Famous Givers and Their GiftsBolton, Sarah Knowles
History
Famous Givers and Their Gifts
Bolton, Sarah Knowles
Philanthropists
Reaching the college at 5.30 P.M., the Queen and Princess Beatrice were
each presented with a bouquet by Miss Driver Holloway, and were
conducted to the chapel, where a throne had been prepared for her
Majesty. Princess Beatrice, Prince Henry of Battenberg, and the Duke of
Cambridge stood on her left, with the Duke of Connaught, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, and others on her right. The choir sang an ode composed
by Mr. Martin Holloway, and the Archbishop of Canterbury offered prayer.
The Queen then admired the decorations of the chapel, and proceeded to
the picture gallery, where the architect presented to her an album with
illustrations of the college, and the contractor, Mr. J. Thompson,
offered her a beautiful key of gold. The top of the stem is encircled by
two rows of diamonds; and the bow at the top is an elegant piece of
gold, enamel, and diamonds. A laurel wreath of diamonds surrounds the
words, "Opened by H. M. the Queen, June 30, 1886."
The Queen was then conducted to the upper quadrangle, where she seated
herself in a chair of state on a dais, under a canopy of crimson velvet.
A great concourse of people were gathered to witness the formal opening
of the college. The lawn was also crowded, six hundred children being
among the people. After the band of the Royal Artillery played to the
singing of the national anthem, "God save the Queen," Mr. Martin
Holloway presented an address to her Majesty in a beautiful casket of
gold. "The casket rests on four pediments, on each of which is seated a
female figure," says the London _Times_, "which are emblematical of
education, science, music, and painting. On the front panel is a view of
Royal Holloway College, on either side of which is a medallion
containing the royal and imperial monogram, V.R.I., executed in colored
enamel. Underneath the view is the monogram of the founder, Mr. Thomas
Holloway, in enamel."
At one end of the casket are the royal arms, and at the opposite end the
Holloway arms and motto, "Nil Desperandum," richly emblazoned in enamel.
The casket is surmounted by a portrait model of Mr. Holloway, seated in
a classic chair, being a reduction from the model from life taken by
Signor Fucigna.
After the address in the casket was presented to Queen Victoria, the
Earl of Kimberley, the minister in attendance, stepped forward, and
said, "I am commanded by her Majesty to declare the college open."
Trumpets were blown by the Royal Scots' Greys, cheers were given, the
archbishop pronounced the benediction, and the choir sang "Rule
Britannia." The Queen before her departure expressed her pleasure and
satisfaction in the arrangement of the institution, and commanded that
it be styled, "The Royal Holloway College."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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