304

THE DINING HALL.

which belonged to the former chapel, and which, tradition says, was taken in a Spanish ship, and presented to the college by the first Duke of Ormond. At the opposite side to the theatre, not directly in a line with it, but parallel to the chapel, and retired about forty feet from the line of its front, stands

The Refectory, or Dining Hall.-This is a detached building, in the lower part of which are the spacious kitchen, cellars, and other offices. It presents a handsome front, having an angular pediment, supported by six pilasters of the Ionic order. The entrance is approached by a flight of steps, the whole length of the front: this has a good effect. In the pediment is placed the clock, which strikes the time a quarter of an hour later than the town clocks, on purpose that the pupils may have an opportunity of getting into college in good time to avoid fines, &c.

The

dining room is seventy feet long, thirty-five feet broad, and thirty-five feet high; it is wainscoted with oak pannel to the height of twelve feet, finished with a scotia moulding. Over this, on the east side, the windows, four in number, are placed; these are large, with semicircular heads, carried quite up to the cornice. At the north, or upper end, opposite to the entrance, and over the fellows' table, is a Venetian window of large dimensions; these give plenty of light to the hall. The west side is without windows, but instead of them it is ornamented with circular-headed flat niches, seven in number. In each of these is placed a full-length portrait of some eminent public character who has graduated in this college; they are habited in their academical robes, according to the degree they may have taken. Most of these posthumous paintings were executed during the provostship of Dr. Elrington, by an artist named Joseph, from London, who also painted portraits of Dr. Barrett and some others of the fellows then living; for all which the artist was much more liberally rewarded than the merit of his works could have afforded any claim. The niches are finished with broad mouldings in stucco, and immediately over them runs a bold dentil cornice, of great depth and classic character.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ROOMS.

305

From this cornice springs the ceiling, which is coved, for about ten feet from the cornice, throughout its whole length. The central portion of the ceiling is flat, and in it are ornamented apertures, through which are suspended large chandeliers.

The provost, fellows, resident masters, and fellow commoners dine at the tables at the upper (north) end of the hall, whilst the scholars and pensioners are placed, according to their classes, at the other tables; the sizars come in and dine at the fellows' table, when the latter and the fellow commoners have retired from the hall.

3

The Historical Society's Rooms.-These apartments are situated over the vestibule or ante-room of this refectory, from which a spacious staircase leads to the large room in which the debates are carried on, and the other business of the society transacted, for which purposes it is sufficiently capacious. Posterior to the large room is situated a smaller one, which is used for committees, and where refreshments of tea and coffee are served to the members.

Having already given a sketch of this society's history, of its rise, progress, fall and resuscitation, we have nothing further to add, except a few incidents which were overlooked in our notes.

Several of the junior Fellows, it appears, assisted the senior students in drawing up and settling a plan for the government of this society, the principal features of which are the following: All the Fellows were declared to be members ex officio; all other members must be subjected to a ballot. No person whose name was not on the college books could be a member, nor could any student become a member until his junior sophister year. Any member who incurred a college censure, ceased to belong to the

a Some fastidious persons have objected to this great distinction between the sizars and other classes; but it should be known that without considerable College attainments no one can be a sizar, and as their manners and moral conduct generally harmonize with their knowledge in arts and sciences, they often attain to great eminence in the learned professions.

Χ

806

HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ROOMS.

society. Each member, on his admission, paid a very moderate subscription. The objects which were especially cultivated were History, Poetry and Oratory: examinations were held every quarter. On these occasions, the candidates for historical honours underwent a long and strict examination in Ancient and Modern History. At this time, also, the compositions in poetry were read carefully and compared, and the members who had exerted their powers in oratory, on the subjects discussed at the weekly meetings, had their claims likewise laid before the society; and each, in turn, was taken by ballot. Every successful candidate was presented by the chairman with a silver medal appended to a white ribbon; on the medal was an inscription stating the subject for which it was obtained, with the name of the pos

sessor.

At the opening of the society's session in October, and on closing it in July, there was always a speech delivered from the chair, by one of the most distinguished members, who for his exertions received the remarkable thanks of the society; but when this speech proved to be very superior in taste and composition, and was delivered in a corresponding style, the orator was honoured with a gold medal, and sometimes they requested him to publish the oration. The society had purchased a good collection of books suitable to their purposes: to this stock they continued to make additions annually from their surplus fund.

In 1792, the first of its vicissitudes befel this society. In that year, the last but two of Provost Hutchinson's life, the Board wished to interfere with their proceedings on a particular occasion, but that the members would not submit to; the Board then met, and by a resolution dissolved the society in college. The formation of the once intern society in 1794, and the dissolution of the extern society in 1806, have already been mentioned; also the dissolution of the new intern society in 1815, and finally its resuscitation in 1844, with every appearance of its permanency: for although past time cannot be recalled, yet as past errors may