156 TOE BEITISH ISLES. 



Oxford, it profits by the (lunations which accrue to it tlirough wealthy graduates, 

 who keep their alma mafcr in fond remembrance. Jointly the various libraries of 

 Oxford contain more than a million volumes, or nearly as many as the British 

 Museum ; but it is matter for regret that these treasures should be available only 

 to members of the imiversity and foreigners whose studies compel them to do 

 homage in this sanctuary of science. During vacations the libraries are almost 

 completely deserted. It is at such a time that the fact of Oxford's native insignifi- 

 cance is most strikingly brought home to us. Without its two thousand under- 

 frraduates and the herd of hangfers-on who minister to their wants, the town would 

 resemble a desert, and grass would grow in its streets. 



The environs of Oxford abound in pretty villages and interesting localities. 

 At Ctiddcsdon, 5 miles to the south-east, are the Bishop's Palace and an ecclesias- 

 tical Training College. Nuneham Courtneij, the seat of the Harcourts, occupies a 

 wooded height overlooking the river 5 miles to the south of Oxford, its park of 

 1,200 acres abounding in fine trees. Woodstocli-, 8 miles to the north-north-west, 

 is an early residence of the Kings of England, where Henry II. made the bower 

 for his fair Rosamond. Not a trace remains of the old palace. Blenheim Park, 

 which was presented to the Duke of Marlborough in recognition of his famous 

 victorv of 1704, adjoins the town. Its mansion contains a valuable collection of 

 paintings, Avhilst the beautifully diversified park abounds in old oaks and cedars, 

 and is stocked with deer and kangaroos. Woodstock is known for its gloves ; 

 whilst Witneij, an ancient towa 6 miles to the south-west of it, on the Windrush, 

 enjoys some reputation for its blankets. Bnrford, higher up on the Windrush, 

 is an old market town, with an interesting church ; whilst Bampton-in-the-Bush, in 

 the south-west, has the remains of a castle. Spelsburi/, on the' Upper Evenlode, 

 was the birthplace of Sir John Franklin, the arctic navigator, in whose honour 

 a monument has been placed in front of the town-hall. Chipping Norton is 

 a quiet market town, near the western border of the county. The neighbour- 

 ing village of Churchill was the birthplace of William Smith, the father of modern 

 geology, who thus passed his childhood at the foot of those oolitic hills which are 

 so rich in the fossils which subsequently he studied to such great advantage. 



Ascending the Cherwell for 25 miles above Oxford, we reach Bcnihuri/, a clean 

 old to\vn, with quaint houses and the remains of a Roman amphitheatre 

 known as the " Bear Ring." Banbury is famed in the world of gastronomy for its 

 cakes, cream cheese, and ale. The battle of Edgehill, in which Charles I. was 

 defeated by the Parliamentary forces under the Earl of Essex, was fought 7 miles 

 to the north of it. Bicester and Thame, both towards the Bucks frontier — the 

 one to the east of the Cherwell, the other on the navigable Thame — are prosperous 

 market towns. Bicester, moreover, is noted for its ale. Near it, on Akeman 

 Street, are the ruins of the Roman city of ^lia Castra, or Alcester. 



Descending the river below Oxford, we reach Dorchester, at the mouth of the 



* There are 53 Universit}- protasors nnd teachers. 385 Fellows of Colleges, and nearly 2,000 under- 

 praduates. The University has an income from ext^mal sources of £15,000, the Colleges and Halls of 

 £307,000. The 439 henefices in the pift of the latter have an annual vnlue of £187.660. Out of this 

 income £132,000 is paid to heads and fellows of col'eges, £26,000 to scholars and exhibitioners. 



