It is contended by fome perfons (as mentioned in St. Peter's College) that this is the most ancient foundation in the University; as, in 1281, Hugh de Balfam procured a license from Edward I. to convert the Hospital of St. John into a college for students; but this defign being abandoned on the establishment of St. Peter's, it remained in the poffeffion of the canons regular till nearly the end of the reign of Henry VII. when St. John's College, as described above, was founded.

This college, which is fituated in Trumpington-street, just beyond Trinity, confists of three courts, built principally with brick. The east, or entrance court, is ornamented with a fpacious and magnificent portal, furnished with four towers; it is 228 feet long, by 216 broad, and has the Chapel on the north, and the Hall on the west; in the angle, between thefe buildings, is the entrance to the Master's Lodge; and on the fouth is an elegant new building of stone, uniformly fahed, and containing a number of excellent apartments. The centre court, which is entered through the fcreens, is more extenfive than the former, measuring 270 feet in length, and 240 in breadth; being chiefly appropriated to the use of the fellows; excepting the principal floor on the north fide, which forms a picture gallery, connected with the Lodge and Chapel on the east, and on the west with the Library; which Occupies the north fide of the third court. This court is built with brick; and, though ancient, its buildings are disposed with great regularity, and exhibit an air of extreme neatness, not unmixed with veneration. The third court is entered by a noble portico, with a tower over it; on which is fitted up a convenient obfervatory; it is by far the smallest court of the three. On the north stands the Library, and on the west is a handsome piazza, with the students apartments over it. The back of this court over-hangs the river, and enjoys a delightful profpect of the beautiful groves and gardens of the college.

This college fuffered very severely during the civil wars, being pillaged of many valuable articles, particularly a rich and extenfive collection of filver coins and medals: the communion-plate was also carried away; and the outer court converted into a prifon for the Royalists.

THE CHAPEL has been lately repaired, and a new roof added. The interior is fitted up in a very neat and appropriate sty e, and separated into two parts by the organ gallery. It is 120 feet long, and 27 broad. The altar is embellished with a modern painting of St. John preaching in the Wildernefs, by Robert Ker Porter, the fame artist who executed the two popular pieces of the Storming of Seringapatam, and the Siege of Acre. The figure of St. John is commanding and beautiful, and the deep attention portrayed in the looks of his hearers, is extremely well executed.

THE HALL is a good room, 60 feet by 30, handsomely fitted up with a Mufic-gallery over the entrance; and is embellished with feveral good portraits; particularly a highly finished likeness of the Lady Margaret; and a whole-length of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, by I. Richardson ; alfo, a fine painting of Sir Ralph Hare, by M. Gerrard; with feveral others.

THE LIBRARY was built by Archbishop Williams, and is a noble and spacious apartment; indeed, from its extent, and the number of volumes it contains, it has more the appearance of a University Library, than that of one college. One clafs was given by Prior, the Poet; confisting principally of French books, particularly in history. The room is handfomely fitted up, and contains a great number of very valuable and fcarce books. Here is also a fingular curiofity; a leaden skull which belonged to a complete skeleton, found in Newport-Pagnel Church.

THE MASTER'S LODGE is extenfive and commodious; and contains a numerous affemblage of portraits, and a few other pieces. The following may be confidered as the principal: John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, half-length, by Hans Holbein; the Bishop is represented in a gown and furs, in one hand is a staff, in the other a glove, a ring on his finger is marked H. H. Margareta Mater Henrici VII, a small three. quarter length, on board, and, together with another of this distinguished Lady, preserved here, must be confidered extremely curious; both pieces represent her kneeling with her hands clafped, and a book before her; one of these appears to be an original; the other fuppofed to be by Holbein Robert Shirton, the first master, and builder of the college, reprefented in a fur-cloak: Queen Elizabeth, on board: Cecil, Lord Burleigh, half-length, on board: Mary, Queen of Scots, Æt 20, dated 1561, half-length, on board: Henry Wriothefley, Earl of Southampton, dreffed in armour, with a rich fhawl, finely worked: Mary, Countess of Shrewsbury, this portrait is more curious from its fingularity than its goodness of execution; she is represented in a vast fardingale, with a high ruff, and her drefs ornamented with an abundance of jewels: Peter Gunning, Bishop of Ely, delineated with a pleafing and venerable countenance: The Massacre of the Innocents, apparently copied from Rubens; this is a very long picture, the drawing is correct and spirited, and the compofition displays much judgment: John Lake, Bishop of Chichester: Lawrence Fogg, Dean of Chester, half-length; very spirited: Lucius Carly, Lord Viscount Falkland, half-length: Thomas, Earl of Strafford, in armour, from the original, by Vandyke: Richard Neile, Bishop of Durham, fmall, on board: Edward Stilling fleet, Bishop of Worcester, three-quarter length, by Mrs. Beale: Mathew Prior, the Poet and Statesman, dreffed in his Ambas fador's robes, richly decorated: a fmall Kitchen Scene, with the story of Martha and Mary in the distance; this is a highly finished picture, with rich and appropriate colouring:

Robert Heath, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas ; very expreffive, and finely coloured: Thomas Baker, the celebrated antiquary, represented in his gown and band, with a thin studious face: William Platt, Efq. a fmall piece of confiderable merit, on board. Most of these pictures, with a vast number of others of inferior merit, are disposed in a noble and fpacious gallery extending the whole length of the second court. In an apartment of the Lodge, a curious fet of chairs, faid to have been prefented to the fociety by Charles II. are preferved; one of them is a large elbow chair, ornamented with beautiful carvings of cherubs, Lions' heads, &c.

The walks and gardens of this college are particularly beautiful over the river is a fine stone bridge of three arches, which connects the college with its walks-thefe are compofed of a fine vifta and feveral pleasant retired walks, encompaffing the meadows, and planted with a number of very fine and yenerable elms. Beyond thefe, at the extremity of the vista leading from the college, is the Fellows' garden; a large piece of ground laid out in a most tasteful and agreeable style, and containing a bowling-green and an elegant Summer-house.

Among the many eminent characters who have been educa ted at this college, befides those above-mentioned, are: Roger Afcham, Preceptor to Queen Elizabeth; Bishop Taylor, one of the Compilers of the Liturgy; Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder; Cecil, Lord Burleigh; Dr. John Dee, the celebrated Mathematician; Bishop Morgan, the first Tranflator of the Bible into Welsh; Ben Johnson, the famous Dramatist; Henry Brigges, a Mathematician, Ambrofe Phillips, author of the Pastorals;" Bishop Stilling fleet, whofe works have been published in fix volumes folio; Martyn Lister, an eminent Naturalist; John Smith, D. D. a remarkably erudite character; Thomas Otway, the celebrated, but unfortunate Poet; Hilkiah Bedford, author of the " Hereditary Right of

the Crown afferted;" Francis Peck, Compiler of the "Defiderata Curiofa;" William Lee, inventor of the ingenious machine for weaving stockings; Prior, the famous Poet and Statesman; Thomas Stackhouse, author of the "History of the Bible;" the late Marquis of Rockingham; and John Horne Tooke, Efq.

The present fociety confists of a Master, 61 Fellows, and 114 Scholars. The whole number of members in 1802 was 465. Vifitor, the Bishop of Ely.

MAGDALEN COLLEGE:

Occupies a portion of the fite of an ancient priory; which was purchased by the affociated monks of Ely, Ramsey, and Walden. Some part of the buildings in which they refided is still supposed to remain, in the fouthern angle of the college. In the reign of Henry VIII. the monks difpofed of their poffeffions to Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, who erected part of the present fabric, and intended to have endowed, and named it from his own title; but, being foon afterwards condemned to the Scaffold, by the artifices of Cardinal Wolfey, his defigns were frustrated, and his poffeffions reverted to the Crown. In 1542 Thomas, Lord Audley, Chancellor of England obtained a grant of it from the King, and a charter of incorporation, which named it St. Mary Magdalen College. At the fame time, he endowed it for a Master and four Fellows. The Fellowships have been fince increased to seventeen, and several Scholarships have been added. The mastership is in the gift of the poffeffor of Audley End.

This is the only college on the north fide of the river; being fituated in that part of the town called Castle-End. It