are three, beside the exchange. The bridge across the Dee is a remarkable object, being of one arch, with a span of two hundred feet. It cost 40,000l.

Chester was an important station of the Romans, from whom it derived the cross form of its two principal streets, and of whom relics have from time to time been dug up. It retained its importance during Saxon and Norman times, and in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries was a flourishing city, with a large maritime trade. It then declined, in consequence of natural obstructions to the navigation of the river. From the year 1328 downward, it was remarkable for the annual performance of a peculiar class of theatrical representations, similar to those performed at Coventry, and termed Mysteries. To modern taste these would seem the most gross burlesque of sacred subjects; but so convinced were the clergy of those days of their edifying qualities, that a thousand days of pardon from the pope, and forty from the bishop of Chester, were granted to all who attended them. After a long period of declension, the trade of Chester was revived by the cutting of a new channel for the river, whereby vessels of six hundred tons burden were enabled to come to the quays near the town. The commerce, with the exception of a few ships which visit Spain, Portugal, the Mediterranean, and the Baltic, is chiefly confined to Ireland, whence an immense quantity of linen, hemp, flax, skins, and provisions, is imported. The exports of Chester are cheese (the staple production of the county), lead, coal, calamine, copper-plates, and cast-iron. Ship-building is carried on to a considerable extent, and there are some manufactures of inferior consequence. The population of Chester in 1831 was 21,363.

Southampton is an ancient but considerably modernized town, the capital of Hampshire, and, next to Portsmouth and Plymouth, may be considered the chief outport on the south coast. It enjoys a situation at once pleasant and convenient, in a vale adjoining to the bay bearing its own name. In modern times, the town has been greatly improved and increased by the erection of lines of handsome streets in the environs, the residence of a respectable and leisurely population. Among the attractions of the neighborhood are those of the New Forest, which almost adjoins the town, and a beach forming a pleasant bathing-place in summer; few seaside towns are more salubrious or agreeable. With the Isle of Wight at a few miles distance, there is a constant communication by steamboats. The southwestern railway, which terminates near the shore of the bay, has greatly advanced the interests of the town, by making it a dépôt of traffic in connexion with the metropolis; and there are now constructing, at a great cost, large wet-docks and wharves for shipping. A considerable trade is already carried on with foreign countries, and the port is a main point of communication between England, Guernsey, Jersey, and Havre, in which, and some other respects, it is a rising rival of the neighboring town of Portsmouth. The population in 1831 was 19,324.

CHAPTER XVII.

UNIVERSITY TOWNS.

OXFORD, the capital of the rich midland county of Oxford, is one of the most ancient cities in England. The origin of its name and foundation is involved in much uncertainty, but it has for ages been celebrated for its university, which, in extent, number of colleges, wealth of endowments, and architectural beauty, stands unrivalled by any similar institution in Europe. This seat of learning is situated on a gentle eminence in a rich valley, between the rivers Cherwell and Isis, and is surrounded by highly-cultivated scenery, the prospect being bounded on the east, south, and west, by an amphitheatre of hills. From the neighboring heights the city presents a very imposing appearance, from the number and variety of its spires, domes, and other public edifices; while these structures, from their magnitude and splendid architecture, give it, on a nearer approach, an air of great magnificence. The city, properly so called, which was formerly surrounded by a wall, is of an oval form, and

about two miles in circumference. The wall had bastions 150 feet distant from each other, though but few traces of them now remain. The city has, however, expanded beyond its ancient limits, and now includes, with its suburbs, a circuit of three miles. On entering the city from the east, south, and west, the respective rivers are crossed by bridges. Magdalen bridge is an elegant stone building over the Cherwell. The bridge over the Isis, on the west, consists of three substantial arches. On the south is another bridge over the same river, on which, till lately, stood a lofty tower, termed Friar Bacon's study.

The High-street extends westward, under different names, the whole length of the city. From Carfax church it is crossed at right angles by St. Giles, the other principal street; and from the High-street and St. Giles branch nearly every other street in the city. The High-street of Oxford is justly considered the finest in England, from its length and breadth, for the number and elegance of its public buildings, and from its remarkable curvature, which, from continually presenting new combinations of magnificent objects to the eye, produces an uncommonly striking effect. From Carfax church the High-street loses its name and diminishes in width, and declines also in the splendor of its collegiate embellishments. St. Giles street, in many parts, may be said to equal the High-street both in width and architecture. The minor streets are less spacious, and in many of them the houses are crowded together. There are, however, many other handsome streets, especially among those of recent erection.

Of the public buildings and institutions, the university claims the first notice, and we will, therefore, proceed to give a brief view of the principal colleges, many of which are edifices of great architectural skill and beauty.

Queen's college is a splendid modern structure on the right hand of the Highstreet, and opposite to University college. The whole area on which it is built forms an oblong square of three hundred feet in length, and two hundred and twenty in breadth, which is divided by the chapel and hall into two spacious courts. The foundation-stone of the south court or quadrangle was laid on the 6th of February, 1710, the birthday of Queen Anne, by Dr. William Lancaster, provost. It is one hundred and forty feet in length, by one hundred and thirty in breadth, having a lofty cloister, supported by square pillars on the east, west, and south sides. Över the west cloister are two stories, containing the apartments of the fellows, the provost's lodgings, and a gallery communicating with the hall and common room. In the east are also apartments for the different members of the society; and on the north are the chapel and hall. The south part presents to the street the lateral fronts of the east and west sides, with their pediments and statues, which are connected by a decorated wall, enriched with a central gateway, or grand entrance, above whose arch rises an open cupola, containing the statue of Queen Caroline, the consort of George II. The north side is occupied by a grand Doric elevation. It consists of an enriched central pediment, supported by four lofty columns, with their appropriate entablatures, flanked by the chapel and hall, with large windows finishing in a circle, and pilasters between them. The whole is crowned with a balustrade and an ele gant cupola, of the Ionic order. This quadrangle possesses, when viewed from the High-street, a general resemblance to the palace of the Luxembourg in Paris. On the front of this college are six figures; the two on pediments are Jupiter and Apollo; the remaining four are subjects emblematical of Mathematics, Geography, Medicine, and Religion.

Hawksmoor is the nominal architect of this college; but from its superiority to his other works, the design has been referred to his great master, Sir Christopher Wren. The interior court, or north quadrangle, is one hundred and thirty feet in length, and ninety in breadth. The north, east, and south sides contain apartments for the society, and the library occupies the west. The entrance to it is through a passage between the hall and chapel.

Very considerable sums had been given, and bequests made, toward the building of this college; but, from various causes, they were not found sufficient to complete it. To forward this object, Queen Caroline, who was herself an admirer of learning, gave, in the year 1733, one thousand pounds; and the east side was chiefly built by the bounty of John Michel, Esq. Early in the morning of December 18, 1778, a fire broke out in the attic chamber in the staircase, adjoining to the provost's lodgings; and in a few hours the west wing of the front quadrangle was destroyed, the shell only remaining. Toward the repairs of the edifice, injured by this sudden and vio

lent conflagration, Queen Charlotte was pleased to subscribe one thousand pounds. The society also received voluntary contributions from many distinguished persons, collegiate bodies, and others, toward the reconstruction of the building. The hall is sixty feet long and thirty broad, with an arch of proportionate height, and decorated with the Doric order. The chimney-piece is of marble, on which stands a bust of Aristotle, generally said to be a likeness of Bonaparte. This room is furnished with various portraits in the windows and on the walls.

The library of this college is a large and noble apartment, completed in 1694. It is about one hundred and twenty-three feet in length, and thirty 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. The elegant entrance door is of stone, and of the Corinthian order. Over it are the portraits of the founder and Dr. Lancaster; on the west side are others of Bishop Barlow, Potter, Langbaine, Dr. Halton, Dr. Fothergill, Edward IV., &c. At the north end are Queen Charlotte, Charles I., a much-admired portrait of Fuller, the painter, taken by himself when in a state of intoxication, and a curious portrait, supposed to be that of the member of this college who killed the wild boar in Shotover forest. The library contains upward of eighteen thousand volumes.

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 1636, and repaired by Price in 1715, with the exception of four, which are supposed to have been executed three centuries ago, and which still retain much of their original brilliance. The foundation of this chapel was laid in 1713-'14, and dedicated in 1719. The ceiling is decorated with the painting of the Ascension by Sir James Thornhill.

University College is remarkable for its antiquity. It is entered by a large quadrangle, a hundred feet square, which presents a noble appearance. The chapel and hall, on the south side, have undergone considerable characteristic and judicious alterations, after the designs of Dr. Griffith, a former master. These have been effected by lengthening the windows, by the addition of buttresses, battlements, and pinnacles, and by changing the former clumsy centre into an elegant Gothic bow-window and pediment. Above the gateway are two statues-that on the outside represents Queen Anne, and the other on the inner side James II. The latter was presented to the society by a Roman catholic, when Mr. Obadiah Walker was master. The hall was begun in 1640; but, in consequence of the unsettled state of the university during the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell, it was not completed till the reign of Charles II. In the year 1766, its interior received considerable alterations and improvements. The fireplace in the centre of the room was removed, and a chimney erected on the south side. The roof was ceiled, the wainscot put up, a screen erected at the lower end, the floor newly paved, and the whole ornamented in the Gothic style. The expense, which amounted to near twelve hundred pounds, was defrayed by the contributions of the master and fellows, and many others who had been, or were then members of the society.

The library of this college is on the south side, beyond the principal quadrangle, and was finished in 1699. It contains many valuable manuscripts and printed books. The chapel was completed in 1665. The east window is of painted glass: the Nativity by Henry Giles, of York. It was the gift of Dr. Radcliffe, in 1687. The inner roof, which was formerly of wood, having been removed for the purpose of repairing the timber of the roof, has been replaced by a handsome, groined, Gothic ceiling. The screen is beautifully composed of the Corinthian order, with its enrichments, and is exquisitely carved by Grinlin Gibbons. The altar-piece is a copy of the Salvator Mundi of Carlo Dolce, executed by Dr. Griffith, the late master. The carved work over the altar is of most beautiful workmanship. Near the altar, on the south side, is a monument by Flaxman, in memory of Dr. Nathan Wetherell, who presided over this college during the long period of forty-four years. The wainscot of the ante-chapel has been removed, and an arch formed at the west end, to receive a monument to the memory of the celebrated Sir William Jones, formerly a fellow of this college. It was executed by Flaxman, and the bas-relief represents Sir William in the act of translating and forming a digest of Hindoo laws from the sacred books,