THE SCHOOLS.

THE Schools form a magnificent area of 100 feet square. The principal front on the outfide is about 175 feet in length; in the centre of which is a noble tower, whose highest apartments are appointed for aftronomical obfervations, and other philofophical purpofes. The infide of this part must please every lover of antient Grandeur. Three fides of the upper ftory of the quadrangle are one entire room, called the Picture Gallery. This is chiefly furnished with valuable portraits of founders and benefactors, and of other eminent men; as also with cabinets of medals, and cafes of books. It was wainscotted by the munificence of Dr. Butler, the late prefident of Magdalen College, and the late Duke of Beaufort. About the middle of it stands a noble statue in brass, of Philip Earl of Pembroke, defigned by Rubens, and caft by Hubert le Soeur, a Frenchman; the fame who did the equestrian statue of Charles I. at Charing-Crofs. This room is, in reality, a part or continuation of the Bodleian Library. Under it are the Schools of the feveral Sciences; in one of which are placed the Arundelian Marbles; given to the Univerfity by Henry Howard, Earl Marshal, grandfon to Lord Arundel, at the inftance of Mr. Eveline, when Arundel House in the Strand was taken down; and in another the collection of ftatues, &c. lately prefented to the University by the Countefs of Pomfret. For a catalogue of the Pomfret ftatues, bufts, marbles, &c. fee the appendix at the end of this book, page 161.

The first tone of the Schools was laid March 30th, 1613; and the building was carried on at the comp'ned expence of many benefactors.

THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY.

TH HE Bodleian or Public Library, is a part or member of the laft-mentioned edifice. It confifts of three fpacious and lofty rooms, difpofed in the form of the Roman H. The middle room was erected by Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, over the Divinity School, about the year 1440, and by him furnished with books, all which have been fince loft. The gallery on the weft was raised at the expence of the Univerfity, under the Chancellorship of Archbishop Laud, together with the Convocation House beneath. The veftibule, or firft gallery, with the profcholium under it, was built by Sir Thomas Bodley, who furnished the whole with a collection made with prodigious care and expence. He likewife affigned an estate for the maintenance of a Librarian, &c. and the fupport of a public fund for the Library, adding a Body of Statutes for the regulation of his new Inftitution. By these fervices he justly deserved the name of the Founder of the Library. He died January 28th, 1612.

The original stock has been greatly enriched by the acceffion of many valuable collections of Manufcripts, particularly Greek and Oriental; befides large additions of choice and ufeful books, from various donations. The principal benefactors have been the Earl of Pembroke, Archbishop Laud, Sir Thomas Roe, Sir Kenelm Digby, General Fairfax, Dr. Marshal, Dr. Barlow, Dr. Rawlinfon, Mr. St. Amand, &c. The Library, supposed to contain the greatest number of books of any in Europe, (that of the Vatican excepted) is now in a very flourishing condition; which t is likely to prefetve and improve, under the management of the present vigilant and learned Lib. a.lan

Here is fhewn a collection of English Coins, the moft complete in the kingdom, given by Browne Willis, and Since augmented by the bequeft of Dr. Rawlinson.

Before