The library folio, of Valerius Maximus, elegantly decorated. remained thus unfurnished, and in entire neglect, till Sir Thomas Bodley, in the year 1597, effected its restoration, with noble zeal and unbounded generosity. This illustrious friend of literature was born in Exeter, and received the rudiments of education in Geneva, whither his family retired to avoid the perse-cuting temper of Queen Mary's reign. He returned to England in 1558, and entered of Magdalen College, Oxford. He was afterwards admitted a fellow of Merton, in the hall of which college he read a Greek Lecture. At a subsequent period he was elected one of the proctors, and was, for some time, public orator of the University. His talents were adapted to the most spacious theatre of action: in 1576, he visited the continent, and attained so competent a knowledge of the politics of foreign courts that he was employed in various embassies by Queen Elizabeth. Some disgust, however, arose; and, in 1597, he retired from public life. It was in the first year of his leisure that he commenced the inestimable task of restoring the public library. His first benefaction consisted of books, chiefly purchased on the continent, to the value of 10,0001. He, likewise, stimulated others to contribution, and the increase was shortly so considerable, that the original room was no longer sufficiently capacious. He then commenced an augmentation of the building, and his liberality was so great, and his example productive of so much emulative benefaction, that the University was enabled to extend the design, and to construct the present quadrangle, uniting apartments for the schools with a noble receptacle for the books dedicated to public use. It is to be regretted that Bodley did not live to see the whole completed. He died January 28, 1612, and was interred, with great pomp, in the chapel of Merton College. Sir Thomas Bodley drew up statutes for the regulation of the library, and left an estate for the provision of officers, and other uses of the building. The library was opened to the public in 1602; and, since that period, the augmentations have been so considerable, that it probably now contains the most valuable collec tion in Europe. The contributors are so numerous, and so hight in consequence, that it is scarcely possible, in a general work, to convey an idea of the literary treasures here reposited. We must be contented with observing, that among those who have presented collections of books and manuscripts, are, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex; Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst; Lord Sidney of Penshurst; George Carey; Lord Hunsdon; Sir John Fortescue; Alexander Nowell, Dean of St. Paul's; Mr. Selden; Archbishop Laud; Sir Kenelm Digby; Dr. Barlow; Dr. Rawlinson; Dr. Tanner; T. Hearne; Mr. Godwin, and Mr. Gough*. Several catalogues, both of the printed books and manuscripts, have been published † ; and there are some MS. additions kept in the library; but the increase of works is so great that neither of these is of a satisfactory nature. According to the statutes formed by Sir Thomas Bodley, the librarian, is to be a graduate, " unmarried, and, without cure of souls, and to be allowed deputies, or assistants.” Several men of conspicuous learning have filled the office of principal librarian. Since the year 1780, an annual sum, of not less than 4001. has been obtained for the purchase of additional books, by a trifling increase of the matriculation fees, and by an equally moderate contribution from such members of the University as use the Jibrary. A small sum is, likewise, contributed on taking a first degree. An annual speech in praise of Sir Thomas Bodley, founded in 1651, by Dr. Morris, Canon of Christ Church, is delivered when the vice-chancellor, the proctors, &c. perform a visitation of the library, in obedience to the statutes. The Picture Gallery occupies the upper range of three sides of the quadrangle. The ceiling is of oak, divided into small square compartments, in each of which are painted the University arms, and *Mr. Gough contributed the whole of his topographical collections, books, prints, and drawings. These are now arranging with much care for public inspection. The last, in two volumes folio, 1738. and on a shield at each angle of the square those of the founders Nearly in the centre of the gallery is a statue in brass, by Le Sœur, of William, Earl of Pembroke, chancellor of the University. The gallery contains portraits of all the founders of colleges*, and of numerous celebrated persons otherwise connected with the University, or deserving of admiration as scholars, besides other interesting pieces. Among the portraits are those of Sir T. Bodley, an original by Cornelius Jansen; Archbishop Sheldon; Sir Henry Savile; Sir Kenelm Digby, whose fine proportions of person were justly expressive of his mental capacity; Grotius; Casaubon; Sir T. More; Selden; Butler, the poet, by Lely; Prior by Richardson; Locke by Gibson; and a curious picture of Lord Burleigh, in his Parliamentary robes, riding on a mule. There are, likewise, copies of the Cartoons; and a fine copy, supposed by Julio Romano,† from Raphael's celebrated school of Athens, in the Vatican. Some cases of books and manuscripts, forming a continuation of the Bodleian, occupy. a part of this extensive gallery. In the logic and moral philosophy school is preserved a collection of statues, marbles, and busts, comprising 135 articles, pre-sented to the University by the Countess Dowager of Pomfret, in 1755; and, in an apartment on the north side of the schools, are ranged the Arundelian Marbles. This antiquarian treasure, which may be said to form the most authentic History of Greece, was collected by Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, and given to the University by his grandson, Henry, Duke of Norfolk. The noble collector was one of the most accomplished scholars of the seventeenth century. Disgusted with the prevailing politics, he devoted his time to literature and the arts. Anxious to introduce the elegance of the ancients to his native country, he sent Sir William Petty to Asia, in quest of monuments. By Petty the chief parts of the present collection were purchased of a Turk, who Many of these portraits are imaginary. The whole were painted by Sanman. Julio (or Guilo) Romano died in 1546. This copy certainly appears more moderu. who had taken them from an agent of the famous Peiresk. When the Earl retired to Italy, in 1641, the monuments procured with so much effort were left at his London residence, Arundel House in the Strand, and many of them were stolen, and others were ent up by masons, and worked into houses! * When Heury, Duke of Norfolk, pulled down Arundel House, he presented, at the instigation of John Evelyn, Esq. of Balliol College, the remainder, about 130 in number, to the University of Oxford. The collection made by Selden, and that of Sir George Wheeler (chiefly formed by himself at Athens) together with many curious relics, purchased by the University of merchants who brought them over, have since been added †. The Theatre was one of the first works of Sir Christopher Wren, and was built at the entire expense of Archbishop Sheldon, who likewise gave the sum of 20001. for the purpose of repairs. The foundation-stone was laid in 1664, and the building was completed in about five years. The ground plan is that of the theatre of Marcellus at Rome. It is evident that the architect very properly laboured for interior accommodation, rather than outward effect. He has attained his chief object with peculiar felicity; and, in the supplementary particular of exterior adornment, he has scarcely been less successful. The side opposite to the divinity school is a fine elevation, embellished with Corinthian columns, and the statues, in niches, of Archbishop Sheldon, and the Duke of Ormond, chancellor, executed by Sir Henry Cheere. The interior is so judiciously arranged, that, although the dimensions appear to be insufficient for that purpose, it is calculated to contain nearly four thousand persons. The roof is eighty feet by seventy, and rests entirely on the side walls t. The Gough's British Topography, &c.. The statues belonging to the Pomfret Collection, and the most interesting relics collected by Sir George Wheeler, &c. have been engraved by Millar, at the expense of the University, in the "Marmora Oxoniensia," The old roof, once so much admired, was found, in 1800, to be in danger of falling. The present roof was then constructed, nearly on the original plan. |