Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small][merged small]

His Highness Prince Charles Augustus of Hardenberg, Chancellor of State to His Majesty the King of Prussia : And to

His Excellency Baron Jacobi Klöst, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from His Majesty the King of Prussia to this Court.

At nine o'clock the Chancellor waited upon the Prince Regent at Christ Church, and conducted His Royal Highness in his carriage to the Divinity School, where their Imperial and Royal Majesties, Her Imperial Highness the Grand-Duchess Catharine, with the Princes, Nobility, Ministers of State, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Heads of Houses, Doctors, and Proctors, were already assembled, while the rest of the University occupied the places appointed for them in the Theatre.

In a short time the whole assembly moved in procession to the Theatre; the pavement, the floor of the Theatre, upon which the Procession passed, and the whole line extending from the Divinity School to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent's seat, being covered with crimson cloth. A platform covered with the same, the back of which was hung with crimson velvet, was raised in the centre of the rising semicircle, upon which three chairs, superbly fitted up with crimson velvet, gilded plumes, and other ornaments, were placed. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent took the central chair; the Emperor of

Russia that on His Royal Highness's right hand, and the King of Prussia that on his left. Their Imperial and Royal Majesties condescended on this occasion to honour the University, as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent had already done, by appearing in the robes of the Degree recently conferred upon them by Diploma. Two platforms covered with crimson cloth, but less elevated, were extended to the right and left. On the right of the Sovereigns were placed Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess, His Royal Highness the Duke of York, their Royal Highnesses the Princes of Prussia, the Prince Royal of Wurtemberg, the Hereditary Prince of Orange, His Serene Highness Prince Charles of Mecklenburg Strelitz, and other Princes of Royal and Sovereign Houses, who honoured the University with their presence. On the left, immediately next to the King of Prussia, were placed a chair and desk for the Chancellor of the University; and next to his Lordship sat the Lord President of the Council, the Nobility, the other Ministers of State, and Persons of distinguished rank.

The Persons who formed the Procession having reached their several stations in the Theatre, the Chancellor kneeling received His Royal Highness's commands. He then proceeded to the seat prepared for him, and having in the accustomed form opened the Convocation, by a declaration of the occasion of their being assembled, and of the business to be transacted, his Lordship signified to all the Members of the University

His Royal Highness's gracious permission for their being seated.

The Rev. W. Crowe, LL. B. and Public Orator of the University, then addressed the Royal Visitors in the following Oration:

"SERENISSIME PRINCEPS, DILECTISSIMI REGIS NOSTRI "VICEM GERENS, TU IMPERATOR AUGUSTISSIME, PO"TENTISSIME TU REX, ILLUSTRISSIMI HOSPITES!

"Quantum hodierno die gaudium universi capiamus, ego "licet sileam res ipsa declarat ; cum propter adventum ves"trum optatissimum, non modo homines omnium ætatum et

66

ordinum, sed etiam mœnia ipsa videantur, atque urbis tecta "exultare. Magno sane honore et incredibili lætitia cumulastis "Academiam Oxoniensem, quod eam visere dignati estis, quod "hoc potissimum tempore, cum vobis non solum ut hospitibus gratulari possimus, verum etiam ut servatoribus nostris gratias agere meritissimas, ideo quod per eximiam virtutem vestram, "a gravissimo bello salvi tandem et liberati sumus. Jam vero

66

[ocr errors]

"ille Vester tot potentissimorum Regum et Principum con

[ocr errors]

sessus perfundit hæc loca lumine quodam novo, et splendido, "et quale nunquam antehac huic Academiæ, præter hanc nulli; "affulsit. At non ii sumus profecto, qui nosmetipsos honore "tali dignamur; neque tam arroganter quicquam a me dictum

E

« PreviousContinue »