Before the year 1 300 the Library of the University confisted of a few Traits kept in the Choir of St. Mary's Church.

The Bodleian Library and Picture Gallery, can only be seen from eight in the morning till two o'clock, and from three to five in the afternoon, from Lady-Day to Michaelmas; in the Winter half year, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon.

The Divinity School, which ftands under the fame roof, was begun at the expence of the Univerfity, A. D. 1427, and afterwards completed, with its fuperftructure, by Duke Humphrey. Its cieling is a moft finished piece of Gothic Masonry, both in defign and execution; and on the whole, it is probably the most complete gothic room in this kingdom. At the end of it is the Convocation House, which is a spacious room, commodiously furnished and handfomely decorated. It was built, with its fuperftru&ture, A. D. 1639.

THE THEATRE.

OPPOSITE to the Divinity School stands the front

of the Theatre, adorned with Corinthian pillars, and two Statues of Archbishop Sheldon and the Duke of Ormond, with other decorations. At our entrance the mind is ftrongly and suddenly struck with ideas of majesty and grace. But this room exhibits the most auguft appearance when properly filled. It is equally difpofed to contain, and fhew to advantage, a large and folemn assembly. The Vice-Chancellor, with the two Proctors, are feated in the centre of the femicircular part; on each hand are the young Noblemen and Doctors; the Mafters of Arts in the area: The reft of the Univerfity, and ftrangers of both sexes, are placed in the galleries. The roof is flat, com

pofed

pofed of fmall pieces of timber, and not being fupported either by columns or arch-work, refts on the fide walls, which are at the distance of 80 feet one way, and 70 the other. The ceiling is covered with Allegorical Painting, of which the following explication is here inserted, from Doctor Plott's Natural Hiftory of Oxfordshire.

• 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 reprefented open; and as they stretched 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 and cross the houfe, both in length and breadth, which fupporteth a great reddish drapery, fuppofed to have covered the roof, but now furled up by the Genii * round about the house, towards the wall, which dif'covereth 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.

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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 rofes, viz. Honour • and Pleasure, for the great lovers and students of those arts: And that this affembly might be perfectly happy, their great enemies and difturbers, Envy, Rapine, and Brutality, are by the Genii of their oppofite virtues, viz. Prudence, Fortitude, and Eloquence, driven from the fociety, and thrown 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 antic trum-pets, divide themfelves into the feveral quarters of the world. Hitherto in grofs.

More particularly the Circle of Figures confils,

.

First, of Theology, with her Book of Seven Seals, imploring the affiftance of Truth for the unfolding of it.

• On

On her left hand is the Mofaical Law veiled, with the Table of Stone, to which fhe points with her iron rod.

On her right hand is the Gospel, with the cross in onehand, and a chalice in the other.

• In the fame divifion, over the Mofaical Law, is Hiftory, holding up her pen, as dedicating it to Truth, and an attending Genius, with feveral fragments of old writings, from which the collects her history into her book.

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

"In the triangle on the right hand of the Gospel, is alfo Logic, in a posture of arguing; and on the left hand of the Mofaical Law is Mufic, with her antic lyre, having a pen in her hand, and a paper of mufic 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 antient mufic.

On the left (but within the partition for Phyfic) Dramatic Poefy, with a Vizard, reprefenting Comedy; a bloody. dagger for Tragedy, and the reed pipe for Pafloral.

In the fquare on the right fide of the circle, is Law • with her ruling fceptre, accompanied with records, patents, and evidences, on the one fide; and on the other with Rhetoric: By thefe is an attending Genius, with the fcales of Juftice, and a figure with a palm branch, the emblem of reward for virtuous actions; and the • Roman Fafces, the marks of power and punishment.

Printing, with a Cafe of Letters in one hand, and a form ready fet in the other, and by her feveral fhects hanging as a drying.

• On the left fide the circle, oppofite to Theology, in three fquares, are the Mathematical Sciences (depending on Demonfiration, as the other on Faith) in the firft of which is Aftronomy with the celeftial globe, Geography with the tereftrial, together with three attending Genii; having Arithmetic in the fquare on one hand, with a < paper of figures; Optics with the perspective glafs; Geometry with a pair of compaffes in her left, and a table ⚫ with geometrical figures in it, in her right hand: And in • the

the fquare on the other hand, Architecture embracing the capital of a column, with compaffes, and the norma or fquare lying by her, and a workman holding another · fquare in one hand, and a plumb line in the other.

In the midst of these squares 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 fun, whofe brightness enlightens the whole circle of figures, and is fo bright, that it seems to hide the face of herfelf to the fpecta'tors below.

Over the entrance of the front of the THEATRE, are three figures tumbling down; firft Envy, with her fnaky hairs, fquint eyes, hag's breast, pale venomous 3 complexion, ftrong, but ugly limbs, and fhriveled skin, frighted from above by the fight of the fhield of Pallas, with the Gorgon's head in it, against which the oppofes her fnaky treffes; but her fall is fo precipitous that she ⚫ has no command of her arms.

Then Rapine, with her fiery eyes, grinning teeth, 'fharp twangs, her hands imbrued in blood, holding a bloody dagger in one hand, in the other a burning flambeau; with these inftruments threatening the destruction • of Learning, and all its habitations, but is prevented by an Herculean Genius, or Power.

Next that is reprefented brutish fcoffing Ignorance, en'deavouring to villify and contemn what fhe understands not, which is charmed by a Mercurial Genuis with his • Caduceus.'

The allegorical Pictures on the Cieling, above explained, were done by Streater, ferjeant painter to King Charles the fecond; but the colours, as well as the canvafs, having been greatly injured by time, the work was cleaned and repaired in 1762 by Mr. Kettle, an ingenious Portrait Painter of London; at which time the whole infide was alfo decorated, with new gilding, painting, and other ornaments, at the expence of One Thousand Pounds.*

* Some part of the timbers of this curious roof having given way, the whole is at present under a state of repair.

The

The room is furnished with three admirable full-length. Portraits, of Archbishop Shelden, the Duke of Ormond before-mentioned, and Sir Chriftopher Wren. A good ftatue of Charles II. adorns the outfide of the circular part; the edifice being fomewhat in the form of a Roman D.

This beautiful structure was erected from the Design of Sir Chriftopher Wren, A. D. 1669, at the expence of Archbishop Sheldon, then Chancellor; who having bestowed 15,000l. in building it, endowed it with 2000l. to purchase lands for its perpetual repair.

In the Theatre are celebrated the Public Acts, and the annual Commemoration of Benefactors to the University, inftituted by the late Lord Crew, Bishop of Durham, in June, when the performances which have gained the Chancellor's prizes are publicly recited by the respective Students who composed them.

THE ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM

W

ESTWARD of the Theatre ftands the Ashmolean

Museum, fo called from its founder Elias Afhmole, Efq; Windfor Herald in the reign of Charles II. This munificent patron of learning, in the year 1677, made an offer to bestow upon the University all the Rarities he had purchased from the two Tradefcants, fucceffively phyfic gardeners at Lambeth; together with his own collection of Coins, Manufcripts, &c. on condition that they should build a fabric for their reception. The building was accordingly erected, and finished in the year 1682, under the conduct of Sir Chriftopher Wren. Its front towards the ftreet is about 60 feet in length. The eaftern Portico is remarkably well finished in the Corinthian Order, and adorned with variety of characteristical embellish

ments.