The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

The national anthem was then sung, and the as
sembly pleasantly returned to Abingdon, finding
omnibuses on this occasion, and dropping donations
into the small red bags which met their eyes on their
departure from the college precincts.
At Oxford, in the evening, the time-honoured
ceremony was performed which symbolises the union
of Oxford with the Isis. About eight o'clock the
boats formed in the following order :-1, Brasenose;
2, Balliol ;3, Worcester ;4, Christ Churc John Pon
broke ; ft, Queen's ;7, Exeter ;s, St. 's ;0,
Lincoln ; 10, New College ; 11, Wadham ; 12,
Trinity ; 13, St. John's; 14, Corpus. There were
also about fifteen or sixteen Torpid crews, which
followed immediately in the wake of the other boats.
As they successively reached that portion of the
river opposite Christ Church Meadow and the
barges, they were received with loud cheering and
the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. By the
way, as we are speaking of the boats, we may mention
that we observed that the indefatigable Spiers has
published a chart of their performances from 1836
downwards, an interesting document of the
"Stream, of History" description. After the usual
finale, the thousands of spectators began to
disperse, but it was not until lung alter the shades of
the calm and lovely evening had se:, in that the banks
and walks of the meadow had resumed their wonted
quiet.

TuEsDAY.
The first striking feature in the occurrences of to-
day was the formation of the grand procession to
accompany the Chancellor from Worcester College
to the Sheldonian Theatre. This was certainly a
very brilliant and stately show, and, from the num-
ber of dignified ecclesiastics present, is thought
to have been the finest thing of the kind ever wit-
nessed at Oxford. It consisted of the Vice-Chan-
cellor anti heads of houses; the noblemen mem-
bers of the University in their dresses of state ; the
bishops, thirteen in number, including the Bishops
of Oxford, London, Exeter, Lincoln, Salisbury,
Chichester, St. Asaph, St. Andrew's, Quebec,
Montreal, Ohio, and Nova Scotia ; the Doctors of
divinity, law, and physic, the Proctors, and the

Masters of arta.
The interior of 11w Shehlonian Theatre on a
commemoration day is certainly one of the most im-
posing sights in England, and it probably never pre-
sented a finer coup (Neil than it did to-day. By ten
o'clock every disposable inch of apace, whether in the
area or galleries, was completely occupied, and any
unlucky wight who had not obtained accommoda-
tion at that hour was obliged to abandon ell hope of
it. for the day. The area crowded with the Otte
of the clergy from far and near, the lower galleries
tilled with elegantly-dressed ladies in the most
charming variety of toilets, and the upper galleries
crammed with a mass of Undergraduates, noisy and
tumultuous as ever, made up a scene as characteristic
SS it was dazzling.
No sooner had the Undergraduates located them-
selves in their gallery than they commenced the pro-
ceedings without waiting for the Chancellor, by
giving one hearty round of cheers for the Queen, and
this demonstration of loyalty was followed yan
ebullition of gallantry, no less warm and enthusing-
tic, in a similar compliment to the ladies. The
munes of individuals were then given in succession.
The mention of " the Earl of Derby, our honoured
lord and Chancellor," was received in every instance
with deafening cheers, and presented a striking con-
trast to the reception given to the name of Lord
John Russell. "Bright" and "Cobden," among
others, elicited evidences of aversion. " The
Coalition," says the o.tford Herald, •• was consider-
aid y hooted." The eminent literary names, the
prominent bishops, and " Mr. Dudley Percival," were
well received.
During these cries, the entrance of Lady Derby
and her daughter, the Lady Emma Stanley, to the
ladies gallery, was observed, when the whole com-
pany stood up, whilst most enthusiastie waving of
caps and handkerchiefs greeted the distinguished
party. The cry of " Three cheers for Lady Derby,"
"'Three cheers for the Chancellor," succeeded the
enthusiasm which was thereby revived with almost
greater effect. In the midst of these demonstrations,
However, the wide portals of the theatre were thrown
open, and a procession, in which Bishops, Statesmen,
(.morals, Divines, and Civilians were seen, approached
with measured steps, and no sooner was the Chancellor
caught sight of than the whole assembly rose, and
for several minutes the building resounded with notes
of welcome and approbation, the ladies waving their
handkerchiefs, and contributing in no small share to
the excitement of the scene. The Chancellor, having
reached his official seat, opened the Convocation, and
read the iuuues of those distinguished individuals
upon whom it was proposed to confer the honorary
degreee of doctor of civil law. The mention of the
11S11101 of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Meck-
lenburg Strelitz was received with mach cheering; the
same may be said of all the others ; but the most
marked were Lord Stanley, Lord St. Leonard's, and,
above all, Mr. Disraeli, whose name was the signal

SATURDAY,

for a renewal of that enthusiasm to which it gave rise
at the commencement of the prot•ee,lings. The
names of each eamlidate for honours were then read
by the Chancellor seriatim, and submitted to Convo-
cation ; all were agreed, notwithstanding that a few
courageous nonplacets determined, in one or two in-
stances, on exercising their privilege. The bedels
then returned to the divinity school. and shortly
after entered the theatre, escorting the newly-made
doctors, who were received with much cheering. Dr.
I'hillimore then presented, in Latin addresses, which,
contrary to the custom observed on such occasions,
were singularly indicative of his own party prejudices,
the following noblemen and gentlemen :
The Most Noble the 31arquis of Blandford, M.P.
The Most Noble the Marquis of Chaudos, M.P.
The Light Hon. the Earl of Eglinton and Winton.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Malmesbury.
The Right Hon. Lord Stanley.
The Right Hon. Lord Redesdale.
The Right Hon. Lord Colchester.
The Right Hon. Lord St. Leonard's.
The Right Hon. Thomas Babiugton Macaulay, M.P.
The Right Hon. the Lord Justice Turins.
The 'tight lion. Sir John S. Pakington, Bart., M.P.
The Right lion. Spencer Horatio Walpole, M.P.
The Right lion. Benjamin Disraeli, M.P.
The Right Hon. Joseph Napier, M.P.
Major-General the Hon. Sir Edward Cust, K.C.H.
The Rev. Joseph Puffing, 11. D., Vice-Chancellor of
the University of Cambridge.
At this point we copy the following from the Times :
" The Earl of Derby went through his duties in n graceful
and dignified manner•; and the remark was mink that he
evinced the possession of that eminently academical yeah.
fication—correet l.atinity. Of the new batch of doctors
made to-day it may fairly be stated that Mr. Disraeli was
the favourite of the undergradeuttes. ]Meat• two malignant s
did hiss his name a little, to be sure, hut the applause was
magnifieently triumphant, and his acceptance was talked
of aiterwanla as the ' hit' of the occasion. For the rest,
we may say that the Earl of .Eglinton was well cheered,
that Mr. Macaulay received marked honours, and that the
Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge was equally fortunate. The
Earl of Derby. by altering the usual li►naalte, so as to give
Lord Stanley the title of Viiias wens itiledissinms; excited
much sympathy."
And although this description, though without any
imputation of unfairness, falls short of our own im-
press of the triumph, beneath it we put the following
statement from the Chronicle, as an example of the
meaner resources of party:—
" The names of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Cardwell, when
mentioned, elicited a burst of cheering us cordial as ►t was
genentl ; the mune ' Benjamin Disraeli,' when shouted
terth by a pair of stentorian lungs, became the signal for
manifestations of conflicting emotions from the two parties
into which it was evidently divided. After a warm struggle
between the applauders and the hooters, in u•hicle it seas
ditheedl in say whirr the rcight nr aausbe•rs lay, the energy
of the latter ultimately slackened, and the zeal of friendly
partisanship increased until it became decidedly pre-
dominant."
This latter extract may be left, as a specimen of
extreme candour, to the criticism either of those who
were present in the theatre, or of those who on the
following morning read a "leader" in the same paper
rebuking the vociferous and one-sided manifestations
of the gallery.
Dr. Mitchell, Vice-President of Magdalen Hnll,
afterwards delivered the Creweian Oration, spoken at
every commemoration iu praise of the founders and
benefactors of colleges.
The remaining business of the Convocation con-
sisted in the reading of the English prose essay for
the Chancellor's prize, "On Popular Poetry consi •
dered as a test of National Character," by Mr. Day,
of Wadham College, and of odes composed in honour
of the Installation, for which prizes have been
awarded, in tireek verse by Mr. Griffiths, of WoOhani
College. and Mr. Falcon, of Queen's College ; in Latin
verse by Mr. Atkinson, of Exeter College, and Mr.
Darner, of Trinity College; in English verse by Mr.
Alexander, of New Inn-hall, and Mr. Arnold, of
University College. The following passages by the
latter elicited marked applause
Thrice welcome to the seat thy worth bath won,
Proud in her• grief, sad Isis hails her son
Welcome ! but question not the tear that starts
From the sealed sorrow of a thousand hearts
Welcome ! but ask not why in Sheldon's hall
The voice must titlter, and the greeting fall :
Greeting as warns. and
,joy as deep and proud.
As though that greeting sued that joy were bind ;
And taith as steadfast, love as strong we bear.
Though Past and Present mingle smile and tear:—
We weave two wreathes, we twine two garlands now,
thie of height olive for thine Ito red brow,
And one of cypress for the mighty dust
Who is ou► Mowry, as thou our Trust :
Anti therefore mourn we, therefore we rejoice.
Shaping glad welcomes with a saddened voice;
Beconse to-day great Arthur's seat we see
Vacant ot• him—Worthily held of thee.
• • • • •
Once more the city of the tower and dome
Bids thee brave welcome to thine early home!

PEON