man, and of every Englishman, as they are the universal admiration of foreigners. Our limits will not permit us in any thing like a minute description of these colleges, which are twenty in number, besides five less important institutions termed halls: but an outline of the most interesting features to be observed in them, will doubtless be agreeable to the reader. We shall make our selection at random, as regards their relative locality at least, and we cannot proceed in a manner more agreeable to this spirit than by noticing them in alphabetical order.

ALL SOULS' COLLEGE, founded in the year 1437 by Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, consists chiefly of two spacious courts, or quadrangles, one entered from the High Street, and the other from the square in which stands the Radcliffe Library. Though the. front to the street retains little of its pristine symmetry and character, that defect is amply atoned for when the interior is examined. The greater quadrangle which is one hundredand seventy-two feet in length, and one hundred and fifty-five broad, in particular deserves attention. It is truly happy in possessing that uniform grandeur of associated objects, so necessary to a full display of architectural effect. Viewed from the western side, which is a cloister, with a central entrance-gate, the two lofty

towers of the eastern division, (where are the' common room and a series of handsome apartments,) strengthened and ornamented as they are by graduated buttresses, lessening at top into minarets of delicate workmanship, com'pletely fill the eye, and engage the attention. The chapel and hall on the south side, and on the north the splendid library of the college, well support this majesty of structure; whilereversing the view-the highly-wrought dome of the Radcliffe Library seems intentionally placed beyond the cloister, to present a background of captivating magnificence, and St. Mary's taper spire, rich in Gothic ornaments, shoots above the buildings that compose the outer court. This noble quadrangle, whose style is the mixed Gothic, in respect for the manner of the original architect of the college, was erected at different periods of the last century, by means of various liberal subscriptions.

The Chapel, however, retains its exterior as left by the founder. The interior, as it now stands, was arranged by the combined talents of Sir Christopher Wren, (who was a student of All Souls',) Sir James Thornhill, and Dr. Clarke. Simplicity, and an appropriate sedateness, eminently pervade the whole. The objects most worthy observation are, an Assumption-piece of the founder, with figures of

different illustrious persons connected with the college, painted by Sir James Thornhill; and a Noli me tangere,* in a compartment over the communion-table, by Mengs, who painted it at Rome, and received three hundred guineas for it from the college. The colouring of this latter picture is extremely fine, particularly the figure of the Saviour; and mingled joy, grief, and amazement, are felicitously contrasted in the face of Mary to the superhuman dignity and composure of Jesus.

The strikingly elegant interior of the Hall was constructed early in the last century, at the expence of the society, and of several gentlemen who had formerly been of the number of its members. Here are a series of casts from the antique; some paintings by Thornhill; -busts, among the latter one of the celebrated antiquary Leland, who was of this college;— and a fine statue by Bacon (for which he re ceived four hundred and fifty guineas) of Sir William Blackstone, another inmate of All Souls', and whose well-known "Commentaries” reflect so much honour upon his memory.

The Library, which is perhaps the largest room of its kind in the kingdom, was indebted for its present splendour as a building to the

"Touch me not!”—the first words of Christ to Mary Magdaleu after his résurrection.

liberal bequest of £10,000, for the express purpose of its erection, from Colonel Codrington, who, born in Barbadoes, but of English parents, was admitted a fellow of All Souls' in 1689. He left also a collection of books, worth not less than £6000, to be placed within the structure of his foundation. The first stone of the new building was laid in 1716, by the celebrated author of the "Night Thoughts;" but the whole was not completed till 1756, nor at a less expence than £12,000. In the vestibule of the Library is a tripod, found at Corinth, and considered unique, as it is formed of marble, and has some curious peculiarities in the construction of the pedestal: and an anti-library, and several subordinate rooms at the south end, contain some interesting specimens of ancient coloured glass, among which the portraits of Henry VI. and of the founder are supposed to be coeval with the foundation.

BALLIOL COLLEGE claims for its founder John de Balliol, of Bernard's Castle in the county of Durham, a man of much power and note in the thirteenth century, and father of that unfortunate John de Balliol who was king of Scotland. As a building, this college has all the unpleasing irregularity of architectural features, which arises from the construction of

additional parts, at various periods, with a greater regard to internal accommodation than to exterior beauty of aspect; yet it has various portions that will interest. No part of the college, as it now appears, is older than the reign of Henry VI. In the central approach to the quadrangle, which was partly built in the time of that king, and still forms the chief division of the structure, is a square Gothic tower with an embattled parapet, and an oriel over the entrance, on each side of which is a highly enriched and canopied niche. The plain weighty range of buildings to the right, was constructed in the beginning of the eighteenth century; the totally inconsistent, however handsome, extent of edifice to the left, was erected at the expence of Mr. Fisher, late fellow of the college. As to the interior of the court the simply beautiful front of the hall, which remains nearly as left by the architect of the Sixth Henry's time; the fine florid Gothic bay-window, in the residence of the master; and the grand entrance to the chapel, highly decorated, but possessing an almost magical lightness of effect; are the chief attractions to the curious stranger and architectural antiquary.

The Chapel affords some interesting speci mens of painted glass. The interior of the