are large and commodious, furnished with fome valuable Portraits.

In the North-weft Corner of the Court is the Entrance into the Chapel; by much the grandeft in the University. The Form of it is like that at Magdalen College, but larger. The Ante-Chapel is fupported by two beautiful Staff-moulded Pillars. This Part is upwards of 80 feet long, and 36 broad.

As the PAINTED WINDOws of this CHAPEL make one of it's chief Ornaments, it will not be improper to bestow on them a more particular Defcription.

Of those there are four diftinct Sorts.

1. All the Windows of the Ante Chapel (the great one excepted) are nearly, if not quite, as old as the Chapel itself, and contain the Pourtraits of Patriarchs, Prophets, Saints, Martyrs, &c. to the number of 64, and 50 fmaller above them: Curious for their antiquity, but for little elfe, being drawn without perfpective, without the effect of light and fhade, and ill proportioned; yet in these are fome remains which fhew the brilliancy of their colours, and fome traces of fimplicity and beauty; particularly in the Heads of the female Figures in the Window on the right hand of the entrance to the Chapel.

2. Of the fecond fort are the Windows on the North Side of the Chapel. Thefe are done in the common modern ftyle by Mr. Peckitt of York. The three neareft the Organ contain, in the lower range, the chief perfons recorded in the Old Teftament from Adam to Mofes; in the upper, twelve of the Prophets. Mr. Rebecca gave the defigns for thefe. The two other Windows (when completed) will contain our Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and the twelve Apostles.

3. The third fort are on the South Side of the Chapel. These were originally Flemish Windows; and done (as it is reported) from defigns given by fome fcholars of Rubens. Being brought out of Flanders, they came into the poffeffion of Price the fon, whose fkill in Glafspainting is well known. Of him they

were

were purchased by the Gentlemen of the College, who alfo employed him to repair what injuries they had fuftained, and to fit them for the places where they now stand, A. D. 1740. In each Window are eight Figures of Saints, Martyrs and Prelates, with their refpective fymbols; and for expreffion, colouring, and effect, they were esteemed equal, if not fuperior, to any painting executed on Glass till the appearance of the fourth fort, of which we now come to speak.

4. The Weft Window of the Ante Chapel. This great Window confifts of feven compartments in the lower range, each near three feet wide and twelve high. In thefe ftand feven allegorical Figures, reprefenting the four Cardinal, and three Chriftian Virtues, in the manner following:

TEMPERANCE, pouring water out of a larger veffel into a fmaller one. Her common attribute, the Bridle, lies at her feet.

FORTITUDE, in armour; her hand refting on a broken column, which though half deftroyed remains up. right; her form robuft, her look bold and refolute. A Lion, her attendant, couches below her.

FAITH, ftanding fixedly on both feet, and bearing a Crofs, the fymbol of her belief: her eyes and hand raifed up to Heaven.

On the other fide of the middle group (of which more hereafter) HOPE, looking toward the fame Heaven, and fpringing forward to it fo eagerly that her Feet fcarce touch the ground. Part of an Anchor, her attribute, is feen in the corner of her compartment.

:

JUSTICE, looking with a fteady and piercing eye through the dark shade which her arm cafts over her face in her left hand the Steelyard; a kind of balance lefs cumbrous, if not lefs vulgar than the fcales which are usually given her. Her right hand fupports the fword.

PRUDENCE, beholding (as in a mirror) the actions and manners of others, for the purpose of regulating her own by observation thereon. Upon her right arm an

Arrow

1

Arrow joined with a Remora, the refpective emblems of fwiftnefs and flowness; Prudence being a medium between them.

The middle groupe, mentioned above, reprefents CHARITY, and deserves especial notice for the expreffion of the Figures therein contained. The fondling of the Infant, the importunity of the Boy, and the placid affection of the Girl, together with the divided atten- : tion of the Mother, are all distinguishably and judiciously marked with a knowledge of character for which the great Artist who gave this design is fo juftly celebrated.

Such are the Figures which fill the lower compartments; yet they are but a fubordinate part, and (as it were) a bafis to the superb work erected over them. In a space ten feet wide and eighteen high is reprefented the NATIVITY of JESUS CHRIST: a compofition of thirteen human Figures befides fome animals. 1. The bleffed Virgin, whofe attention is wholly engaged with her Infant. 2. A groupe of Angels defcended into the ftable, and kneeling around him. The face of the leaft of these exhibits an idea of youthful beauty that perhaps was never furpaffed. 3. A company of Shepherds, whose devotion and rude eagerness to behold him are ftrongly expreffed. 4. St. Jofeph, looking on the spectators, and pointing to the Child, as to the promised feed, the expectation and hope of all Nations. 5. In the clouds above, an Angel contemplating the mystery of the Crofs; and near him a Scroll, whereon is written the original Greek of this text, Myfteries which the Angels themfelves defire to look into.

In this compofition the Painter has taken for his light that which is fuppofed to proceed from the body of the Infant: herein imitating a famous picture now preserved in the Gallery at Drefden, and known by the name of the Notte of Corregio. † This beautiful idea has often been adopted, but never fo judiciously applied as in this inftance; where the fubftance on which the Infant is delineated being transparent, and the light actually

A small copy of this picture is in the Collection at Chrift Church.

paffing

paffing through him, his body thereby receives a higher glow, and gives to the whole an appearance of reality. The remaining parts of this grand defign (not yet completed) are to confit of groups of Shepherds and other perfons who are approaching the Stable to pay their devotions to the new-born Saviour.

For this work, which was begun about feven years ago, finished Cartoons were furnished by Sir Joshua Reynolds. These were copied by Mr. Jervais ; to whose fkill the world is indebted for a new ftyle in Glafs-painting, which in beauty and truth of reprefen. tation exceeds all that have hitherto been feen, as much as the common productions excel the first rude attempts of the art.

The Choir is 100 feet long, 35 broad, and 65 high. As we enter the inner Chapel the moft ftriking Object is the Altar-piece; the Painting whereof was done by our ingenious Countryman Mr. Henry Cook, who flourished about an hundred Years ago. It reprefents the Concave of a Semi-Rotunda in the Ionic Order, with a Cupola adorned with curious Mofaic Work; in which the Eaft End of the Chapel feems to terminate. The Altar, which is partly built of Wood and partly painted, intercepting in fome degree the View, greatly favours the Deception; particularly two large open Pannels in the lower Part thereof, which have a fine Effect.

In the upper Part of the Altar-piece, which is painted in fuch a Manner as to feem the Finishing of the Wood work that fupports it, is a Frame and Pannel, wherein is reprefented the Salutation of the Virgin Mary; and above the Entablature hangs hovering a beautiful Cloud with great Numbers of Angels and Cherubs in various attitudes, waiting the return of the Angel Gabriel. The proper place to view it from to Advantage is the Entrance into the Choir, the Perfpective being contrived to answer that height and diftance. Over the Communion Table is an Original Painting of the celebrated Annibal Caracci, pre

fented

fented to this College by the Earl of Radnor. The Subject of this Piece is the Shepherds coming to Chrift immediately after his Nativity. The Virgin, Angels, and Shepherds, are reprefented as jointly celebrating the Nativity in the divine Hymn of "Glory to God in the Higheft, &c." The Compofition and Drawing is admirable. The Force and Spirit of the Shepherds is finely contrafted by the Elegance and Grace of the Virgin and attending Angels.

On the North Side of the Chapel is preferved the Crofier of the Founder, which is ufually fhewn to Strangers; a well-preferved Piece of Antiquity, and almost the only one in the Kingdom. It is near seven Feet high, is of Silver gilt, finely embellished with a variety of rich Gothic Architecture. Though it is above 400 Years old, it has loft little of it's original Beauty.

Here is an admirable Organ built by Dolham, and fince improved by Mr. Green. Cathedral Service is performed here twice every Day, viz. at Eight, except Wednesdays and Fridays, when they are at Eleven, and Five. This Chapel is esteemed one of the best in England for Mufic: which probably is owing to its being fpacious, and having no Breaks to divide the Sounds. Adjoining to the Chapel is a spacious Cloister, on the North Side of which is a Tower with a Peal of Ten Bells.

The Hall is at the North-eaft Corner of the Quadrangle. It is handsomely wainscotted, and adorned with the Portraits of the Founder William of Wykeham, William of Wainfleet the Founder of Magdalen College, and Archbishop Chichele the Founder of AllSouls, both Fellows of this College in Wykeham's Life-time.

The LIBRARY (fituated on the East Side of the Quadrangle) confifts of two elegant Rooms, one over the other, 70 feet long and 22 broad; both of them well furnished with Books, and in the Library are fome waluable Manuscripts.