The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

THE OXFORD COMMEMOMiTION,

The following further particulars of the ceremony of
presenting the honorary doctors of law will be interesting to
many of our readers :—The Regent of Baden and Prince
William of Prussia, being made doctors by diploma, accom-
panied the chanceller of the university on his entrance into
the Sheldonian-theatre with his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, and took their seats at once in the semicircle on the
left of the chancellor, his royal highness being seated on his
right hand. The honorary doctors, meanwhile, remained
in the divinity school, while the chancellor proposed
their graces to the house—or, in other words,
asked the consent of the convocation to each de-
gree. The placets having been recorded, the
bedels left the Theatre, and shortly re-appeared, ushering in
a mot brilliant cortege, which made way with difficulty
through the dense crowd in the area to the foot of the steps
leading up to the semicircle of the doctors. The ambass-
ador of the Sultan was the leading personage, followed by
the Prussian minister, and the Marquis of Abercorn. After
him came the Earl of Clarendon and the other candidates,
in order of precedence. As soon as the procession reached
the steps of the semicircle, the regius professor of civil law
presented the ambassador to the chancellor, and introduced
him in a short Latin speech as the first Christian subject
of the Porte who has ever represented the person of the
Sultan as his Ambassador, and congratulated the University
on the occasion of his visit being at so auspicious a moment
when the Sultan had granted equal laws and full civil rights
to his Christian subjects. The name of the Farl of Cla-
rendon, which followed the announcement of the Prussian
Minister and the Marquis of Abercorn, was welcomed with lord
plaudits, more especially when the Professor alluded to his
great ancestor (whose character as a historian was the subject
of the Stanhope prize), and whose name his lordship had pre-
ferred to retain rather than accept a higher title from his
Sovereign, in reward for his distinguished services. Lord
Elgin's successful administration of Canada was next
referred to in connection with the promotion of its
foreign trade by troaties of commerce, and the develop.
meat of its internal resources by great lines of railway
and other public works. The name of Sir Edmund
Lyons was received with great applause. The pro-
fessor alluded to the enemy having sunk their ships
rather than risk their destruction by encountering the
allied fleet. The bombardment of Sweaborg was coupled
with the name of Sir Richard Dundas, while the capture of
Bomarsund and the overthrow of Sebastopol were cited in
illustration of the engineering skill of Sir I Parry Jones. Dr.
Sandwith's endurance and his humanity to friend and fee
alike during the terrible siege of Kars were the next subject
of eulogy, and a tribute of respect was paid to General
Mouravieff for his treatment of e Bri,ish prisoners. Dr.
Barth's intrepidity in exploring the course of the river
Benin, the western branch of the Niger, was the last subject
of commendation, and his constancy was highly
praised in resisting for seven months the threats of the
King of Timbuctoo, and his endeavours to compel him by
the fear of instant death to renounce the Christian faith.

The names of the other 'distinguished candidates whose
good deeds were also recited—Lord Ashburton's, in refer-
ence to his exertions in promoting the education of the
poor ; Sir Henry Holland's, in regard to his writing on
medical science and psychologywere all most favourably
received ; and the presence of the Chancellor of the
University gave more than usual interest to the ceremony
of admission, which followed immediately after the presenta-
tion of each honourary doctor.