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 battle of Aboukir, he