Famous Givers and Their Gifts

by Sarah Knowles Bolton

The building and furnishing of the college cost £600,000, the endowment £300,000, the pictures £100,000, making in all about one million sterling, or five million dollars. The deed of foundation states that "the college is founded by the advice and counsel of the founder's dear wife." When Mrs. Holloway was toiling with her husband over the shop in the Strand, with no recreation during the week except a walk, as he said, in that crowded thoroughfare, how little she could have realized that this beautiful monument would be built to her memory!

Mr. Holloway did not live to see his college completed; as he died, after a brief illness of bronchitis, at Tittenhurst, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1883, aged eighty-three, and was buried in St. Michael's Churchyard, Sunninghill, Jan. 4, 1884.

Mr. Martin Holloway faithfully carried out his relative's wishes; and when the college was ready for occupancy, it was opened by Queen Victoria in person, on Wednesday, June 30, 1886. The day was fine; and Egham was gayly decorated for the event with flowers, banners, and arches. The Queen, with Princess Beatrice and her husband, the late Prince Henry of Battenberg, the Duke of Connaught, and other members of the royal family, drove over from Windsor through Frogmore, where Prince Albert is buried, and Runnymede to Egham, in open carriages, each carriage drawn by four gray horses ridden by postilions. Outriders in scarlet preceded the procession, which was accompanied by an escort of Life Guards.

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."

More than a year later, on Friday, Dec. 16, 1887, a statue of the Queen was unveiled in the upper quadrangle of the college by Prince Christian. A group of the founder and his wife in the lower quadrangle was also unveiled. Both statues are of Tyrolese marble, and are the work of Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. The Rt. Hon. Earl Granville, K.G., made a very interesting address.