Very agreeable news!
I could not, however, bear to give Up going to church,
for I knew that the thanksgiving was to be that morning
for the preservation of the king from assassination
: and to let pique at this unaccountable behaviour,
after all the apologies just passed, prevent my hearing
and joining in a prayer of such a nature, in which
now I am peculiarly interested, would have been ill
worth the while. I therefore — proposed
to Miss Planta that we should go by ourselves, and
desire one of the servants to show us at once into
Mr. Hagget’s pew: for that we had already
heard offered to the use of Miss Vernons, as Lord
Harcourt’s was reserved for their majesties.
She agreed; and we proceeded, following such stragglers
as 385
shewed us our way : the servant to whom we applied
having soon deserted us.
The church is in a very beautiful situation in the
park, and built in the form of a Grecian temple.
I admired it very much for its plainness and elegance.
When we got to it, the very first step we took in
it shewed us the Miss Vernons, very composedly seated
in a large pew at the entrance. I now led the
way, and took a place next to Miss Vernons, as much
without apology as without invitation.
Mr. Hagget both read and preached. I was a good
deal touched by the occasional thanksgiving, chiefly
from knowing how much it must affect the queen and
the princesses. Cause enough, indeed, is there
for thanksgiving and rejoicing the safety of so mild
and exemplary a sovereign.
When the service was over, and the royal family were
gone, I thought it but right, in such a place, to
subdue my proud feelings so far as to say to the Miss
Vernons, I hoped we had not disturbed them.
I was very glad I took this little step down, for
Miss Vernon, colouring, apologised for not waiting
for us, which she said was owing to the fear of not
getting into the chapel before the royal family.
And then she asked if we should like to look at the
altar-piece, which was the work of Mr. Mason.
Royal visit to
Oxford: Reception by the University.
And now for the Oxford expedition.
How many carriages there were, and how they were arranged,
I observed not sufficiently to recollect; but the
party consisted of their majesties, the Princesses
Royal, Augusta, and Elizabeth, the Duchess of Ancaster,
Lord and Lady Harcourt, Lady Charlotte Bertie, and
the two Miss Vernons. These last ladies are
daughters of the late Lord Vernon, and sisters of Lady
Harcourt.
General Harcourt, Colonel Fairly, and Major Price
and Mr. Hagget, with Miss Planta and myself, completed
the group. Miss Planta and I, of course, as
the only undignified persons, brought up the rear.
We were in a chaise of Lord Harcourt.
The city of Oxford afforded us a very noble view on
the road, and its spires, towers, and domes soon made
me forget all the little objects of minor spleen that
had been crossing me
