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ONE of the most beautiful and impressive views which can be presented to the eye of the traveller, is that which he sees before him as he is about to cross the river Cherwell, by Magdalen-bridge, and to enter the city of Oxford by the road from London. A tower, and battlemented buildings connected with it, are immediately before him, beyond the bridge; but (if it be summer) the buildings appear as if embowered, and he could almost fancy that he was about to enter a city in a wood. Nor are the impressions made thus early effaced by a further view. When Magdalen College is passed, the High-street, noble for its air of antiquity, and its truly Gothic variety of outline, begins to open to the view. It is correctly said, begins to open to the view; for as it gradually inclines to the left, there is no entire perspective of the street, but a continual change of object as the traveller advances, passing one college after another; here University College, on the left; then, on the right, Queen's, and All-Souls, and St. Mary's church, and Carfax yonder, at the top of the street, bounding the view.

And every now and then, as the end of some narrow street is passed, the pedestrian catches such a view of buildings not in the main street, that he feels satisfied, when he has seen VOL. VII. Second Series. с

all that High-street exhibits, there is at least as much, perhaps more, in reserve.

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Among the buildings which will attract his attention, supposing him to have turned out of the High-street about "All Souls," or "St. Mary's," going a little way to the right, looking at "Brazen-Nose,” at “Radcliffe,' "the Schools," and, wandering along, feeling satisfied that whichever way he goes, something worth seeing will present itself, is a neat, plain, yet handsome-looking college, which, though any thing but gorgeous in its architecture, has yet a simple, quiet elegance about it, which will be sure to arrest his footsteps, and prompt the question, What is this? The answer will be, This is Lincoln College; and, plain as it appears, it is one that has always been noted for the unostentatious but solid learning of its indwellers; a character that it has by no means lost to the present day.

Nor has Lincoln College been the source only of such streams as have had their course through the quiet, but often beauteous, meadows of the "cool, sequestered vales of life," watering them, and adding not less to their fertility than their beauty; it has contributed even largely to the visible service of the public. Men who have dwelt in its retirement, and loved it well, have been there preparing for work by the influence and effects of which, the pages of public history-the history, it may be, even of the world-have been charactered. From this college have gone forth into the world, Sanderson, the deep-thinking casuist, Bishop of Lincoln; Archbishop Potter; Dr. George Hickes, a hundred and fifty years ago what Dr. Pusey is now; Sir William Davenant, the poet; Sir George Wheler, traveller; James Hervey, with his pious, and not inelegant, though too affected, "Meditations;" and the author of a work, originally preached at the "Bampton Lecture," though afterwards enlarged, and entitled, "The Chart and Scale of Truth,"-a work not very inviting at the entrance, but which grows in interest, as the reader proceeds,— a work replete with rugged good sense, though set off by occasional eccentricities, and which seems a very "portraicture" of its author, not long ago "Rector of Lincoln College," Dr. Tatham. And from this college, plainly neat as himself, went forth

Will the time come when

John Wesley, the Methodist. Lincoln College shall Christianly boast of its Methodistical connexions? At all events, the Wesleyan who visits Oxford is always glad to see the place where he, for whom he blesses and glorifies God, spent so much time, happily as well as usefully. John Wesley was Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.

Lincoln College was founded in 1427, by Richard Flemmynge, Bishop of Lincoln, for a Rector, and seven Fellows. Thomas Rotherham, Bishop of Lincoln, afterwards Archbishop of York, and Lord High Chancellor of England, subsequently augmented it, adding five fellowships, and giving a body of statutes to the foundation. This was in 1479. Lord Crewe, Bishop of Lincoln, and Rector of the college, in 1717 made an addition to the emoluments of the Rector and Fellows, and the next year endowed twelve exhibitions of £20 per annum each. By the will of Dr. Richard Hutchins, Rector from 1755 to 1781, the scholarships and exhibitions received a further augmentation. The present foundation consists of a Rector, twelve Fellows, eight scholars, twelve exhibitioners, and one Bible Clerk. In 1837, the total number of members on the books was one hundred and thirty-two.

The buildings of Lincoln College retain much of their original character. They consist of two quadrangles, besides six sets of rooms, erected at a later period. The larger quadrangle includes the Rector's lodgings, the library and hall, built in the fifteenth century. The library was originally the chapel. The smaller court was in part built about 1616, by Sir Thomas Rotherham. The present chapel, upon its south side, was built in 1631, by Archbishop Williams. The windows are rich in painted glass, which was in 1629 procured by the Archbishop from Italy. The whole front of the college was repaired in 1818, and much improved in its appearance, by the addition of battlements, and by the

introduction of Gothic windows.

From this, and every other college, and from all seminaries of Christian learning, may many John Wesleys be sent forth, to preach the glorious Gospel of salvation to perishing men; even that we are justified freely by the grace of God, through

the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; and regenerated by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of adoption, whom we acknowledge as the Lord, and as the Giver of life; that so, being made partakers of the divine nature here, we may be enabled to glorify God by the fruits of righteousness, and to live "giving thanks to the Father which hath" thus "made us meet to be partakers" hereafter "of the inheritance of the saints in light."

JOHN SELDEN.
(Concluded from page 6.)

THE Parliament that was summoned to meet in 1640, was the first that had been called for eleven years. In that interval, though the country was at peace, and prosperous in commerce and agriculture, yet circumstances had occurred occasioning an almost general agitation. It was evident that the King wished to rule by his own prerogative; and that he regarded Parliaments, not as having a sort of co-ordinate power, but as being only his council, dependent on his will, and authorized to consider such subjects alone as he should place before them. Rigorous conformity, likewise, was exacted to the ecclesiastical establishment; and the sentences of the Star Chamber were such as evinced a determination to put down all opposition by force.

The want of money, however, compelled the Monarch to assemble a Parliament. Ship-money, though declared legal by the Judges, was condemned by the general voice of the country; and compulsory loans, and unwilling benevolences, all left the Exchequer in the same impoverished state. It seemed as though the English people did not know how to pay-nor an English King, though more than willing, though determined, how to raise money, except as it was voted and given by Parliament. A feeling of insecurity prevailed through the country; and the Parliament, of which Selden was not a member, as soon as assembled, began the subject of "grievance." Charles was not prepared for this, and after a session of three weeks, the Parliament was dissolved: an event which, more than any that had occurred, raised the

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