Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-02
Tom Foolery.-The Duke of Wellington, it is

Tom Foolery-The Duke Of Wellington, it is
known, has recently been chosen Chancellor oil
the University Of Oxford, and on the occasion
of his Inauguration succession offetes, musical
performances, and scholastic exercises took
place, constituting what Mr.. O'Connel called
regular atom Foolery." 1t was an occasion
seized upon by the Conservatives to magnify
their Hero. The last number of the Edinburgh
Review thus speaks of this ceremonial, in spe-
cial reference to the fact that frequently during
the ceremonies of awarding the honois OF the
University to those selected therefor, the names
of Lord Brougham, and other members of the
Kings Government, were bawled out from
among the students, accompanied with groans
and hisses--N Y. Amer.
While these things were doing in London, the
conservative troops-defeated in every contest
at Edinburgh al Cambridge, in the City, in So
mersetshire, in Wiltshire-when they found they
had not the yestige of chance remaining ior
them either in Parliament or the country. re
treated within the walls oil OXtorc. Inc waters
of reform were ont; the whole land was under
the refreshing influences so the Tories got them
into the ark of Oxford which they entered in
r,;rc-the Duke of Wellington and Lord Win
cch;Isea the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Fal-
mouth, the Bishop of Exeter and Lord Wvn,
ford. The light of improvement was pouring
in form every corner Of the sky; the dawn was
FAR advanced; so away fed the spirits of dark
ness, the ghosts of departed prejudices, and took
refuge form the much-hated illumination, in
the congenial darkness of the Oxford monaste-
ries.
This assemblage consisted of many persons
of distinction from London; and their distinc-
ton was chiefly as members OF the exclusive
circles of fashionable life. II is somewhat
strange that meeting, which was intended to
express the feelings and honor OF the principles
IF Toryism, should have no one person in 1t to
represent any of the classes of society below the
HIGHEST. The Court was represented by the
DIXIE of Cumberlaud,-the Lords by those we
have already enumerateG.-the Ladies OF Al
mack's by Countess or two. But any person
10 represent the merchants, tradesmen, farmers;
laborers of the Country,-any one TO represent
the whole people of England, except about a
hundred and fifty great Lords and their para
sites. was not 70 be found in any one corner oil
Oxford upon this occasion.
However, the assemblies were splendid; the
fare bad; the music Indifferent; the speeches In
credby dull, except those OF the public orator;
and the halls were crowded with doctors de-
seeming from their stalls, and fellows from their
tables. and boys escaped from their tutors-and
this motley group proceeded TO bestow applause
and confer degrees, so as best to show the We
hemence Of their attachment to the Tory cause
All who were named for the purpose of being
so saluted, were Kissed by this truly venerable
convncation-the Duke Of ellington presiding
over il. the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York assisting at it. The personages selected
for this honor were those in whom the Sove-
reign confided, ami TO whom the whole country
looks up as representing its opinions. Their
names were successfully halloed out for the
purpose, and merely for the purpose, OF allow
ing those present to hiss. This is practice
confined to two places-the venerable men in
the theatre of Oxford, and the occupants of the
shilling gallery in the Irish theatres. Suppose
at the meeting of the London University. a sim
liar breach of all the rules Of common decency
had been committed-supposea any one had in
the absence of the Professor and the Council
bawled out the names of the Bishops, and the
University, and Tory Lords, in order to have
them hissed-what grave complaints should we
not have heard from all Bishops and Peers!-
But suppose the same outrage had been commit
ted in the presence of the Professor and the
Council and his Majesty's Ministers, weverily be
lieye Lord Londonderry and Lord Wicklow, OF
some other Of the leaders of Opposition, would
have brought the matter before Parliament.
improvement at Harpers- Fe'ry.-The spirit OF