.

The Members in this college are, a provoft, fixteen fellows, two chaplains, eight taberdas, (fo called from taberda, a fhort gown which they formerly wore), fixteen scholars, two clerks, and forty exhibitioners; together with Mr. Michell's eftablish ment, and a great number of mafters, bachelors, gentlemen commoners, commoners, and other students. They have fome extraordinary cuftoms. They are called to dinner by the found of a trumpet. On Christmas-day a boar's head is ufhered very folemnly into the common-hall or refectory, with a celebrated monkifh fong; and, on New-year's day, the burfar of the college gives to each member a needle and thread,, addreffing him in thefe terms, take this and be thrifty. This practice of distributing the needle and thread, aiguille et fil, had perhaps, in its origin, fome allufion to the name of the founder, Egglesfield.

Vifitor. The archbishop of York.

NEW COLLEGE. New College was founded by William of Wykeham, a native of Wykeham in Hampshire, who befides many temporal honours, attained to the ecclefiaftical dignity of bishop of Winchefter. The foundation ftone was laid March 5th, 1379, and it was finifhed on April 14, 1386, when the warden and fellows took poffeffion of it. In the year following, St. Mary's College near Winchester was begun, and was finished and inhabited in the year 1393, by a warden, ten fellows, three chaplains, three clerks, and fixteen chorifters, as alfo two mafters, and feventy boys, from whom an annual election is held, to fupply the immediate vacancies, or any which may happen within the enfuing year, at New College. The pious and munificent founder, not only faw both his colleges completed, made ample provifion for the fupport of each, and gave them a regular and perfect body of statutes, but having furvived many years, he enlarged his will with coftly legacies of jewels, plate, money, and books, to be distributed throughout the feveral diocefes in which he was preferred, or had temporal poffeffions at his decease. He died Sept. 27, 1404, when he was 80 years of age. Wykeham's pious example has incited many eminent perfons, chiefly fuch as had been fellows of this fociety, to be confiderable benefactors to his munificent foundation.