The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-04 00:00:00

Speech-day at Wellington College.

Yesterday the annual ceremony of distributing
prizes to the most promising pupils of Wellington
College was performed by his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, in presence of a distinguished com-
pany. A special train of considerable length left
Charing-cross station shortly before 10 o'clock, con-
veying, among others, hits Royal Highness, with the
officers of his household, the Earl of Derby, &c.
The train reached its destination shortly after half-
past 11 o'clock, and half-an-hour later all the visi-
tors had taken their places in the large dining-
hall of the college, appropriated on this occasion
to the purposes of the display, and enlivened by
the introduction here and there of natural flowers
tastefully arranged. Among those present were
—the Archbishop of York, Countess of Jersey,
and Lady C. Villiers, Lady Charles Wellesley,
Sir Andrew and Lady Buchanan, Sir W. M.
Cope, Sir J. Pakington, Sir J. Heron Maxwell,
Sir James Kay-Shuttleworth, Sir A. Gordon-
Cumming, Sir D. Cooper, [ion. and Rev. G. Tal-
bot, Lady Willshire, Hon. T. Ponsonby, Lady
Franklin, &c.
The Governors of the college in attendance were
—The Bishop of Oxford, the Earl of Derby, Earl
Stanhope, Lord Eversley, Lord Chelmsford, Mr.
Walter, M.P., Mr. Walpole, M.P., and Mr. Cox.

The proceedings, as far as the distribution of
prizes was concerned, were of the ordinary type.
Special mention, however, must be made of the

melodious and touching prize poem, " Iphigenia,"
written and recited by Mr. Kay, which excelled the
standard usually attained on such occasions. The
acting of Mr. Cunynghame in the scenes from the
" Merchant of Venice" was also regarded as a fea-

tare worthy to be remembered. When the strictly
formal business had been brought to a close by the
singing of the National Anthem, in which the fresh
young voices were heard to advantage, the com-
pany adjourned to a marquee out of doors, under
which luncheon had been invitingly laid out.
The refreshments were furnished from the hotel
recently erected adjoining the college, and, like all
the other arrangements of the day, were in admi-
rable taste.
Before the company separated the health of " Her
Majesty the Queen" was drunk with becoming
loyalty.

The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Health o:

his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales," accom-
panying the toast with expressions of gratitude to
his Royal Highness for his presence that day, and
for the kind favour and interest with which he had
uniformly regarded the institution.
His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES, whose
earnestness elicited corresponding enthusiasm on the
part of his audience, said—My lords and gentlemen,
I am deeply sensible of the manner in which Mr.
Benson has proposed my health, and in which it has
been received by the company assembled here to-day.
I need hardly assure you that it is a source of sin-
cere gratification to me to find myself once more
within the walls of Wellington College, taking part
in the proceedings of " Speech Day," and distri-
buting prizes to the successful competitors. Allow
me, Mr. Benson, to congratulate you, and through
you the whole college, on the highly efficient
state in which at present I find it. I feel con-
vinced that my young friends have not forgotten
that it bears the name of one of the greatest soldiers
England every knew. In the success of this insti-
tution Mr. Benson has already mentioned, and I need
hardly remind you, that the Queen takes a strong
interest ; a still greater interest was taken by my
father, to whose exertions ,the college really owes
its origin. I have now, my lords and gentlemen, a
very pleasant task to perform, and that is to make
an announcement which I hope will not be consi-
dered indiscreet on my part. At the last meeting of
the Governors of Wellington College, Lord Derby
intimated that it was his intention to devote the
profits of his justly celebration translation of
" Homer" to the production of a prize to be given
annually as a reward to the foundationer who within
the year of his leaving the college should conduct
himself to the entire approbation of the Head-
master—be considered, in fact, the most industrious
and well-conducted boy or young man in the school.
I feel certain that this announcement will be re-
ceived with great pleasure. It will show you the in-
terest which the noble lord takes in this institution,
and will be a stimulus to increased exertion on the
part of those within its walls. I thank you, Mr.
Benson, for proposing, and you, my lords and gen-
tlemen, for drinking, my health so cordially ; and I
assure you it affords me great gratification when-
ever I can do anything to promote the welfare of
Wellington College.
His Royal Highness resumed his seat amid cor-
dial and sustained applause.
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, in proposing " the Health
of the Governors, and Continued Prosperity to
Wellington College," said that for the last four
years a son of his had been an inmate of the Col-
lege, and the best proof he could give of his high
opinion of the institution was that the boy would
remain there till he went to Oxford. Experience con-
vinced him that his son had been safer, made more
extensive and more satisfactory progress in Wel-
lington College than he would have done at any
other public school in England.

The Earl of DERBY, in acknowledging the toast with
which his name had been coupled, and which had been
drunk with much cordiality, said—May it please
your Royal Highness, ladies, and gentlemen, as
Vice-President of the Wellington College, it is my
duty to take on myself any part of the functions of