Edward III. and his Queen Philippa; Edward IV. and Henry V.; Sir Joseph Williamson; Provost Lancaster; the Founder; Charles I. and his Queen Henrietta; Charles II. and his Queen Catherine; with various heraldic decorations and other devices. On the walls are the portraits of Robert de Eglesfield, the Founder; Charles I. and his Queen; Queen Philippa and Queen Anne; Queen Caroline and Queen Charlotte; Edward the Black Prince, son of Edward III.; and Henry V., both by Burnell; Dr. Lancaster, Dr. Smith, Dr. Halton, and Bishop Barlow, Provosts; John Michel, Esq. second Founder; Sir Joseph Williamson; Lady Elizabeth Hastings; Addison; Tickell; Cartwright, Bishop of Chester; and Gibson, Bishop of London. In the GALLERY, at the west end of the Hall, are the portraits of six QueensMargaret, Queen of Scots; Queen Elizabeth; Mary, Queen of Scots; Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I.; Catherine, wife of Charles II.; and Queen Anne; all of which were given to the College by George Clarke, D.C.L. some time Fellow of All Souls' College, and one of the representatives in Parliament of this University. Here are also the portraits of Edward III., Henry V., John Michel, Esq., Dr. Fothergill, Isaac Fuller, taken by himself, and others. The LIBRARY is a large and noble apartment; it was completed in 1694. It is 123 feet in length, and 30 in breadth. The bookcases are delicately carved, and the ceiling enriched with compartments in stucco. This fine room is ornamented with a large Orrery, given by six Gentlemen Commoners belonging to the College, in 1763; a cast of the Florentine Boar, in plaster of Paris, presented by Sir Roger Newdigate; and two ancient portraits on glass of Henry V. and Cardinal Beaufort, presented

to the Society by Alderman Fletcher. Over the elegant entrance are the portraits of Dr. Crakanthrope and Dr. Lancaster. At the north end are Queen Charlotte and Charles I. This portion of the Library contains upwards of 18,000 volumes.

In 1841, the Rev. Dr. Mason, for some years a resident of Hurley, Berks, left a splendid legacy to this Society; viz. all his Egyptian, Grecian, Roman, and other relics of antiquity, (excepting those bequeathed to the University and the Bodleian library,) together with a picture of the late Mr. Belzoni, and his shells; and in addition, 30,000l. (stock,) to be expended in books for the use of the Society of which he was formerly a member. In consequence of the above bequest, the whole space under the former Library, including the cloisters, has been tastefully and substantially fitted up, and in 1845-6, a vast accumulation of valuable books was added, so that the entire Library may now be considered as nearly equal to the most favoured in Oxford.

The CHAPEL, the interior of which is of the Corinthian order, is one hundred feet long, and thirty broad. The windows removed from the old Chapel, were all painted by Van Linge, in 1635, and repaired by Price, in 1717, with the exception of four, which are supposed to have been executed two centuries earlier, and which still retain much of their original brilliancy. The foundation of this Chapel was laid in 1713-14, and dedicated in 1719. The ceiling is decorated with a painting of the Ascension, by Sir James Thornhill; and in the middle window is the Holy Family, by Price, from a Painting by Carlo Maratti. Beneath it is a copy by Mengs, of La Notte, The Night, Correggio's celebrated work in the Dresden Gal

lery, which was presented to the Society by the late Mr. Robson, of Bond-street. In the two windows, on the south side of the Chancel, are, The Ascent from the Sepulchre, and The Ascension. In those on the north side, The Resurrection of the Dead and The Last Judgment. In the first window of the south side of the Chapel, The Adoration of the Magi; in the second, The Descent of the Holy Ghost; in the third, the representation of a Bishop and two Popes, in their respective robes; in the fourth, on the south, in the Ante-Chapel, the figures of St. John of Beverly; St. Robert, and St. Anne. In the first window, on the north side of the Chapel, The Last Supper; in the second, The Salutation; in the third, three Bishops; in the fourth, on the north, in the Ante-Chapel, the figures of St. Adhelm, St. Osmund, and St. Lawrence. The massy marble pillars near the altar are finely executed. The reading desk is supported by a brass eagle of fine workmanship. It was made by W. Borroghes, in 1662. The screen is elegantly carved, and generally admired.

In the BUTTERY is a very ancient and curious drinking horn, which holds two quarts, said to have been presented to the College by Queen Philippa. It is richly ornamented with silver gilt; on the lid is a silver eagle of curious workmanship, and it is supported by eagles' claws. On several parts of it is inscribed the word Wacceyl, (Wassail, a Saxon phrase for drinking healths.) This horn merits the attention of the antiquary, and it may with propriety be ranked amongst the curiosities of Oxford. In the Gallery is a fine engraving of this curious Cup, by Mr. Skelton, late of this city.

This College was founded by Robert de Eglesfield, Confessor to Philippa, Queen of Edward III, from whom it is called

D

Queen's College. The Queens of this Kingdom are considered to be the Patronesses of the College. The Charter to constitute it a Collegiate Hall, was obtained from Edward III. January 18th, 1340. A curious circumstance is combined with the name of Eglesfield, which continues to form a ceremonial observed by the College. On New Year's Day the Bursar presents each member with a needle and thread, addressing him at the same time in these terms: "Take this, and be thrifty." This custom is supposed to have been derived from the words aiguille et fil, needle and thread, in a fanciful allusion to the name of the Founder.

The members of this College have been, from the days of the Founder to the present time, called to their dinner by the sound of a trumpet; and a boar's head, decorated with Christmas ornaments, is, on every Christmas Day, carried in procession into the Hall, accompanied with an ancient song. The traditional origin of this custom is as follows: A member of this College, walking in Shotover forest, near Oxford, and reading Aristotle, was suddenly attacked by a wild boar, which ran at him open-mouthed. Not at all alarmed, the youth, with great logical composure, thrust the volume into his throat, cried out, Græcum est, and fairly choked the infuriate animal. The custom of serving up a boar's head at the tables of the great, with much ceremony, was formerly very general on Christmas Day.

This College is indebted, for what is called the NEW FOUNDATION, to John Michel, Esq. of Richmond, Surrey, who, at his death, in 1739, bequeathed upwards of £500 per annum, for eight Master Fellows, four Bachelor Scholars, and Four Exhibitioners, and for the purchase of Advowsons. The OLD FOUNDATION consists of a Provost, sixteen Fellows, two Chaplains, eight Taberdars, (from the tabard, a short gown which they formerly wore,) with twelve Probationary Scholars, and two Clerks. The number of members on the books is upwards of two hundred and seventy.

Visitor The Archbishop of York.

Opposite the eastern side of Queen's College, in the lane called Queen's Lane, is

ST. EDMUND'S HALL.

This Hall was, in 1557, transferred to Queen's College, when an agreement was entered into with the Chancellor of the University, that that Society should have the nomination of a Principal; a privilege which they continue to enjoy. The Chapel and the Library were built

by Stephen Penton, B.D. Principal, who defrayed a large proportion of the expenses. The Chapel was consecrated April 17, 1682, by Dr. Fell, Bishop of Oxford, and dedicated to St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury. The number of members on the books is usually about one hundred.

Visitor-The Chancellor of the University.

Close to St. Edmund's Hall is the Church of ST. PETER IN THE EAST,

which was partly built in the ninth century. What remains of its most ancient parts is supposed to be the Chancel, the other portion having, according to Hearne, been rebuilt during the reign of Henry V. This Church has recently undergone a general reparation, and has been very much improved by the erection of new seats, the removal of the organ loft, or screen, which obstructed the sight of the Chancel, and the addition of a stone reading-desk to correspond with the ancient pulpit. Underneath the Chancel is an old crypt, still in good preservation. Its arches are supported by ranges of low Saxon columns. It deserves the attention of the antiquary and the curious stranger. At the west end of the north aisle is a square tower, containing six bells, which has the appearance of greater antiquity than that assigned to it by Hearne. This was formerly the University Church. The Living, a Vicarage, is in the gift of the Warden and Fellows of Merton College. St. Peter's parish is thus spoken of in one of the early Guides:-"This has more to boast of than any other parish in Europe, or even in the world, as containing within itself, besides the grand Colleges (not to say palaces) of Magdalen,