We went to all the colleges in the same order that we came to the
theatre. I shall attempt no descriptions; I shall only mention a few
little personal circumstances, and some of those court etiquettes which,
from their novelty to me, will, I judge, be new also to my Susan; and
what is new in customs or manners is always worth knowing.
At Christ-church college, when we arrived at about three o'clock, in a
large hall there was a cold collation prepared for their majesties and
the princesses. It was at the upper end of the hall. I could not see of
what it consisted, though it would have been very agreeable, after
so much standing and sauntering, to have given my opinion of it in an
experimental way.
Their majesties and the princesses sat down to this table---as well
satisfied, I believe, as any of their subjects so to do. Duchess of
Ancaster and Lady Harcourt stood behind the chairs of the queen and
the princess royal. There were 11, other ladies of sufficient rank to
officiate for Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth. Lord Harcourt stood
behind the king's chair and the vice-chancellor, and the head master of
Christ-church' with salvers in their hands, stood near the table, and
ready to hand, to the three noble waiters, whatever was wanted: while
the other reverend doctors and learned professors stood aloof, equally
ready to present to the chancellor and the master whatever they were to
forward.
We, meanwhile, untitled attendants, stood at the other end of the room,
forming a semi-circle, and all strictly facing the royal collationers.
We consisted of the Miss Vernons, thrown out here as much as their
humble guests--Colonel Fairly, Major Price, General Harcourt,
and,--though I know not why,--Lady Charlotte Bertie;--with all the
inferior professors, in their gowns, and some, too much frightened to
advance, of the upper degrees. These, with Miss Planta, Mr. Hagget, and
myself, formed this attendant semi-circle.
The time of this collation was spent very pleasantly--to me, at least,
to whom the novelty of the scene rendered it entertaining. It was agreed
that we must all be absolutely famished unless we could partake of some
refreshment, as we had breakfasted early, and had no chance of dining
before six or seven o'clock. A whisper was soon buzzed through the
semi-circle, of the deplorable state of our appetite apprehensions; and
presently it reached the ears of some of the worthy doctors. Immediately
a new whisper was circulated, which made its progress with great
vivacity, to offer us whatever we would wish, and to beg us to name what
we chose.
Tea, coffee, and chocolate, were whispered back.
The method of producing, and the means of swallowing them, were much
more difficult to settle than the choice of what was acceptable. Major
Price and Colonel Fairly, however, seeing a very large table close to
the wainscot behind us, desired our refreshments might be privately
conveyed there, behind the semi-circle, and that, while all the group
backed very near it, one at a time might feed, screened by all the rest
from observation.
I suppose I need not inform you, my dear Susan, that to eat in presence
of any of the royal family is as much hors d'usage as to be seated. This
plan had speedy success, and the very good doctors soon, by sly degrees
and with watchful caution, covered the whole table with tea, coffee,
chocolate, cakes, and bread and butter.
The further plan, however, of one at a time feasting and the rest
fasting and standing sentinels, was not equally approved; there was
too much eagerness to seize the present moment, and too much fear of a
sudden retreat, to give patience for so slow proceeding. We could do
no more, therefore, than stand in double row, with one to screen one
throughout the troop; and, in this manner, we were all very plentifully
and very pleasantly served.
The Duchess of Ancaster and Lady Harcourt, as soon as the first serving
attendance was over, were dismissed from the royal chairs, and most
happy to join our group, and partake of our repast. The duchess,
extremely fatigued with standing, drew a small body of troops before
her, that she might take a few minutes' rest on a form by one of the
doors; and Lady Charlotte Bertie did the same, to relieve an ankle which
she had unfortunately sprained.
“Poor Miss Burney,” cried the good-natured duchess, “I wish she could
sit down, for she is unused to this work. She does not know yet what it
is to stand for five hours following, as we do.”
The beautiful window of Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr. Jervis, in New
College, would alone have recovered me, had my fatigue been infinitely
more serious.
In one of the colleges I stayed so long in an old chapel, lingering
over antique monuments, that all the party were vanished before I
missed them, except doctors and professors; for we had a train of those
everywhere; and I was then a little surprised by the approach of one of
them, saying, “You seem inclined to abide with us, Miss Burney?”--and
then another, in an accent of facetious gallantry, cried, “No, no, don't
let us shut up Miss Burney among old tombs!--No, no!”
After this, many of the good doctors occasionally spoke to me, when
there happened to be opportunity. How often did I wish my dear father
amongst them! They considered me as a doctor's daughter, and were all
most excessively courteous, handing, and pointing, and showing me about
as much as possible.
In another college, while Miss Planta and myself were hanging a little
back, at the entrance into a small cedar chapel, that would not much
more than hold the royal family and their immediate suite, the Duchess
of Ancaster, who took every opportunity to show me civilities, and
distinguish me, came down the steps, and made me ascend them, to turn
with her, when she called to her daughter, and in the most obliging
terms introduced me to her, with many kind speeches of her wish that we
should cultivate much acquaintance. Lady Charlotte is very handsome,
and has a very good figure: she unfortunately lisps very much, which,
at first, never prejudices in favour of the understanding; but I have
conversed with her too little to know anything more of her than that
she is well bred, and seems to have a large portion internally, of the
good-natured and obliging disposition of her mother.
At the Town-hall, an address was presented by the mayor and corporation
of the city of Oxford to the king, which the mayor read, while the same
ceremony of the sitting and standing was practised that I have described
at the theatre. The king took off his hat, and bowed, and received the
address, after hearing it, but returned no answer. Nor has his majesty
made any except to the Oxford University, though they have, since,
poured in upon him from every part of the kingdom. The mayor was then
knighted.
I think it was in Trinity college that we saw the noblest library I have
ever happened to enter. For 'tis but little, my dear Susan, I have
seen of sights. Here we had new court scenery, in which I acted but
an uncourtier-like part. The queen and princess had seats prepared for
them, which, after a stroll up and down the library, they were glad,
I believe, to occupy. The ladies of their suite were then graciously
ordered by her majesty to be seated, as there was not here the state or
public appearance that was observed at the theatre, and in the college
where the refreshments were given. As to the poor men, they never must
sit in the presence of the queen, be they whom they will, or what they
will: so they were fain to stand it out.
Miss Planta glided away, behind a pillar, and, being there unseen, was
able to lounge a little. She was dreadfully tired. So was everybody but
myself. For me, my curiosity was so awake to every thing, that I seemed
insensible to all inconvenience. I could not, in such a library, prevail
with myself to so modest a retirement as Miss Planta's: I considered
that the queen had herself ordered my attendance in this expedition, and
I thought myself very well privileged to make it as pleasant as I could.
I therefore stole softly down the room, to the further end, and there
amused myself with examining what books were within reach of my eyes,
and with taking down and looking into all such as were also within reach
of my understanding. This was very pleasant sport to me, and had we
stayed there till midnight would have kept me from weariness.