The Sun.
London, England, 1834-06-16 00:00:00

OXFORD, JUNE 14.

( From the Correspondent of a Morning- Contemporary. )
The ceremonies and festivities of the installation
having terminated yesterday, it was generally under-
, stood this morning that the Duke of Wellington,
doffing his academic robe of office, would figure in
his military capacity at a review of Lord Churchill's
troop of Yeomanry in Blenheim Park. In conse-
quence of this impression, post-horses and vehicles,
significantly denominated flies (lucus a non lucendo),
were sought after with the utmost activity, and at an
early hour carriages of every description succeeded
each other rapidly on the road leading to Woodstock.
But the movements of his Grace were not exactly
such as had been anticipated. At ten o'clock his
Grace, accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor, proceeded
to visit the several colleges to return thanks to their
respective bodies for the very warm reception he had
met with, and the more than ordinary splendour
and solemnity bestowed upon his installation.
The time unavoidably consumed in this ceremony
prevented his Grace from fulfilling his original
intention of being present at the review. The
troop was drawn up on the ground contiguous to
the monument in Blenheim Park. The Duke of
Cumberland honoured them with his inspection, and
seemed highly satisfied with the excellent equipments
andirnilitary appearance of the men. A silver cup, of
very handsome workmanship, was presented to Lord
Churchill by the troop, as a testimony of the very
great esteem in which his Lordship was held by the
yeomanry under his command, and of their gratitude
for the manner in which he had invariably discharged
the duties of their commanding officer. His Lordship
received the cup from the hands of the captain, and
expressed his deep sense of the compliment paid him,
amid the cheers of the troop. The men withdrew to a
dinner that had been prepared for them in the market-
house of Woodstock, where they passed the evening
in most vociferous hilarity. The influx of strangers
was very considerable, and the town of Woodstock
exhibited a very animated appearance. The ball of
yesterday evening was free from all the inconveniences
thet made that of Wednesday infinitely more fatiguing
than pleasing. Doubling the price of the tickets, and
a rigid attention to the costume of •the applicants for
admission, had the very desirable effect of limiting
their numbers. The festivities were prolonged until a
late hour. This morning the streets are rife with the
hurry and bustle of departure. Equipages are issuing
from all quarters : no mercy on post horses. Happy
are they who can make their escape immediately by
the public conveyances, as there are no places to be
had till Tuesday. In another day, Oxford will have
relapsed into its original dulness and tranquillity.

OXFORD, JUNE 15.

Yesterday morning, before the Duke of Wellington
took his departure for London, he paid a farewell
visit to the several colleges and halls in turn. It was
nearly twelve o'clock before the Duke's travelling
carriage was drawn up to the door of University Col-
lege, and then he got into it, accompanied, as on his
entry, by Mr. Croker. Just as he had taken his seat
two squalid-looking fellows approached him, one of
them holding in his hand a dirty piece of paper, which
he alleged to be a certificate of his service as a soldier.
This person requested his Grace would give him
something to drink his health, saying he had been at
the storming of St. Sebastian. The Noble and Gal-
lant Duke asked him what regiment he bad belonged
to at the time ; and on hearing his reply, which, how-
ever, did not reach those who were staeding round, he
said, " No, no ; it was not there at all." This fellow,
who was evidently an imposter, then folded up his sham
certificate, and put it into his pocket, seeing the Duke was
not "to be done." But the other gave proof of his
services, and " had his claims allowed." He sought
his Grace's bounty, upon the ground of his having been
at the battle of Orthes. " I don't think you were
there, my honest friend," said the duke. " Yes I
was, your Grace, and I'll prove it," replied the ragged
veteran; " I was standing at the corner of that field
where your Grace received the slight wound on the
hip." This was conclusive with the duke, and putting
his hand in his waistcoat pocket, he presented him
with a sovereign. " Thank your Grace," said the
maudlin old soldier ; " I'll now go and drink to your
health and long life, with as light a heart as any
man in Oxford." The carriage then drove off amidst
the loud cheers of the spectators. His Grace took the
Tetsworth road, and it was understood that he would
call at the Earl of Jersey's, on his way to London.
Before I close this letter, I think it right to state, for
the information of the public, that the parties who
have furnished the several accounts of the solemn
celebration which has just terminated, owe nothing
either to the courtesy or kindness of the two Curators
of the University of Oxford. Indeed, some of them
must have been excluded altogether from the scene,
had it not been for the generous interposition of pri-
vate friends. The press was never once contemplated
in the arrangements, and it would seem as if the two
reverend doctors, who had the direction of them,
wished that the whole splendour of the grand ceremo-
nial should be hidden " under a bushel," so far as the
public were concerned.