1-58 
O R D. 
O X F 
adorned with three-quarter Corinthian columns, ranged 
in couplets, between which are windows and niches alter¬ 
nately. A balluftrade, finilhed with vafes on the piers 
perpendicular to the columns, furmounts the entablature, 
and the whole elevation is terminated by a fine cupola 
fixty feet high, which renders this building a linking 
feature in- every diftant view of the city. The contribu¬ 
tions to this library are few, compared to tliofe of the Bod¬ 
leian, which fee ms almoft to have wholly engrofled the 
munificence of the learned. 
The Alhmolean Mufeum owes its foundation to Elias 
Alhmole, author of the Hiftory of the Garter, who offered 
to bellow on the univerfity all the extenfive collections in 
natural hiftory which had been bequeathed to him by the 
two Tradefcants, the celebrated naturalifts and phyfic- 
gardeners at South Lambeth, and to add to thefe his own 
coins, medals, MSS. and books, provided the univerfity 
Would defray the expenfe of ereCting a proper building 
for their reception. This offer was accepted, and the 
prefent edifice raifed under the direction of fir Chrifto- 
pher Wren. The contributors to this mufeum have been 
numerous. The chief of them were Dr. Plot, Mr. 
Llwyd, Mr. Borlafe, and Mr. Reinhold Fofter. The 
contribution of this laft confifts chiefly of curious articles 
from the South-Sea iflands. This building likewife con¬ 
tains the books of Dr. Lifter, and the MSS. of Dugdale, 
Aubrey, and Wood. See farther under Museum, vol. 
xii. p. 276. 
The Aftronomical Obfervatory was built at the expenfe 
of 30,000!. defrayed by the truftees of Dr. Radcliffe. It 
is fituated at the extreme end of the north fuburb, on a 
very appropriate fite with attached grounds, which were 
prefented to the univerfity by the duke of Marlborough. 
The central elevation of this edifice is upwards of 100 
feet, and its third llory confifts of an octangular tower, 
with fculptural reprefentations of the eight winds on the 
entablature, and a ponderous earth-coloured globe at the 
top. The whole ftru&ure comprifes adwelling-houfe for 
the obferver, apartments for obfervation, for an afliftant 
obferver; and for lectures ; and is fupplied with a valua¬ 
ble fet of aftronomical inftruments, befides a library. See 
Observatory, vol. xvii. p. 375. 
The Phyfic Garden, comprifing about five acres of 
ground, is fituated oppofite to Magdalen-college on the 
fouth, and is encompalled by a lofty wall, with a handfome 
gateway defigned by Inigo Jones. Over the arch of this 
gateway is a bull of the founder, Henry Danvers earl of 
Dan by, and ou%he right and left are ftatues of Charles 
I. and II. The garden is arranged in four quarters, and 
is provided with fuitable green-houfes, and a hot-houfe 
for the reception of the more tender plants. The chief 
contributor to this garden was Dr. Sherard, who in 1728 
left 3000I. for the endowment of a profefi'orlhip of botany ; 
and in 1793 a regius-profeffor in that fcience was like¬ 
wife appointed by his late majefty. 
Government and Civil History. 
The corporation of this city, eftablilhed both by char¬ 
ter and by prefcription, is governed by a mayor, a high- 
fteward, recorder, four aldermen, eight a Aidants, two 
bailiffs, a town-clerk, two chamberlains, and twenty- 
four common-councillors. By grant from Henry I. the 
mayor, for the time being, a£ts in the buttery at the co- 
ronation-feafts of the kings and queens of England ; and 
hence, as well as from other caufes, many of them have 
received the honour of knighthood. Oxford fends two 
members to the national fenate, and has done fo, accor¬ 
ding to Willis, in his Notitia Parliamentary, ft nee the 
firft inftitutioiv of a parliament in this ifland. The elec¬ 
tors are the corporation and freemen ; and the returning- 
officers, the mayor and bailiffs. 
This city is remarkable for an aft of bribery, commit¬ 
ted by almoft all the members of the corporation. In 
1767, Philip Ward, efq. then mayor, in conjunction with 
Thomas Robinfon and John Brown, the bailiffs of the 
faid city, and feveral of the aldermen, wrote a letter to 
fir Thomas Stapleton, bart, and the hon. Robert Lee, 
their members, .Hating that they would eleCl them again 
at the next general election, for a certain fum of money, 
ftipulated in that letter; and acquainting them, that, tin- 
lefs they complied with that condition, they certainly 
fhould not meet with their fupport. This letter was pro¬ 
duced in the houfe of commons by the honourable mem^ 
bers who received it; when, upon being read, it was 
agreed, that the perfons concerned Jn writing that letter 
fhould be taken forthwith into the cuftody of the ferjeant- 
at-arms. They were accordingly taken, and brought to 
the houfe of commons, and were by them committed to 
Newgate ; but, after a confinement of fome confiderable 
time, upon their petitioning, and fetting forth to the 
houfe their hearty forrow and fincere contrition for their 
offence, they were difeharged, after being reprimanded 
on their knees, by the fpeaker, in the following words. 
“ Philip Ward, John Treacher, fir Thomas Munday, 
Thomas Wife, John Nicholes, John Philips, Ifaac Law¬ 
rence, Richard Tawney, Thomas Robinfon, and John 
Brown : The offence of which you have been guilty has 
juftly brought you under the fevere difpleafure of this 
houfe. A more enormous crime you could not well com¬ 
mit, fince a deeper wound could not have been given to 
the conftitution itfelf, than by the open and dangerous 
attempt which you have made to fubvert the freedom, 
and independence of this houfe. The freedom of this 
houfe is the freedom of the country, which can continue 
no longer, than while the voices of the electors are un¬ 
influenced by any bafe or venal motive. For, if abilities 
and ihtegrity are no recommendation to the eleClors, if 
thofe who bid higheft for their voices are to obtain them 
from fuch deteftable confiderations, this houfe will not 
be the reprefentatives of the people of Great Britain. 
Inftead of being the guardians and protestors of their 
liberties, inftead of redrafting the grievances of the fub- 
j'eCt, this houfe itfelf will be the author of the worft of 
grievances; it will become the venal inllrument of power 
to reduce this happy nation, the envy and admiration of 
the world, to the loweft Hate of mifery and fervitude. 
This is theabjeCl condition to which you have attempted 
to bring your fellow-citizens. Many circumftances con¬ 
cur to aggravate your offence. The place of your refi- 
dence was a Angular advantage. You had at all times the 
example of one of the moll learned and refpe&able bo¬ 
dies in Europe before your eyes. Their conduCt in every 
inftance, but efpecially in the choice of their reprefenta- 
tives in parliament, was well worthy your imitation. 
You are magiftrates of a great city. In fuch a ftation, it 
was a duty peculiarly incumbent on you to watch over 
the morals of your fellow-citizens; to keep yourfelves 
pure from venality ; and to prevent, by your influence, 
thofe under your government from being tainted by this 
growing and peftilential vice. How have you abufed this 
truft ? You yourfelves have fet the infamous example of 
proftitution in the mod public and daring manner. Surely 
you muft have felt fome remorfe from the generous dif- 
dain with which your corrupt offer was rejected by your 
reprefentatives. They thought, and juftly thought, that 
a feat in this houfe, obtained by a free and independent 
choice of their conftituents, was the higheft honour to 
which a fubjeCt can afpire ; and that, difeharging their 
duty as fuch reprefentatives, was the nobleft ot fervices. 
Sorry I am to fay, that thefe confiderations do not appear 
to have had the lead weight with you. However, you 
have at laft acknowledged your guilt; and, by your pe¬ 
tition yefterday, you feem confcious of the enormity of 
your offence. This houfe,in the terror of its judgments, 
always thinks upon mercy; nor do they ever iniiiCt pu- 
nilhment but for the fake of example, and to prevent 
others from becoming the objects of their refen tment. The 
cenfure paffed upon you, will, they hope, have that effeCl. 
You are now the objeCt of their mercy, and are brought 
to the bar to be difeharged. May you be penetrated with 
a due 
