siderable houses for various persons, particularly Easton Neston in Northamptonshire; restored a defect in the minster of Beverley by a machine of his own invention ;* repaired in a judicious manner the west end of Westminster-abbey; and gave a design for the Ratcliffe library at Oxford. His knowledge in every science connected with his art is much commended, and his character remains unblemished. He died March 25, 1736, aged near seventy. The above particulars are taken from an account of him given in the public papers, and supposed by Vertue to be drawn up by his son-in-law Mr. Blackerby. Many of the encomiums I omit, because this is intended as an * Of that machine, by which he screwed up the fabric with extraordinary art, there was a print published, † [The model of this intended structure is now preserved at Ditchley, in Oxfordshire. According to the first idea of the application of Dr. Ratcliffe's legacy, the new library would have been an appendage only to the Bodleian. A very extraordinary communication was designed, by means of a gallery elevated upon a very lofty arcade, imitating a Roman aqueduct or bridge. The plan was fortunately abandoned.] [Mr. W. in a letter to G. Montagu, Esq. in 1760, mentions that "he had passed four days most agreeably in Oxford, and saw more antique holes and corners than Tom Hearne had in sixty years." This may perhaps furnish us with one reason why, in describing the works of modern architects there, in these anecdotes, he seems to have suspended all inquiry, and consequently has fallen into considerable mistakes. The new quadrangle of All Soul's College was intirely designed by Hawksmoor, who lived to complete it in 1734. The plan had been submitted to Dr. Clarke, who was himself an impartial register of, not as a panegyric on, our artists. When I have erred on either side, in commending or blaming, I offer but my own judgment, which is authority to nobody else, and ought to be canvassed or set right by abler deci architect, but with an imperfect idea of the true gothic style. These towers owe their origin to Dr. Young, who was then a fellow of the college, and had persuaded his patron, Philip Duke of Wharton, to supply the expense. They stand in the second court, and are not connected with gateways; but he gave a plan for a new front, next the High Street, in which were two gateways, never executed. It is certain, that during the time that Hawksmoor studied under Wren, he availed himself of several of his master's plans, which he afterwards applied, when employed upon his own account. The garden court at New College he is said to have designed with a general idea of a part of Versailles, but more probably of the palace at Winchester; and he is known to have been the sole architect of the new quadrangle of Queen's College, which has likewise a faint resemblance to the Luxembourg; and was probably composed by Wren, during his visit to the French capital. Every thing that Hawksmoor did, is so decidedly inferior to Queen's college; whether his genius runs riot among steeples as at Limehouse and Bloomsbury, or whether it aims at somewhat regular, as at Easton-Neston, that the claim of the real architect may be safely referred to that origine. The Doric elevation of the hall and chapel is grand and harmonious, and worthy of him or Aldrich. The portal through which we enter from the High Street, is not equal to the other parts. From a print by Burghers, it appears that there was a close cupola, as clumsily formed as a bee-hive. After that Q. Caroline, by a benefaction, had merited a statue, the present, which is light and not inelegant, was tenanted by a very disproportioned and ill shaped figure. Hawksmoor gave a plan for a very stately front of Brazenose College.] sions. Hawksmoor deviated a little from the lessons and practice of his master, and certainly did not improve on them; but the most distinguished architect was* * [About this period Oxford could boast, among her students, of two eminent architects, who were classically conversant with the science, and who embellished the university with buildings from their own designs, which would have added fame to the most celebrated of their contemporaries in that profession. It is surprising that, as Mr. W. has found a niche in his Temple, for several amateur-painters, he should have recorded one of these architects, in a note only, by attributing to him the genuine works of the other, whom he has, at least, incidentally, mentioned. HENRY ALDRICH, D. D. Dean of Christchurch in 1689, died 1710. He was a man of true versatile genius, greatly excited and assisted by learning, converse and travel. Having resided for a considerable time in Italy, and associating there with the eminent in architecture and music, his native taste was exalted and rendered excursive through the whole field of the arts. These impressions were not merely local and momentary; for his correct designs have been executed, and his compositions in sacred music are yet daily recited, in our choirs. He gave plans for, and superintended the building of three sides of the Peckwater Court, and the parish church of All Saints, in the High Street, Oxford; and there is sufficient evidence to prove that he was principally consulted respecting the chapel of Trinity College. The garden front of Corpus Christi presents a specimen of his architecture, which for correctness, and a graceful simplicity, is not excelled by any edifice in Oxford. Soon after his return from the continent, he compiled for his own use and that of his students, "Elementa Architecturæ Civilis ad Vitruvij veterumque disciplinam et recentiorum, præsertim A. Palladij exempla probatiora, concinnata." This MS. was acquired, after his death, by his friend, Dr. G. Clarke, and by JAMES GIBBS, Born 1683, Buried 1754, who without deviating from established rules, proved what has been seen in other arts, that him bequeathed to the library of Worcester College. It was published in 1789, large octavo, with many plates. Sir W. Chambers, in his larger work on the same subject, might have gained many valuable hints from the perusal. He was intimately associated with Dr. Clarke, in similar pursuits, "qui vivum coluit et amavit," as he testifies in an inscription which he placed to the Dean's memory, in his cathedral of Christchurch. George Clarke, LL. D. represented the University of Oxford in Parliament, for fifteen sessions, and was a Lord of the Admiralty in the reign of Q. Anne. He designed the Library at Christ-church, and jointly with Hawksmoor, the new towers and quadrangle of All Souls College. It appears from his monument in that chapel, that he was seventy-six years old at his death in 1736 ; and that he had been a fellow of that society for fifty-six of them. He is styled "literarum ubique fautor." -as a practical architect he must yield the palm to Dr. Aldrich. The library at Christ-church was begun in 1716, and proceeded so slowly that it was not covered in before 1738, nor completed as now seen before 1761. The Library of Worcester College, to which he bequeathed his valuable collection of architecture, rose under his inspection. SIR JAMES BURROUGH, LL. D was Master of Caius College, and, like Drs. Aldrich and Clarke, who had preceded him by some years, applied himself to the science with singular proficiency. He was consulted respecting the plans of all the public buildings at Cambridge which were erected in his time. The chapel of Clare-hall was rebuilt upon a plan, said to have been entirely of his own design: and although he is apparently indebted to that abovementioned of Trinity College, |