RECEPTION OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL BY THE OXFORD STUDENTS ON THE 16th JUNE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 88, 8 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

RECEPTION OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL BY THE OXFORD STUDENTS ON THE 16th JUNE.

The correspondent of the Morning Post gives the following aecountof the preliminary proceeding in the Shetdonian Theatre, where the degree of D.C.L. was conferred upon the Prince of Wales on Tuesday : — Upon such an occasion as the present it is unnecessar}'' to stale that there was an immense influx of ihe members of the University to the area, and such a crushing ensued as none who had to endure it will ever forget. The Black Hole of Calcutta in the compactness of its inmates can be the only possible appropriate simile to convey an idea of the packing of the area this afternoon. The perspiration burst from the faces of hundreds of the best gentlemen of England^ squeezed so closely together that many seemed as if their very lives were being squeezed oui of them. Js'o box of figs could be more closely packed. This mass of humanity swayed backwards ! and forwards for nearly two hours, waiting the promised three o'clock and the arrival of the procession, while the gods on high — the undergraduates— kept uptheir incessant fire of three cheers for everybody that could be thought of, and " hats off," accompanied by hisses and groans for any wretchedly forgetful M.A. or stranger who by accident entered the area in cap or hat. The Queen, the Prince, the Princess, and the King of Greece received immense ovations when their names were called out. So did Mr Disraeli in person when, by some odd arrangement, the Public Orator gave him a sitting in the Rostrum, immediately behind Mr J^lton, of Queen's, who had to deliver one of the inauguration odes. Mr Disraeli received the reiterated cheers which his presence called forth with apparent innocence of Jiis being the person receiving the ovation of the undergraduate gods : and with his eye " fixed on space,'' he bore the weight of honor shouted down upon him like a stoic. Even the familiar name " Dizzy " — " Three cheers for Dizzy," left him unmoved. The ladies however, as they took up their places in the dr. S3 circle, were the. pet objects of Olympian admiration. Cheers for the ladies in pink — in green — in white — rang through the theatre, as any lady displaying colors struggled with her crinoline between the benches to work her way to her sitting. At length, now and again, the folding doors under the organ opened to admit particular visitors to their appointed places upon the benches of the doctors aud dons. First and chiefest among these came the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his robes of D.D., with the lawn sleeves over the scarlet. His grace looked extremely well, and, and with a benignant smile, the good and graciou3 primate bowed his acknowledgments »o the assembled multitude, which for the first time i n his own Uni versity greeted him as Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. A flush of delight rose upon Dr Longley's cheek -as he gazed round the well-known walls wheie, as student of Christ Church, as public examiner, as proctor, and as college dean, he was familiarly known — well, no> matter ; it is a good many years ago. But time has been.

kind^npd;ihe::g66d:arclibishpp : '.looks fresh, and vigoTOus,and well.;^ Ng;^armerrwe;l^ come "'"■was i ever ''giyen' v^orff : .-niej^of;"^-t!?4'' University than he received;- on. the theatre to-day.'. One bygone, ■£ feat and notednren ardved ; theit'theiladies'of'ithe royal suite j and last of all, the folding doors being both thrown wide open,' tbej Princess of Wales, conducted by D r Liddeil,; the dean of Christ Church entered, and^ passing 'across the area, proceeded to her chair of, state. It would!, be, utterly. Impossible to convey an idea of the enthusiasm, which the presence of the- Princess created. As soon as she had reached her! elevated chair of state, she stood in --the! radience of her beauty, full jo the sight of the most loyal audience which could be collected in England. Vain was 'it for her to think of sitfcting. Cheers rever-i berated upon cheers, until the storm of applause caught up outside the building re-echoed cheers from the streets surrounding the theatre. When the Princess at last was permitted to seat herself, the under graduates paid her family a pretty compliment by giving three cheers for the King of Greece. Then the folding doors once again opened wide, and the solemn business of the day commenced.