The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-22 00:00:00

Speech Day at Christ's Hospital.

Yesterday being St. Matthew's-day, in accordance
with time-honoured custom, the Lord Mayor and
the Sheriffs (Alderman Gibbons and Mr. Figgius),
accompanied by some members of the Corporation,
pro3eeded iu state to Christ's Hospital, for the pur-
pose of hearing the orations which are annually deli-
vered there by the principal Grecian scholars prior to
their leaving for Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Having arrived at the school, the civic party was
received at the entrance to Christchurch-passage by
Mr. Gilpin, the treasurer of Christ's Hospital, and
other Governors. They immediately went to Christ
Church, Newgate-street, where divine service was
performed, prayer being said by the Rev. Prebendary
Gibbs, M.A., with full cathedral chant, Te Deum,
Jubilate and anthem. The Rev. W. 'Webster, rector
of Colne Engaine, Essex, and late head master of the
mathematical school, Christ's Hospital, preached the
sermon, taking for his text 2 Kings, chap. xxiii.,
verse 25—" And like unto him was there no king
before him which turned to the Lord with all his
heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might,
according to the law of Moses, neither after hint
arose there any like him." The rev. gentleman in his
discourse drew a parallel between King Josiah and
King Edward VI., after a brief sketch of Josiah's
life. At the close of his sermon he assured the boys
and their friends that all his affections and all his
oldest associations, from his earliest years almost,
were bound up with Christ's Hospital, and to it be
owed his allegiance, while its honour and its effi-
ciency would always enlist his interests. He thanked
his late colleagues, and he wished them God speed
in their labours, and thanked the governors for their
kindness to himself ; but after all, he asked, what
is the most efficient servant in comparison with the
house he served?

The civic procession then moved into the Great
llall, which was well filled with visitors. Many of
the old students were present—indeed, more than
the usual number, for not a few came specially to
congratulate an old master who, after many years
of hard service, has been promoted to one of the
hospital livings, that gentleman being the appointed
preacher of the day. The Rev. Dr. Jacob, the head
master; the Rev. T. J. Potter, M.A., head mathe-
matical master; the Rev. Robert White, the Rev'
Robt. South, the Rev. S. Gale, the Rev. J. T. Peek"
over, and other masters and authorities were in at-
tendance. The Lord Mayor, the members of the
Corporation, and other governors took their seats
on a raised dais at the western end of the great hall.
In the c3ntre, facing the Lord Mayor, was a platform
from which the scholars delivered their orations.

An admirably-constructed Latin iambic prologue
was delivered by Mr. G. A. Greenhill, Fourth Gre-
cian, Thompson's Mathematical Medallist, Pitt Club
Exhibitioner, 1866, and Exhibitioner, St. John's
College, Cambridge. Then followed in the follow-
ing order four orations on the benefits of Royal Hos-
pitals. Greek Oration : Sidney Simpson Allen,
Scholar of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, Secoud
Grecian ; English, by William Keymer, Scholar
of Pembroke College, Cambridge, First Grecian,
Thompson Classical Medallist and Richards Medal-
list, 1866 ; Latin, by Samuel Sheppard Oakley
Morris, of Jesus College, Oxford, Fifth Grecian ;
French, by Augustus Lawrence Francis, of Jesus
College, Cambridge, Third Grecian, French Prize"
man, 1866 ; the orations speaking in praise of Ed'
ward VI. chiefly, but the English being varied this
year by notices of the Fenians, Lord Palmerstons
death, the German war, and the Atlantic telegraPl4
and the French (a very excellent one by the way)'
by notices of the cholera and complimentary
allu-
sions to the Lord Mayor's exertions, and also a
eulogy of the Rev. W. Webster. All the orators
were very much applauded ; but Mr. Francis, W.
his careful and earnest delivery, and a marvellously
correct French accent, received the largest share °
enthusiastic approval. in
Mr. William Keymer, the First Grecian, gape
Latin hexameters Mr. Richards' prize compositiooo,
" .Nuntii per vim electricam missi," hitting off 15
excellent verse many of the leading advantages
which are likely to result from the last great tole-
graphic success.
hilfle
Greek hexameters—Translation from "
Harold," Seymour John Sharkey, Sixth Grecis°'
who is proceeding to Magdalen College, Oxford'
Latin alcaics—Translation of " The Last 30°
(Campbell), John Thomas Bell, Eighth Grecian. a
Greek iambics—Translation from " Richar
III.," Richard Appleton, Seventh Grecian.
Latin sapphics—Translation of 44 ca,sa,biabilitb
(Mrs. Hemans), Eustace Fyffe Gilbard,

Grecian. a the
Greek elegiacs—Translation of "Death all„,
Warrior" (Mrs. B.emans), John Bowen, Nn'

Grecian. 0,0
Latin elegiacs—Translation of " The Slave
Dream" (Longfellow), Joseph Blades F3lll3rt
Tenth Grecian.
In the matter of these recitations there was the
siderable merit, and the delivery being 09°L4
therecites well applauded. tiou
At conclusion of the orations a subscription
was entered into to defray the expenses of Gree.3tbe
who are about proceeding to the universities,
io
Lord Mayor and the members of the CorP°l.tiog
contributed liberally. The scholars thou sOO..
" God save the Queen" in capital style, ace ro.
panied by the organ ; and the very gratify ooe
ceedings terminated by the boys loudly cheerilred,
Lord Mayor and the other Governors as theYre""

THE DUKEDOM OF CHATELHERAULT.---We °O:
informed that a paragraph which we copied frotadooo
Scotsman in regard to the dukedom of Chatelheraolt The
not altogether represent_.the case in its true light • top
appeal of the Marquis of- Abercorn, as the undoubted, olt,
heir and representative of the first Duke of Chateihrie:ooll
created in 1548, has not been rejected by the -,
the
d'Etat of Paris on a question of right, but solely
rovers°"e
incompetence of the Conseil d'Etat to reconsider or tot
the decree of the Emperor, who, in 1864, re-crestei;,il•
title in favour of his relative, the present Duke Of lair°
ton, without any consideration being given to the °
of the Marquis of Abercorn to the original title. •
AND ITS CROPS. —lt is now an o'l°6l
CANADA aseer
.etioo
fact that, notwithstanding the uufavourablo Prehato cear
made in the early part of the season, the crops 01 this
as
will prove throughout Canada to be largely sh°Ve raine-
rage. It is true that during the last few weeks " tlecaliti°
to a very unusual extent, and that in some lorr ectioa
they are nearly drowned out ; but on a general
tinsli)„.geot
of the country we learn it is now certain that l.-eceat
in Canada is equal, if not superior, to the
of any •
year.—Canadian News, Sept. 20. rot,. foll°lll
THE FRENCH HOMAN LEGION.--11,' t 000-1
letter has been addressed by the Minister of Virarr °Cowl°
d'Argy, colonel of the Roman- legion :—"
anotherdeg
—You are about to quit France to servo under rowel;
I wish you to consider this letter as a proof 0f to s .to
brance. The legion you command is called
w-ortbity
mission; the elements composing it aro hos% ,uth°llo
have the honour of defending the person an „to "
of the Holy Father, as the corps of
the leg
already done. The decree which gives to tia adiell 8,
decoration and four military medals ism thf:respeii re'
the Emperor to his brave soldiers. Th colic shall
minds them, my dear colonel, that the watchfu she,
of the Sovereign will follow them where
their teuir'irespe:o
show themselves as French by their attitude, h yo,
for discipline, their devotedness to theist;utY;
_cote '34141
personally, my dear colonel, a difficult tato :rey of
lid ly
will derive the necessary force from the h'eut_ 0105 t
past conduct, and from the thought that the yoa 'tl
to
sympathies of France are enlisted in hive noserdefa po
about to serve. In a few days you will
receive but from the Pontifical Government ; b_uittbtl3::;:ol
need to tell you that your letters will meet tditi
reception from me whenever you wish to
sPea,li;4;o.,,
yourself and your legion.—Receive, eic•l It°