The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

156
THE BEITISH ISLES.
Oxford, it profits by the donations which accrue to it through wealthy graduates,
who keep their alma mater 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 university and foreigners whose studies compel them to do
homao-e 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-
oraduates and the herd of hangers-on who minister to their wants, the town would
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resemble a desert, and grass would grow m its streets.
The en^-irons of Oxford abound in pretty villages and interesting localities.
At Cuddesdon, 5 miles to the south-east, are the Bishop's Palace and an ecclesias-
tical Training College. Nuncham Courtney, 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 aboimding in fine trees. WoodstocJc, 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
victory of 1704, adjoins the town. Its mansion contains a valuable collection of
paintings, whilst the beautifully diversified park abounds in old oaks and cedars,
and is stocked with deer and kangaroos. "Woodstock is known for its gloves
whilst Witney, an ancient town 6 miles to the south-west of it, on the Windrush,
enjoys some reputation for its blankets. Burford, higher up on the Windi-ush,
is an old market town, with an interesting church ;
whilst £anipton-in-the-£ush, in
the south-west, has the remains of a castle. Spelsbury, 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. Chippiny 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 Banbury, a clean
old town, 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 TTniversity professors and teachers, 38.5 Fellows of Colleges, and nearly 2,000 under-
graduates. The University has an income from external sources of £1.5,000, the Colleges and Halls of
£307,000. The 439 henefices in the gift of the latter hare an annual value of £187.660. Out of this
income £132,000 is paid to heads and fellows of colleges, £26,000 to scholars and exhibitioners.
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