16 JUNE 1950, Page 18

"Vie *pecta:or," 3unt 150, 1850

The Commemoration at Oxford occupies less space in the columns of the Metropolitan journals than usual. A brief half- column is given to the spectacle of the principal day, Wednes- day ; when the degree of Doctor in Civil Law was conferred on the Indian warriors, Gough and Edwardes, on the Oriental savant, Major Rawlinson, and on the English sages of the law and of physic, Judge Alderson, and Dr. Paris, the President of the College of Physicians. Lord Gough's " heartfelt pleasure, mingled with occasional marks of astonishment at the scene before him "—the beautiful building, classically proportioned and illustrated, the quaint gorgeousness of some of the academic costumes, and the uncontrolled clamour of the undisciplined students—are emphatically touched off by the reporters ; and the " modest demeanour of the gallant Edwardes " does not escape their universal eye. The accus- tomed licence of applause and sibilation was asserted by the students, the more energetically because an order had been issued by the Heads and Proctors against the disorderly prac- tices which of late years had brought " great discredit on the University ": "hearty cheers" were raised for the Queen, " tremendous cheers" for " the Duke," and for Lord Brougham —who enjoys a momentary exaltation on account of his protest against the Royal Commission ; while groans of disgust were uttered on the naming of Lord, ,John Russell, the Royal Commission, Sir Robert Peel, and Lard Palmerston.