66 66 May IT PLEASE YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS! Among the many advantages which this ancient and loyal "University derives from the favour of His Majesty's Royal Predecessors, is the right of printing this Sacred Volume, a copy of which I have now the honour most humbly to present "to Your Royal Highness. To preserve inviolate the purity of "its Holy Text, is the obligation resulting from this privilege. "To diffuse the knowledge of its doctrine, is the highest of all "the purposes for which we are incorporated. And we humbly hope, that in the discharge of both these important duties, we "shall ever be found to have laboured with diligence and zeal, "as servants faithful to our trust, and not wholly unprofitable "to our Sovereign and our Country." 66 To this Address His Royal Highness condescended to return a most gracious Answer. The August Company then proceeded to the Bodleian Library, where they spent some time in inspecting the literary treasures of that extensive and rich collection, which were exhibited to them by the Curators and the Librarian. The i The Rev. Dr. Van Mildert, Regius Professor of Divinity. D Curators. Chancellor here presented a large paper copy of the Oxford Edition of Aristotle's Poetic to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who was graciously pleased to accept the same; after which he separately presented copies of the same work to the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia, addressing them respectively in the following words : "SIRE! "C'est dans cette fameuse Bibliothèque, riche des trésors "littéraires de tous les siècles, que l'Université, pénétrée du plus profond respect pour les Vertus éminentes, et pour les grandes "Actions de Votre Majesté Impériale, [de Votre Majesté,] et "vivement reconnoissante de l'honneur qu'Elle nous fait aujourd'hui, m'a chargé de Lui offrir très-humblement cet ex"emplaire de la Poétique d'Aristote, le traité le plus estimé du “Prince des Philosophes, et le plus beau livre qui soit sorti de "nos presses." Their Majesties were pleased to accept the copies, and to answer the Chancellor with the most gracious assurances of their satisfaction in this and every other attention shewn to them by the University. From the Bodleian Library, the Illustrious Personages retired to their respective places of residence till seven o'clock, the hour named by His Royal Highness for the banquet, which His Royal Highness and His Imperial and Royal Guests had graciously condescended to accept for themselves, and for the Royal and distinguished Persons who had attended them in this Visit. To this banquet the Nobility and other Persons of distinction, then present in Oxford, had also been invited, in the name of the University, by the Committee, appointed for this purpose, and to whom His Royal Highness had been graciously pleased to leave the selection of the guests to be asked on this occasion. The Radcliffe Library was considered as the Public Room best adapted for such an entertainment, and was therefore, with the permission of the Trustees, prepared for it as far as the shortness of the time would allow. In the area a circular table was placed, corresponding with the form of the building, and divided into three parts. In five of the recesses, under the gallery, tables were placed pointing towards the centre of the building, and side-boards were ranged against the walls. In the centre of the area was a large circular side-board covered with gold-plate; against the pedestals of the pilasters which support the arches, side-boards were also placed, decorated in the same manner; and upon the cornice of the pedestals were gold and silver vases. The tables |