THE COLLEGES VISITED: A STEALTHY COLLATION.
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.