there is an Alternacy of Windows and Niches all round: over the latter, next to the Architrave, are beautiful Feftoons of Fruits and Flowers. The Entablature is much enrished with Carving; and over it is a Balluftrade furrounding the whole, finished with Vafes on the Piers perpendicular to the Columns. Above which is a Cupola 60 Feet high. Seven of the Gateways abovementioned are Entrances into the Portico or Arcade; in the Center of which within the Piers is a wide fpreading Dome; and without them, a Cloyster almost encircling it. Over each of the Entrances is a Dome of fmaller Dimenfions, curioufly wrought with variety of Mofaic. The Eighth Gateway is appropriated to the Stair-cafe, the Well of which is oval; and the Steps, which are of Stone, adhering to the Wall at one End, feem rather to be upheld by the Iron Rail that is upon them, than fupported underneath at the other. The Pavement is of different coloured Stone, brought from Harts Foreft in Germany.

The Dome, which is 80 Feet high from the Pavement, is wrought in curious Compartments in Stucco. It is chiefly lighted by Windows in the Cylindric Part thereof between which are Treffes of Fruits and Flowers. In the circular Part, without the Piers, are the Book-cafes and Reading-tables: This Part is lighted by the fmall fquare Windows, which are fo propor tioned and difpofed, as to admit of a Gallery above. This Gallery is appropriated to the fame Ufes as the circular Part beneath. Over the Door is a very good Statue of the Founder by Ryfbrack: The beft point to view it from is directly oppofite to it in the Gallery. Over the Entrance of one of the Galleries is a Buft of Gibbs, the Architect. The firft Stone of this fuperb Building was laid May 17. A. D. 1737; and being compleatly finished, it was opened on Thursday, April 13, 1749; when the Duke of Beaufort, one of the Trustees, delivered the Keys into the Hands of the then ViceChancellor, who, in the Name of the University, returned Thanks to the Trustees.

In this Library are a couple of Superb Roman Cardlesticks, of incomparable Workmanship, given to the Univerfity by Sir Roger Newdigate, Bart. Their want of fimilarity adds to their Worth, as by it we have the Benefit of more of the ingenuity of the Roman Artists. They were found in the Ruins of the Emperor Adrian's Palace at Tivoli, in the Campania Romana.

THE Publick are indebted to Dr. Ratcliffe's Trustees for the building and compleatly furnishing the PUBLIC INFIRMARY at the North Side of the City, which is maintained and fupported by voluntary Contributions, and is diftinguished by the Stile of The Pre-fident and Governors of the Radcliffe Infirmary, for the Relief of the Sick and Lame Poor, from whatever County recommended. An institution which in this place must be productive of very extensive Benefits, as, while it relieves the Poor, it ferves for a School for the Students in Phyfic.

The munificent Trustees of Dr. Ratcliffe's Will, to whom the Public in general, and this Place in particular, are fo greatly indebted, have alfo built a magnificent

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY, in an extremely advantageous Situation, as it commands an extenfive Horizon, quite unincommoded by the Town, and which is now almost completed, under the Direction of that great Artist Mr Wyatt. The Articles remaining to be done are The Eight Winds, after the Manner of the Temple at Athens, and an Atlas on the Roof. It is built in an open Field adjoining to the North Side of the Infirmary; the Land a Benefaction of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough. The whole Building is 175 Feet in Length; its Breadth from North to South in the Centre, exclufive of the Portico, is 57 Feet; and at each Wing 24 Feet.

Between the Wings, in the North Front, fprings a Semicircle, which includes the Hall with two adjoining

Libraries

Libraries on the ground floor; the Stair cafe and the Lecture-Room with two adjoining Rooms on the next Story.

The third Story confifts of an Octangular Tower, the elevation of which, including the figure to be placed on the Roof, will be upwards of 50 feet: Thus the elevation of the centre of this Building will be upwards of 100 feet.

In the Eastern Wing is contained, in three rooms, a compleat fett of Aftronomical Inftruments, fixed in the plane of the Meridian, made by the late unrivalled Artift Mr. John Bird, at the expence of above 1100 Pounds; confifting of two Quadrants, each of eight feet radius ; a Tranfit Inftrument of eight Feet and a Zenith-Sector of twelve.

In the Western Wing is placed a fett of smaller Inftruments for the use of fuch Students as chufe to apply themselves to practical Aftronomy.

The Dwelling-Houfe for the Profeffor is very commodiously connected with the Eastern Wing of the Obfervatory by a Covered Way.

In the lower part of the Field is a fmall circular Building, with a moveable roof, in which is placed an Equatorial Sector for the purposes of obferving the Places of the Heavenly Bodies at any distance from the Meridian.

The Duke of Marlborough was alfo pleafed to prefent to this Obfervatory a Reflecting Telescope of twelve Feet, which coft above 1000 /. It was made by the late Mr. James Short, who constructed another of the fame Size for the late King of Spain. A Building, with a moveable Roof will foon be erected for this Inftrument.

After the Public Buildings, a Defcription of the PHYSIC GARDEN properly follows. It is fituated on the South of Magdalen College. This was the Donation of Henry D'Anvers, Earl of Danby, who purchased the Ground (containing five Acres) of Magdalen Col

lege,

lege, furrounded it with a lofty Wall, and erected, next to the Street, a parapet with Iron Palifades.

The Gate-way is juftly cfteemed an elegant Piece of Architecture. The Defign is afcribed to Inigo Fonès; nor is it unworthy of that Architect. In the Center over the Arch is a Buft of the Founder, Lord Danby. On the Left-hand of the Entrance is a Statue of CHARLES I, and on the Right one of CHARLES II. On the Face of the Corona and the Frize is the following Infcription ; viz. Gloria Dei optimi maximi Honori Caroli I. Regis in ·Ufum Academia et Reipublicæ Henricus Comes Danby, Anno 1632. This Infcription is likewife on the Garden Front:

The Garden is divided into four Quarters, with a broad Walk down the Middle. Near the Entrance are two elegant and useful Green-Houses, built for Exotics; of which there is a confiderable Collection. In the Quarters is the greateft Variety of fuch Plants as require no artificial Heat to nourish them, all ranged in their proper Claffes, and numbered.

Eastward of the Garden, without the Walls, is an excellent Hot-houfe; where tender Plants are raised and brought to great Perfection; viz. the Anana or PineApple, the Plantain, the Coffee Shrub, the Caper Tree, the Cinnamon, the Creeping Cereus, and many others. The Caper and Coffee Shrub bear well.

This ufeful Foundation has been much improved by the late Dr. Sherard, who brought from Smyrna a valuable Collection of Plants. He built the Library adjoining to the Garden, and furnished it with a curious Collection of Botanical Books, and a valuable Hortus Siccus. The Eaft End of this Building is the Apartment for the Profeffor, whofe Salary is paid out of the Interest of 3000/. given by Dr. Sherrard for that Purpose. The Affiftant to the Profeffor is provided by the Univerfity.

We proceed next to defcribe and give fome Account of the feveral Colleges; and as Magdalen College is the nearest to the Place we last mentioned, and the first we meet with in the Road from London, it may be most convenient to begin with that College.

MAG