The Theatre of Anatomy, founded and endowed, as has been before stated, by Dr. Lee, physician to King George II. contains a good collection of anatomical preparations. The grounds appertaining to Christ Church are very fine; and the chief walk, a quarter of a mile in length, shaded with elms on either side, seems equally calculated for the ornament of the college and the use of the students.

A satisfactory account of the men of splendid fortune and eminent acquirements who have profited by the learned institution of Christ Church, would occupy the whole of an extensive volume. From the earliest period of its permanent foundation, this college has been the resort of many among the prime of the English nobility and gentry. The pulpit, the senate, the learned professions, and nearly every class of votive literature, have received some of their brightest ornaments from the great Cardinal's institution. A few only can be mentioned in the present pages; but most of the following names have so many rivals in worth, that the selection would almost appear to be invidious: Dr. Fell, Bishop of Oxford; Dean Aldrich; Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester; Dr. Robert South; Archbishop Wake; Edward Sackville, Earl of Dorset ; Lord Lyttelton; William, Earl Mensfield; Lord Bolingbroke; Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery; Villiers, Duke of Buckingham; Sir Philip Sidney; Sir Thomas Hanmer; LOCKE; the learned and indefatigable Camden, who certainly profited much by the labours of Leland, but whose Britannia must still be considered a prodigy; Dr. Freind; Casaubon; Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Among the persons chiefly celebrated for poetical genius, we find Ben Jonson; Otway; Randolph; Edmund Smith, a classical writer and elegant. scholar; Gilbert West; John Philips; and George Colman.

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To the number of students named by the last charter, one has since been added by the liberality of William Thurston, Esq. of London. No other change has taken place in the constitution of this

This able, but eccentric, man, was a commoner of Christ Church, but was expelled in consequence of some irregularities of conduct.

this college, except that Queen Elizabeth directed, in 1561, that there should be an annual election from Westminster-school. The other vacancies are filled at the option of the Dean and Chapter. The society now consists (independently of the bishop and his archdeacon, as named in the charter,) of a dean, eight canons, one hundred and one students, three professors, eight chaplains, and a suitable choir. There is no visitor but the king, or persons appointed by him.

EXETER COLLEGE

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consists principally of one quadrangle, the front of which is 220 feet in length. The chief gate of entrance is placed in the centre, and is surmounted by a tower of imposing magnificence. The two faces of this tower are of similar construction; the basement is rustic, and then ensues a plinth, on which are raised pilasters of the Ionic order, supporting a semicircular pediment, ornamented with armorial bearings and various festoons. A balustrade at the top bestows much lightness on the whole. The roof of the gateway is arched, and finely adorned with the arms of benefactors. This tower and gateway are beautiful as separate objects, but each extensive lateral range of front is Gothic, with an embattled parapet; and thus the eye is indelibly offended by an inconsistency destructive of all particular attraction.

The interior of the quadrangle is nearly a parallelogram of 135 feet, and is simple, uniform, and pleasing. The chapel, which occupies a large portion of one side, is a neat and solid Gothic structure; and the adjoining residence of the rector, though a modern erection, is judiciously made to correspond with the character of the surrounding architecture. The hall is ascended by a flight of steps, and agrees with the other parts of the quadrangle in possessing an embattled parapet.

The Deanery of Christ Church has been usually attended with promotion to a bishopric, and is often allowed to be held in Commendam by the person so promoted.

Although the chief buildings of this college now evince so much desirable regularity of disposal, it does not appear that any such consistency of architectural design formed a part of the founder's scheme. Additions have been made as incidental liberality afforded means; and, therefore, on the whole, great praise is due to those who have superintended the augmentation of the structure.

This college was founded by Walter de Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter, about the year 1315, and is intimately blended with another well-intended foundation from the same hand, that of Hert, or Hart, Hall, now termed Hertford College.

Walter de Stapledon descended from a good family, and is supposed to have been born at Aunery, near Great Torrington, in Devonshire. He was advanced to the bishopric of Exeter in 1307; and by King Edward 11. he was appointed lord-treasurer, and was employed in many weighty matters of state: but, when the royal household pursued separate interests, and the sinister designs of the queen became apparent, De Stapledon adhered to his ill-fated master, and, consequently, fell a victim to party fury. He was seized by the deluded populace on October 15, 1326, as he was walking in a public street of London, and was beheaded by them near the north door of St. Paul's church. His body was contumeliously buried in a heap of sand, at the back of his own house near Temple-bar; but a monument has since been constructed to the honour of his memory in Exeter cathedral, by the rector and fellows of this college.

It was in the year 1312 that Bishop Stapledon first evinced liberality of intention in regard to the University of Oxford. He then purchased Hert-hall, and a contiguous messuage, for the accommodation of twelve scholars; but, three years afterwards, he procured premises on the site of the present college, and removed the rector and scholars, though he still retained the privileges of the original foundation charter, and appeared to consider the former institution as a permanent appendage to the latter. According to the statutes now delivered, the society was

to consist of thirteen persons, one to be instructed in canon-law," or theology, and the others in philosophy. Eight were to be chosen from Devonshire, and four from Cornwall.

New benefactors soon arose; and, in 1404, Edmund Stafford, Bishop of Exeter, altered the statutes and added two fellowships from the diocese of Salisbury, besides presenting upwards of two hundred marks, in money, and many books and ornaments, to the library and chapel.

Sir William Petre, (founder of the noble house distinguished by his name,) was likewise a benefactor of eminence. This able statesman concerned himself so little with factious politics that he found employment in the four dissimilar courts of Henry VIII. Edward VI. and the two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. A large portion of the wealth accumulated by his unremitting exertions. he dedicated to such acts of liberality as were calculated to advance the solid interests of his country. In regard to Exeter College, he founded eight fellowships, from five specified counties, or from any others in which he or his descendants might possess estates. Sir William Petre, also, procured a new body of statutes for the college, and a regular deed of incorporation.

Among other benefactors of note must be mentioned King Charles I. who endowed one fellowship; Sir John Ackland, who contributed towards the improvement of the buildings, and to other useful purposes; Samuel Hill, rector of Warlegan, in Cornwall, the founder of four scholarships, two from Devonshire, and two from Cornwall; Sir John Maynard, who instituted two lectures, the one in Divinity, and the other on the Oriental languages; Lady Shiers, of Slyfield-house in Surrey, and Dr. George Hakewill.

There was not any chapel comprehended in the foundation of Bishop Stapledon, but the society speedily obtained a licence to erect one, and the building was completed in the year 1326. In 1624, this structure was converted into a library; and, in the same year, the present chapel (which was begun in 1622) was finished, chiefly at the expense of Dr. Hakewill. This is a

neat edifice, and possesses the peculiarity of two aisles. It is lighted by eight Gothic windows, on each of which is inscribed "Domus mea Domus Orationis," the text chosen by the celebrated Dr. Prideaux, who preached the consecration sermon. The ceiling is arched, and painted to imitate intersected groinwork. In the south aisle is a good portrait of Dr. Hakewill, placed there at his own request.

The hall is a handsome Gothic building, erected by Sir John Ackland in the early part of the seventeenth century. The roof and screen are of carved oak; the sides are ornamented by several portraits, among which are two of the founder, the one ancient, and the other painted and presented by Peters in 1780.

The premature death of Bishop Stapledon caused his foundation to be left in so incomplete a state, that the College possessed no library till about the year 1383, when a small room was erected for the reception of the many valuable books bequeathed to the society. This room, though subsequently enlarged, was found too limited in general plan for its intended purpose, and the books were removed, as has been already observed, to the original chapel; but, in 1709, an accidental fire consumed the interior of that building and the principal part of the works there deposited. This ravage was quickly repaired as far as was practicable; and, in 1778, a complete new library was erected; at which time the old chapel (the only remaining part of the original buildings) was pulled down. The plan of the modern edifice was given by the Rev. William Crowe, the present public orator. This building is judiciously sedate and plain, and contains, among other valuable articles, a fine collection of Aldine classics.

Beyond the quadrangle are gardens, highly agreeable, and disposed with much taste.

"Exeter College," says Fuller, in his Church History, "consisteth chiefly of Cornish and Devonshire men, the gentry of which latter, Queen Elizabeth used to say, were courtiers by

their