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ALL SOULS' COLLEGE,

Was founded in the year 1437, by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury; and consists chiefly of two spacious courts, one entered from the High Street, and the other from the paved square, in which is erected the Radcliffe library. The front towards the High Street is a low irregular range of building, which retains but little of its pristine symmetry and character. This front was originally 194 feet long, with two gateways, three very fine bay windows, and an embattlement to the extent of its whole length, with grotesque heads and spouts. The bay windows are now modernised, and the embattled character of the parapet is in one part preserved, and in another destroyed. The tower over the chief entrance remains nearly untouched by any devasting hand save that of time; and is a pleasing, as well as venerable, specimen of the original architect's taste. Two large and well-sculptured figures of King Henry VI. and Archbishop Chichele are placed in niches over the doorway.

But all want of prepossessing regularity and grandeur in the front is amply atoned for when the interior is examined. The court first entered from the High Street is about 124 feet in length, and 72 in breadth, and contains many features of the ancient structure erected according to the design of Chichele. The style of architecture is solid, and the buildings low, with an embattled parapet uniformly preserved. The tower over the gateway on the south, and one face of the chapel on the contrary side, nearly unaltered from the plan of the ancient builder, bestow a gratifying air of Gothic solemnity.

The great, or interior, quadrangle increases in beauty as well as in dimensions. This court is 172 feet in length, and 155 in breadth, and was erected at different periods of the last century, in consequence of various liberal subscriptions. The chapel and hall occupy the southern side, and on the north the splendid library of the college, constructed in a correspondent style of

architecture to the buildings directly opposed to it, engrosses the whole extensive range. On the west is a cloister, the breadth of the court, with a gate of entrance in the centre. The eastern division contains the common room, and a series of other handsome apartments, surmounted by two lofty towers. The style of this quadrangle is the mixed Gothic, a character of architecture which allowed room for the excursions of creative taste, while the choice of it shewed a creditable respect for the manner of the original builder. The interior court of All Souls is happy in possessing the uniform grandeur of associated objects so necessary to a full display of architectural effect. The towers on the east, strengthened by graduated buttresses, and declining at the top into lessening minarets of delicate workmanship, completely fill the eye, and engage the attention. On the two adjoining sides the chapel and the library well support this lofty majesty of structure; and the highly-wrought dome of the Rad cliffe library seems placed intentionally beyond the cloister, on the opposite side of the quadrangle, to present a back ground of captivating magnificence, while St. Mary's taper spire, rich in Gothic ornaments, shoots above the buildings which compose the outer court.

John Druel, Archdeacon of Exeter, and Roger Keyes, both afterwards fellows of the college, were the principal architects employed in the original building; and Hawksmoor planned and superintended the arrangement of the new quadrangle.

The chapel retains the exterior only as left by the founder. The superb decorations placed there by Chichele were chiefly removed in the reign of Elizabeth, by order of the high commissioners appointed under that queen, who seem to have entertained a truly puritanical aversion to the ornaments of the old religion. The interior of the chapel, as it now stands, was arranged by the combined talents of Sir Christopher Wren, Sir James Thornhill, and Dr. Clarke. An eminent simplicity and sedateness pervade the whole. The floor is of black and white marble. The roof is divided into compartments, painted and

gilded on canvas with a grateful sobriety of taste. The piers on each side are filled with painted figures of different illustrious persons connected with the college. The altar-piece is composed of fine clouded marble, over which is an Assumption piece of the founder. This picture, together with the ceiling, the figures on the piers, and two vases, the bas-relief of which represents the institution of the two sacraments, was executed by Sir James Thornhill. In a compartment over the communion-table is an estimable picture; a noli me tangere *, by Mengs, who painted it at Rome, and parted with it to the college for three hundred guineas. The colouring is extremely fine, particularly that of the Saviour. Mingled amazement, joy, and grief, are happily contrasted in the face of Mary, to the dignity and superhuman composure of Jesus. The windows are painted in Chiaro scuro, by Lovegrove of Marlow, except that on the west, which was performed by Eggington. Each compartment of this latter window merely assumes the imitation of an unoccupied Gothic niche; a uniformity which, perhaps, will be deemed fatiguing to the eye, notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the artist to please through the medium of simplicity.

The interior of the hall, a room of striking elegance, was constructed early in the last century, at the expense of the society, and of several gentlemen who had formerly been members. At the upper end is a fine statue by Bacon (for which he received 450 guineas) of Justice Blackstone, and over the chimney is a piece by Sir James Thornhill, representing the Finding of the Law, and King Josiah rending his Robe. The hall, likewise, contains the portraits of Colonel Codrington, the founder, and Sir Nathaniel Lloyd, by the same painter. Round the room are placed a series of casts from the antique, and busts of the founder, of Linacre, and of Leland. This latter bust may well induce the spectator to pause, and pay the tribute of a sigh. Leland was one of the most laborious scholars of his era; and when

he

So called in allusion to the first words of Christ to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection, "Toueb me not!"

he applied, under the patronage of Henry VIII. to antiquities and topography, he had the high merit of styling himself the first writer who was anxious to impart the graces of eloquence to the delineations connected with his pursuits. But when Henry (who, in this rare instance, must be considered in the light of a munificent patron) died, Leland became neglected, and his accomplished mind, overwhelmed with its own weight, when no friendly hand was nigh to lend support, sank into ruins. His library now evinced the disorder of his thoughts. The volumes once so methodically ranged, and the notes which had been collected with so much care and labour, were scattered tumultuously on the floor. He was soon pronounced unequivocally insane, and died in his fortieth year. The bust describes him as meagre, shrivelled, and pensive. So strongly marked are the lines of premature old age, that Granger has ventured to pronounce the bust supposititious; but (as has been observed by D'Israeli) when Mr. Granger formed that opinion he did not look with the eye of a physiognomist. It is the havoc of mind, and not of age, that stands expressed in the imaged countenance of Leland *.

The Library (perhaps the largest room of its kind in the kingdom) is 198 feet in length, and 321 in breadth, with an exception of the centre, in which a recess is formed fifty-one feet and a quarter from the commencement to the termination. The height is not less than forty feet; and there are two succeeding ranges of book-cases supported by pilasters of the Doric and Ionic orders. Above the gallery, which forms an access to the upper range, are vases, and busts, in bronze, of some of the most eminent fellows of the college, cast by Sir Henry Cheere. Over the door is a fine bust of the founder, by Roubilliac; and in the area of the central recess is placed a statue of Colonel Codrington.

To this latter person the society is indebted for the splendour of the present building in which its books are reposited. Coloael Codrington was born in Barbadoes, but of English parents,

and

• An engraving from this bust is prefixed to the Life of Leland, published in 1772.

and was admitted a fellow of All Souls, in the year 1689. Under the appointment of King William he afterwards became Captain General and Governor in Chief of the leeward Caribbee islands; and, at his decease, bequeathed the sum of 10,0001. for the purpose of constructing a new library at All Souls, Oxford; and, also, to the same college he left a collection of books, worth not less than 6,0001. The first stone of the new building was laid; in 1716, by Dr. Young, the well-known author of the Night Thoughts; but the whole was not completed till the year 1756. The entire expense was 12,1011. 5s.

In the vestibule of the library is a tripod, which was found at Corinth; and which is considered unique, as it is formed of marble, and has some curious particularities in the construction of the pedestal. An ante-library, and several subordinate rooms at the south-end, contain some interesting specimens of ancient coloured glass, among which the portraits of Henry VI. and of the founder are supposed to be coeval with the foundation.

Henry Chichele, the founder of this college, was born about the year 1362, at Higham-Ferrars, in Northamptonshire. He received the rudiments of education at Winchester school, and was then removed to New College, Oxford, where he studied the civil and canon law. After enjoying various ecclesiastical preferments he was noticed by Henry IV. and was employed by that so vereign in several negociations with the apostolic court. In 1408, he was presented by Pope Gregory XII. to the Bishoprie of St. David's; and, in the early part of the reign of Henry V. he succeeded to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. During the factious days which so calamitously marked the accession of the sixth Henry, Chichele retired to his province, in which, indeed, he found ample employment for the extent of his talent. The doctrines of Wickliffe were rapidly spreading among the people, and as quickly annihilating all respect for the church as established at that period. The task of Chichele was difficult; but he performed it creditably. As Archbishop of Canterbury he supported the rights of the establishment, but never suffered the

passions

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