PREFATORY LETTER. in 



In the long period of my academic life I have many times 

 been present in our Senate-House, on occasions of joyful excite- 

 ment. The few amongst us who remember the early years 01 

 this century cannot now forget the thoughts which filled the 

 national heart, if not with fear, at least with sorrow and deep 

 anxiety: for England saw nation after nation falling before 

 the sword of the first Napoleon; till at length she stood alone 

 with all the great powers of Europe combined in league 

 against her. But a brighter season followed. Europe regained 

 its freedom from military domination; and England, with 

 her institutions safe and her soil inviolate, seemed to stand on 

 a pinnacle of glory. 



Again and again, I have seen those good stout-hearted men 

 who, under God, had helped to work out the deliverance of 

 Europe from military servitude, greeted in the Senate-House 

 with our loudest acclamations. I have been present at four 

 Installation Festivals; when we met to do honour to the good 

 men whom by our free votes we had placed at the head of the 

 University. All these were occasions of honest and great 

 excitement. 



The last installation festival was graced and honoured by 

 the presence of our Sovereign. To her was due the first 

 homage of the University; and it was given by us not grudg- 

 ingly, but with a loyalty that carried us almost beyond our- 

 selves, and drew from us the most fervent gratulations that 

 affectionate and grateful subjects are permitted to exhibit in 

 the presence of their Sovereign. Nor did we, during that 

 season of loyalty and joy, forget our youthful Chancellor, or 

 abate one jot of the honour due to him. We greeted him as 

 one placed by our free choice in the highest Office of the 

 University; as the Consort of our Queen; as the Father of the 

 future Sovereign of England; as a man well trained in academic 

 learning, to whose wisdom we might look for counsel in any 

 times of difficulty, and to whose eloquence and influence we 

 might look for protection in an hour of danger. 



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