RADCLIFFE LIBRARY, Oxford. This institution, founded by Dr. John Radcliffe (q.v.), stands in the central area of Radcliffe square. The building is in the form of a rotunda, standing upon arcades, from the center of which rises a spacious and well-proportioned dome. This dome is 84 ft. iu height from the pavement, and is beautifully wrought in stucco. The architect was James Gibbs, who commenced the building in 1737, and completed it in 1747. The library is approached by a handsome stone staircase, and over the entrance-door hangs the portrait of the founder by sir G. Kneller. The books composing the library are for the most part works on natural history, physical science, and medicine. Besides these, Gibbs, the architect, bequeathed to it a collection of works, chiefly architectural; Wise, the first librarian, a collection of coins; Kennicott, a collection; Frewen, a miscellaneous library; Viner, some law-books; while from the Frazer and Sale collections the trustees purchased 355 oriental MSS. in the
years 1758 and 1760. In 1856 the number of volumes comprising the scientific and medical collection was estimated by Dr. Acland, the librarian, as not less than 14,000, and not mdre than 15,000. From the year 1834 to the year 1840, the trustees expended ...V.,500 annually on the purchase of books. The grant, however, was reduced to £200 in i 1841, and continued at that low figure until 1863• when it was again raised to the sum of £500. In 1861, by an agreement between the Radcliffe trustees and the university, the scientific books of the Radcliffe library were removed to the university museum, then recently erected, for public use under prescribed regulations, and the spacious room in the Radcliffe library was opened as a reading-room in connection with the Bodleiau library. This reading-room is now open daily until 10 o'clock at night, to the great comfort and convenience of numerous readers.