f 380 The Lord Mayors Journey to Oxford. [APRIL, 



their daughters, Miss Charlotte and Miss Catharine, left their house, at Lea, in 

 Kent, and went by land as far as Boulter's Lock, near Maidenhead, where they 

 embarked on board the Navigation bhallop, and proceeded by water to Reading ; 

 thus selecting some of the finest views on the river. From Reading, their carriage 

 brought them to Oxford before three o'clock on Tuesday." 



In the mean time, 



" The city state barge, which had recently undergone complete repair, was 

 making its way to Oxford, under the direction of Mr. Saunders, the watei-baiiiff; 

 and expended five days in its passage thither." 



And, on the morning of the 25th instant, the Lord Mayor, having" 

 found for the consolation of all Cheap and Candlewick an autho- 

 rity in " Alderman Sir James Shaw, Baronet," to * whose mature dis- 

 cretion" might be safely left even the consideration of " weightier mat- 

 ters" than those to which the attention of the chief magistrate of the city 

 of London commonly is called " accompanied by the Lady Mayoress," 

 and " attended by the chaplain" (our author in this distinction is too 

 modest surely the church should be our guide !) left the civic taber- 

 nacle, known as " The Mansion Elouse," in person, soon after eight 

 o'clock. 



"The private state- carriage, drawn by four beautiful bays, had driven to the 

 door at half-past seven. The coachman's countenance was reserved and thought- 

 ful; indicating full consciousness of the test by which his equestrian skill would this 

 day be tried, in having the undivided charge of four high spirited and stately horses, 

 a circumstance somewhat unusual ; for, in the Lord Mayor's carriage, & postilion 

 usually guides the first pair of horses. These fine animals were in admirable con- 

 dition for the journey. Having been allowed a previous day of unbroken rest, they 

 were quite impatient of delay ; and chafed and champed exceedingly on the bits, 

 by which their impetuosity was restrained." 



The name of the. coachman is not given. This, we think, detracts 

 a little from the otherwise admirable particularity of the description. 

 But 



" The murmur of expectation, which had lasted for more than half an hour, 

 amongst the crowd who had gathered round the carriage, was at length hushed by 

 the opening of the hall door! The Lord Mayor had been filling up this interval 

 with instructions to thefemme de menage, and other household officers, who were to 

 be left in residence, to attend with their wonted fidelity and diligence to their 

 respective departments of service during his absence, and now appeared at the door. 

 His Lcrdship was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, and followed by the chap- 

 lain." 



The lady's-maid, according to Swift, should in all great households, 

 deserve a place in the heart of the Chaplain ; and the Abigail of the Lady 

 Mayoress is defeased of none of her titular rights. 



" As soon as the female attendant of the Lady Mayoress had taken her seat 

 dressed with becoming neatness, at the side of the well-looking coachman, the car- 

 riage drove away; not, however, with that violent and extreme rapidity, which 

 rather astounds than gratifies the beholders; but at that steady and majestic pace, 

 which is always an indication of real greatness. Passing along Cheapside and 

 Fleet-street, those arteries, as Dr. Johnson somewhere styles them, through which 

 pours the full tide of London population, and then, along the Strand, and Picca- 

 dilly, the carriage took the Henley road to Oxford." 



The due distinctions of rank and state are well observed, it will be 

 seen, in this arrangement. The carnage does not, like the mere plebeian 

 post-chaiso in John Gilpin, proceed in such a manner that 



