Entrance of Procession.

Mirth-Continued.

multitude of voices, and continued till the delinquent had obeyed the summons. One came in who persisted in remaining with his head covered, in defiance of their clamorous remonstrance. There he stood, unable to speak to his nearest neighbor, with scores of eyes upon him, till he could resist no longer, and as he uncovered and bowed to the gallery, the greetings were deafening. At length it was announced that the procession was about to enter, and as the Vice-Chancellor crossed the threshold the entire assembly arose, and led by the fine-toned organ, joined in the anthem:

"God save our gracious Queen!

Long may Victoria reign.

God save the Queen!"

"Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us.

God save the Queen!"

The effect was overwhelming at this transition from the Babel of confusion, to an union in the finest national anthem known on earth. The grave and impressive episode was, however, very brief. The officers seated, the upper gallery was again in the ascendant, seemingly the more clamorous for the momentary quiet. The Chancellor, the Bishops, the Government, Earls, Sirs, Right Honorables, the ladies under sixteen, the ladies with blue eyes, &c., &c., were cheered three times three, till at length the Vice-Chancellor arose to deliver his Latin address. Five minutes or more elapsed before he could utter a syllable. Finally, he began, but was at once interrupted with the exclamation: "Well read, Mr. Chancellor; three cheers!" and right hearty were they. A little farther on, and "Go it, Mr. Chancellor, but a little louder;

Conferring Degrees.

three cheers!" Thus the poor man read and halted, for
twenty or more minutes, taking his seat amid deafening ap-
plause. Then came a Latin poem from the Oratorical Pro-
fessor. Being very popular, it was a long time before he
could commence, and for the same reason long to end. An
English poem and English essay followed, from selected stu-
dents, which were well received. Next came the giving
the honorary degrees of Doctor of Divinity and Civil Law.
The first named was Lucien Bonaparte, and three times three
cheers went up for their present ally. The young man came
forward, was presented in a Latin address by an appointed
officer, and invited by the Vice-Chancellor (in a Latin
response) to take his seat among the favored ones.
modore Moresby was then announced, and three cheers
were given to the Navy. Thus onward to the number of
ten, respecting two of whom was heard the rather uncom-
plimentary question of "Who's that?—who's that?" Salu-
tatory, poem, addresses, conferring of degrees finished, the
procession retired to the notes of the national anthem, (the
omega of every thing in England), the promising youth
still cheering their teachers, and especially the ladies, in
tones that made the ancient walls virbrate with the sound.

Com

Such is an unvarnished account of commencement day at venerable, grave and world-famed old Oxford! So marked the contrast with what is deemed allowable and fitting, at our western seats of learning, that we hardly knew whether to smile or frown, whether to be amazed or amused. There are many, we found in the country, who would be pleased to see the custom discontinued; but usage becomes a law almost inviolate, certainly very difficult to repeal.

After strolling through several ivy-crowned buildings of

Stroll.

Letterdom.

Admission of Dissenters.

antique structure-after a view of the spot where Bishops Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were faithful unto death, in defence of the Protestant truth, we hurried back to London, highly interested in our brief, but memorable visit to this emporium of English learning and ecclesiastical law. From the earliest time, a student, upon entering Oxford University, has been obliged to subscribe to the creed of the established church of England, thus excluding dissenters from all participation in the honors of the Institution. The present Crown-advisers and Parliament, have illustrated their administration by yielding to the popular demand and removing this restriction. The battle occurred while I was abroad, and was continued for days with matchless earnestness, and for a time a doubtful issue. But, from motives variously interpreted, the sternest churchmen and the staunchest tories, Bishops Bloomfield and Wilberforce, for example, at length gave in their adhesion to the measure; and the day was won, the establishment hoping, without doubt, to enlarge their number by the influence they may exert over the young men while under their care, while the dissenters intend this as but one of their blows at the citadel of church and state, which they intend to repeat until the edifice crumbles into ruins. May truth prevail and the right be triumphant!

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY is situated at about the same distance north, as is Oxford west, from London, founded, it is supposed, during the heptarchy. Its thirteen colleges and four halls have educated, and sent forth to illustrate their

Graduates, &c.

Cambridge.

age and nation, many among the princes of science, literature, and religion. It is enough to name, Lord Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton; the poets Spenser, Quarles, Herbert, Ben Johnson, Fletcher, Milton, Butler, Dryden, Gray, Mason, Sterne, White and Wordsworth; Rev. Drs. Barrow, Taylor, and Latimer; Dr. Samuel Johnson, Paley, Wilberforce, and the missionary Martin, all of whom were students of Cambridge; as were Sir Thos. More, Selden, Wickliffe, Dr. Johnson, Owen, Locke, Chatham, Pitt, Addison, Young, Wesley, of Oxford.

CHAPTER VIII.

Crystal Palace, near London.

In framing artists, art has thus decreed,

To make some good, but others to exceed.

AMONG the distinctive titles applied to the times in which we live, that of the "Crystal Palace age" has its significance. It is expressive of an enterprise in all respects peculiar to the current era, and one which will give it illustration through coming years. The building which originates this title is, as to material, style, and design, all our own. To construct an edifice entirely of iron and glass, of size sufficient to hold specimens of human skill and industry from all lands, and yet to accommodate its thousands of visitors with "ample room and verge enough," had no precedent. It is original with the living inhabitants of earth. In this novel pathway, England took the lead in the erection of a palace of glass, on Hyde Park, London, the event of 1851, and the then wonder of the world. So entirely did that enterprise meet the purpose of the Prince Patron and enterprising projectors, that a similar structure was erected in Dublin, and a third in our own metropolis, while a fourth has lately attracted its thousands, from regions remote and near, to the French Capitol, The allotted time for the continuance of the Hyde Park Palace drawing to a close, the question of its disposal was thoroughly canvassed, and resulted in its removal to Sydenham, a village twelve miles distant from London, and its re-erection in a style of magnificence far exceeding that of its predecessor. The