XXVI,] 
551 
acquit himself of the subject without trespassing again on tlie 
patience of the reader by adding one supplementary letter. 
No sooner did the Priory (perhaps much out of repair at the 
time) become an appendage to the college, but it must at once 
have tended to swift decay. Magdalen College wanted now 
only two chambers for the chantry priest and his assistant ; and 
therefore had no occasion for the hall, dormitory, and other 
spacious apartments belonging to so large a foundation. The 
roofs neglected, would soon become the possession of daws and 
owls ; and, being rotted and decayed by the weather, would fall 
in upon the floors ; so that all parts must have hastened to 
speedy dilapidation and a scene of l)roken ruins. Three full 
centuries have now passed since the dissolution ; a series of 
years that would craze the stoutest edifices. But, besides the 
slow hand of time, many circumstances have contributed to 
level this venerable structure with the ground ; of which nothing 
now remains but one piece of a wall of about ten feet long, and 
as many feet high, which probably was part of an out-house. 
As early as the latter end of the reign of Hen. VI 1. we find 
that a farm-house and two barns were built to the south of tlie 
Priory, and undoubtedly out of its materials. Avarice, again, 
has much contributed to the overthrow of this stately pile, as 
long as the tenants could make money of its stones or timbers. 
Wantonness, no doubt, has had a share in the demolition ; for 
boys love to destroy what men venerate and admire. A re- 
markable instance of this propensity the writer can give from 
his own knowledge. When a schoolboy, more than fifty years 
ago, he was eyewitness, perhaps a party concerned, in the un- 
dermining a portion of that fine old ruin at the north end of 
Basingstoke town, well known by the name of Holy Ghost 
Chapel. Very providentially the vast fragment, which these 
thoughtless little engineers endeavoured to sap, did not give 
way so soon as might have been expected ; but it fell the night 
following, and with such violence that it shook the very ground, 
and, awakening the inhabitants of the neighbouring cottages, 
made them start up in their beds as if they had felt an earth- 
quake. The motive for this dangerous attempt does not so 
readily appear : perhaps the more danger the more honour, 
