TH MAGDALEN COLLEGE. HE College of St. Mary Magdalen is fituated near the River Cherwell, at the east end of the City. The first thing worthy attention is the west Entrance into the Chapel; over which are, five fmall Fi gures, of elegant Sculpture. That on the right, in a kneeling pofture, reprefents the Founder; the next William of Wykeham the Founder of the two St. Mary Winton Colleges; that in the middle, St. Mary Magdalen, to whom the College is dedicated; the next, in a kneeling posture, King Henry III. who founded the Hofpital which was converted into this College; and that on the left, St. John the Baptift, to whom the faid Hofpital was dedicated. The Building on the left hand is the Prefident's Lodgings; adjoining to which is a magnificent Gothic Gate-way (formerly the Grand Entrance into the College) adorned with Statues, as large as the life, of four of the above perfons, viz. the Founder, St. Mary Magdalen, King Henry III. and St. John the Baptift. Between the Chapel and the above Gate-way, near this Entrance, on the right-hand, is the Chapel, which is a well-proportioned Edifice in form of a Roman T inverted. In the Ante, Chapel, on the left of the Or gan-loft, is a Monument erected to the memory of two brothers of the name of Lyttleton, who were drowned in the river Cherwell, one by endeavouring to fave the other. The whole of the Ante Chapel has been lately adorned with an elegant new Pulpit, Lecturer's Seat, and new Paving. The Weft Window, painted in Claro Obfcuro, was done after a defign of Schwartz, as appears by a print engraved by Sadelar from the Original. It reprefents the Refurrection; and, by the print, was certainly a grand defign; but the beauty of the Painting is much impaired. Till the time of the Civil Wars, all the Windows were painted in the fame manner. Those C now now in the Chapel were removed thither from the AnteChapel in 1741; but not being a fufficient number to glaze the whole, two new ones have fince been added. The Altar-Piece was painted by Ifaac Fuller, an English Hiftory-painter, about 130 Years ago; who having ftudied and admired the mufcular manner of Michael Angelo, feems to have neglected the graceful Elegance of Raphael: For although many of the Figures may justly be deemed excellent Anatomical Draw. ings; yet for want of that eafy and natural Disposition, peculiar to the laft-mentioned great Mafter, and better Colouring, the whole appears crude, and perhaps had not the laft finishing. This Painting, however, gave occafion to the writing of an excellent Latin Poem by Mr. Addison, who was of this College. Underneath this Piece of the Refurrection is an admirable Picture of our Saviour bearing his Crofs, fuppofed to be painted by Guido. It was taken at Vigo, and brought into England by the late Duke of Ormond: But afterwards falling into the hands of William Freeman, Efq; of Hamels in Hertfordshire, he gave it to the College. To this gentleman the College is likewife chiefly obliged for an excellent Organ, two additional Bells to the Peal of Eight, and other confiderable benefactions. The Altar was built, in the prefent manner, about thirty years ago. The Defign is elegant, and the Workmanship well performed: befides the common embel. lishments of the Corinthian Order, there are Feftoons over every Pannel extremely well carved, which greatly enrich it. Each Window contains fix Figures nearly as large as the life, reprefenting the Apoftles, primitive Fathers, Saints and Martyrs. Many think this Room rather too dark at firft entering it, but afterwards are better reconciled: The occafion of that opinion is, undoubtedly, the contrast between this and the AnteChapel, which they pafs through to it, and which is extremely light. Cathedral Service is performed here every day at ten and five, except fundays and holidays, and and then the morning Prayers begin at Eight, on ac count of the University Sermon. From hence, on the right, we pass into the Cloyster which encompaffes the great Quadrangle, and remains in it's primitive ftate; the whole making the most venerable Appearance of any College in Oxford, hating undergone the feweft alterations of any fince it was founded. On the South Side are the Hall and Chapel ; on the Weft the Library; and on the North and East, the Lodgings of the Fellows, Demies, &c. At the South-eaft Corner of the Cloyster, is the Way up to the Hall; which is a very spacious Room, handfomely fitted up, and adorned with four whole length Portraits, viz. of the Founder, Dr. Butler formerly Prefident, William Freeman, Efq; and Prince Rupert; two Half-lengths, viz. Bishop Warner, a great Benefactor to the Library, and Dr. Hammond. The interiour Part of this Quadrangle is ornamentedwith Hieroglyphics, of which, (though a celebrated Antiquary hath been pleased to call them whimsical Figures which ferve to amufe the vulgar, but are only the licentious Inventions of the Mafon,) we fhall here give a particular, and, we truft, a rational account, from a Latin + Manufcript in the Library of this College. Beginning, therefore, from the South-west Corner, the two firft Figures we meet with are the Lion, and the Pelican. The former of these is the emblem of Courage and Vigilance, the latter of parental Tenderness. and Affection. Both of them together exprefs to us the complete Character of a good Governor of a *See Dr. Stukely's Itinerarium Curiofum, p. 42. This Piece is intituled Oedipus Magdalenenfis: Explicatio viz. Imaginum,& Figurarum, quæ apud Magdalenenfis in interiori Collegii Quadrangulo Tibicinibus impofitæ vifuntur. It was written by Mr. William Recks, fometime Fellow of this College, at the Request of Dr. Clark, who was Prefident from the year 1671, to 1687, and to whom it is infcribed. It is divided into two Parts. In the first, the general Doctrine of Hieroglyphics is very learnedly difcuffed. In the latter, he defcends to a particular confideration of the Hieroglyphics at Magdalen; and from this Part the Account here given is extracted. College. C 2 College. Accordingly they are placed under the Window of thofe Lodgings which originally be longed to the Prefident, as the Inftructions they con⚫vey ought particularly to regulate his Conduct. Going on to the right Hand, on the other Side of the Gate-way, are four Figures, viz. the School mafter, the Lawyer, the Phyfician, and the Divine. Thefe are ranged along the Outfide of the Library, and reprefent the Duties and Bufinefs of the Students of the Houfe. By means of Learning in general, they are • to be introduced to one of the three learned Profef • fons, or else as hinted to us by the Figure with Cap and • Bells in the Corner, they must turn out Fools in the End. • We come now to the North Side of the Quadrangle, and here the three firft Figures represent the Hiftory of David, his Conqueft over the Lion and • Goliah; from whence we are taught, not to be dif couraged at any Difficulties that may ftand in our Way, as the Vigour of Youth will eafily enable us to furmount them. The next Figure to these is that of the Hippopotamos, or River-Horfe, carrying his young one upon his Shoulders. This is the Emblem of a good Tutor, or Fellow of a College, who is fet to watch over the Youth of the Society, and by whofe Prudence they are to be led through the Dangers of their first entrance into the World The Figure immediately following reprefents Sobriety, or Temperance, that most neceffary Virtue of a Collegiate Life. The whole remaining Train of Figures are the Vices we aré inftructed to avoid. Thofe next to Temperance are the oppofite Vices of Gluttony and Drunkenness. Then follow the Lucanthripos, the Hyana, and Pan⚫ther, reprefenting Violence, Fraud, and Treachery; the Gryphin reprefenting Covetousness, and the next Figure Anger, or Morofenefs. The Dog, the Dragon, the Deer, Flattery, Envy, and Timidity; and the three laft, the • Mantichora, the Boxers, and the Lamia, Pride, Conten • tion, and Luft. " We |