and the very existence of the institution appeared to be threatened, when fortunately a succession of benefactors arose, through whose liberality its revenues were quickly improved into a respectable condition.

The Chapel, as originally constructed, having become inadequate to the accommodation of the increased numbers of the Society, it was found necessary to lengthen it; and it is now divided by two screens into a body, chancel, and ante-chapel. With the exception of the roof, which is wrought into highly ornamented compartments, it does not boast of much decoration. Over the altar is a painting, the gift of Lord Bulkeley, representing St. Michael's victorious conflict with the Devil, copied from Guido. Among other monuments which the Chapel contains, are those of Sir Eubule Thelwall, Sir Leoline Jenkins, Bishop Lloyd, and Dr. Jonathan Edwards; the last-named of whom, once Principal of the House, wrote a good deal in defence of the Trinity.

A few curiosities preserved in the BURSARY of this College are usually inspected by curious visitors. They are, first, a bowl of wondrous capacity, eminently indicative of Cambrian hospitality. It was presented by a late Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, is of silver gilt, will hold no fewer than' ten gallons of the inspiring liquor, and weighs 278 oz. 17 dwts. The accompanying ladle weighs 13 oz. and will hold half a pint. Secondly, a stirrup of enormous magnitude, said to have been left here by Queen Elizabeth. Thirdly, a curious metal watch. Fourthly, a copy on vellum of the College Statutes, beautifully written, in imitation of printing, by a Mr. Parry, of Shipston on Stour, (late

a Fellow of the Society,) of whose skill in the caligraphic art many curious specimens are also preserved in the Bodleian Library.

From the gate of Jesus College, the best exterior view is obtained of

EXETER COLLEGE,

the front of which, immediately opposite, is a regular, handsome structure, extending to the length of 220 feet, lighted by ranges of uniform windows, and adorned by a central gateway and tower of some magnificence. The very conspicuous ornament, however, which these form is, unfortunately, not in harmony of style with the other parts of the front, which are ancient. To a basement of rustic, in which is wrought the finely arched gateway, succeeds a plinth, from which rise four Ionic pilasters, supporting a semicircular pediment, within which, on the outer face of the tower, are the Founder's arms, and on the inner face, which differs only in this trifling particular, those of Narcissus Marsh, Bishop of Armagh, and George Treby, Esq. Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas.

The general appearance of the quadrangle, to which we are admitted by this gateway, is very pleasing. The buildings appropriated to resi dence are three stories high, embattled, and lighted by windows of the ancient form. On the north

d By the words "ancient form," both here, and wherever else they may occur, we mean that of the windows described in our account of the inner quadrangle of Jesus College, and consisting of two or three narrow pointed or round topped lights, placed beneath square heads.

are the Chapel, and the lodgings of the Rector, the latter of which were rebuilt about twenty years ago, in a style of judicious conformity with the surrounding buildings. The southern side of the quadrangle is chiefly taken up by the Hall, an edifice of considerable size, and of so ecclesiastical an aspect, that, were it not for the information implied in a sentence inscribed over the door of the opposite and somewhat similar building, we should inevitably take it for the Chapel. The sentence in question directs us to "seek first the kingdom of "God," and there is much wisdom in thus placing it over the portal of the House of God. Scriptural precepts cannot too frequently meet the eye, in connection with edifices set apart for the ordinances of religion.

No provision for a place of worship having been made by the Founder of this College, a licence to build one was obtained by the Society at a pretty early period, in consequence of which a former Chapel was erected. The present edifice was consecrated in 1624, after a Sermon from Dr. Prideaux, the Rector, whose text on the occasion, "Domus 66 mea domus orationis," is inscribed on each of the eight windows by which the Chapel is lighted. Instead of the usual division into Chapel and Antechapel, this structure is formed into two aisles, (the only instance of the kind amongst the private Chapels in Oxford,) one of which is appropriated to divine worship; the other is used occasionally for divinity lectures. The ceiling is painted to imitate those groined roofs which, with their delicate intersections, so frequently canopy our more ancient sacred edifices. Over the screens are the arms of Dr. Hakewill, who, when only a Fellow of the house, contributed twelve hundred

out of the fourteen hundred pounds which the Chapel cost.

The HALL, a fine embattled structure on the southern side of the quadrangle, displays in front a range of five handsome windows, under obtusely pointed arches, besides which, in a projection at its eastern end, is a lofty oriel window, divided by munnions and transoms into eighteen trefoil headed lights. An ascent of several steps leads through an ornamented door-way into the interior of the refectory, the southern side of which has also a range of pointed windows looking into Brasennose lane. Round each window is a border of coloured glass, which has a good effect". The portraits are numerous; at one of which, representing the Founder, Walter Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter, we must be allowed a short pause.

The Bishop was of a good family in Devonshire, and in the year 1307, was installed with unusual

f By the workmen employed in excavating the ground for the foundation of this Hall, a stone coffin was dug up, in which were the remains of a man with a crown on his head, and at his side money, together with other things reckoned valuable in those days. In memory of this occurrence, a man's head, crowned, was set up on the southern wall of the cellar beneath the Hall, near the spot in which the coffin was found. Peshall's Oxford.

g This window was splendidly ornamented with ground and painted glass at the sole expence of the preseut Sir Thomas Dyke Ackland, Bart. whose crest appears in the upper part of each light. And in the two centre compartments are emblazoned, in one the arms of Ackland, and in the other those of the College. The former are also displayed on the screen at the entrance of the Hail, the building having been erected under the patronage of one of that family, about the same time with the Chapel, 1618. His portrait is over the fire-place.

The whole of the interior has been lately repaired, and finished in a very handsome and tasteful style, particularly the roof, under the direction of Mr. Repton, jun. pupil to Mr. Nash, who sug-· gested the improvements.

i Painted by the late W. Peters, R. A.

pomp and splendor into the Bishopric of Exeter. So magnificent indeed was the scale of expence on which the ceremonies of his inauguration were conducted, that it is said a whole year's revenue of the see would have proved insufficient to defray the cost of the concluding entertainment. As a statesman, Bishop Stapledon was equally distinguished for splendid abilities, and for incorruptible integrity. His fidelity and attachment to Edward II. remained unshaken, at a time when dere-lictions of loyalty had become too frequent even to excite surprise; nay, when the very wife of the unhappy Sovereign had traitorously conspired against her King and husband: and the reward of the good Bishop's loyalty was death! death at the hands of a lawless and infuriate rabble! In the year 1326, at the very moment in which he was exerting himself to fulfil the trust reposed in him by his royal master, of keeping the peace of the metropolis by repressing seditious tumults, he was seized by the mob near the northern door of St. Paul's cathedral, inhumanly beaten, dragged to the standard in Westcheap, and there beheaded, along with his brother Sir R. Stapledon, and two of his domestics. Such, in those dark and tronblous periods of English history, was but too often the recompence of public virtue. In the year1314, Bishop Stapledon obtained a charter for founding a Collegiate Society, for whose accommodation he engaged Hart Hall, or, as it was often termed during the abode of his Society within it, Stapledon Hall; which latter appellation, on the removal of the Society to some tenements which the Bishop had purchased för them on the site of the present College, was transferred to their new resi-, dence. The Society so removed consisted of a