The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
The party reached Oxford the first day, being Wednesday, the 21st of
July; where, by appointment, they were met by Mr. and Mrs. Matcham, with
their eldest son, George Matcham, Jun. Esq. The Oxonians received his
lordship with great joy; and, on Thursday, the freedom of the
corporation was presented to Lord Nelson in a gold box, by Richard
Weston, Esq. mayor of that city, who addressed his lordship, on the
occasion, in a very respectful speech; and Lord Nelson expressed, in the
warmest and strongest terms, his high sense of the honour, and his
earnest wishes for the happiness of the city, and the prosperity of the
public service. On Friday morning, in full convocation, the university
not only complimented Lord Nelson, and his friend Sir William Hamilton,
with the honorary degree of LL.D. but liberally admitted his lordship's
brother, the present earl, who had already taken his degree of D.D. at
Cambridge, _ad eundem_--that is, to the same honour in Oxford. Lord
Nelson, and Sir William Hamilton, were severally presented by Dr.
Blackstone, Vinerian Professor of Law; and the Reverend William Nelson,
of Christ's College, and Doctor of Divinity in the University of
Cambridge, by Dr. Collinson, Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity.
Nothing, in short, could surpass the respect experienced by his lordship
and friends at Oxford; from whence, highly gratified, they the same day
proceeded to Woodstock, with an intention of viewing Blenheim.
It might have been expected, that his Grace the Duke of Marlborough,
himself descended from a British hero of the first class, and inhabiting
a magnificent palace, the honourable boon of his country, would have
joyfully availed himself of the opportunity thus afforded by the
presence of a man certainly not inferior to his own heroic ancestor, so
near as even at Oxford, and politely requested the honour of
entertaining such a guest. This, however, had not been done; and Lord
Nelson, with his friends, put up at an inn in Woodstock; from whence
they went to Blenheim, as strangers, for the purpose of viewing the
internal attractions of art, in that grand but ponderous national pile.
The family never made their appearance; but sent a servant with
refreshments, which Lord Nelson proudly refused. As the duke was at
home, his lordship thought, no doubt, that he ought, at least, to have
come forward. Sir William Hamilton said that, if the shade of the Great
Marlborough could arise, he would have done the honours to the victor of
Aboukir, a greater victor than himself! Lady Hamilton finely
remarked--with a spirit and energy forcibly depicting the grand
character of that superlative mind which renders her, at once, the idol
and idoliser of transcendent genius and valour--that "the splendid
reward of Marlborough's services, was because a woman reigned, and women
had great souls: and I," says her ladyship, for these are her own
matchless words, "told Nelson that, if I had been a queen, after the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account