The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1853-08-30
University AND CRY OF OXFORD
lulu 23y1k, 1858. (

Dear Comet The continual wet
weather since my arrival in this coun.
try has prevented me from seeing any
thing that / think would be interest
ing to you or your readers to hear
about. The good people here inform
me that they have had fifteen wet
days in succession previous to my ar
rival, and it has rained more or less
every day since, making in all twenty
eight days. The weather has more
over been quite cold, so much SO. that
l have found it necessary to have a
FIRE in my room the greater part OF
the time. Thousands Of acres Of the
best mellow land in England have been
inundated, and immence quantities Of
hay, have been swept away or render
ed worthless, the disease has com
menced its destruction amongst the
potatoes, and take it all in all, | fear
this summer will prove to be one that
will long be remembered with sor-
row by the poor. The grain crops
however are very abundant and only
require fine warm weather, to reward
the husbandman with heavy harvest
of the best quality.
! This being the first fair day since
nv arrival I have availed myself OF
the opportunity to visit the glorious
old city from which this communicable
is dated-a place not excelled in the
world for picturesque beauty, historical
antiquity, and classic lore. A month
would not suffice to visit every thing
interesting in q city thatabounds with
works Of art of every description, by
the greatest masters, with its magni
ficent buildings and libraries. l will
consequently content myself with en-
deavoring to describe one of its beau
ties, only, that have visit to-day, vis
CHRIST Church College.
This College was founded by Car
dihal Wolsey in 1924, and is located
on spot that had been dedicated to
learning and religion for many centu-
aries previous to that time. Portions
Of this vast structure, particularly the
| Cathedral, exhibit specimens of arch
| itecture belonging to every age from
| the times of the rude Saxon to the
present day, and covering space OF
400 years. This noble building has
a frontage on Saint Aldates street Of
400 feet, and its many turrets, bastions
and battlements give it more the APP
pearance OF noble castle, than
| place dedicated to the peaceful pur-
suits of learning and religion. The
main enterance is through the Tom
Gate" over which rises magnificent
gateway and tower-the tower is
octagonal in shape, Of the Gothic or
der Of architecture, very high and Of
the most beautiful proportions. In
the cupola Of this SPLENDID structure
hangs the immence bell, called Great
Tom of Oxford" from which the en-
trance receives its name. The metal
OF this bell is very old, it having for
merly belonged to Osnly Abbey from
whence, with a vast quantity OF other
Church property, it was taken at the
time religious institutions Of the Ro-
man or Monastic order were abolished
Great Tom" was re-cast on the
sth of April 1850, and is Of the follow
ing weight and dimensions-weight
7.0OO-thickness, 81 inches--lle:ght
6 feet 9 inches-diameter 7 feet inch
--the weight being more than double
that OF the great bell Of St. Paul's
Cathedral in London. On entering
the Tom Gate" the largest and most
beautiful quadrangle in Oxford. pre-
sents itself surrounded with a wide
terrace walk and having in its centre
a resivour and fountain. The dimen
sions OF this magnificent quadrangle
are 264 feet by POI feet. The next
great object OF attraction is the "llall'
"a splendid room $50 feet long, 40
feet wide, and so feet in height, the
roof bears the date 1929, and is of
richly carved oak, elegantly and pro-
fusly decorated with the armoiiaI
bearings of the Eight English Harry"
The most interesting features Of the
Hall" are the numerous busts and
pictures with which it is adorned