| Citation |
WR.733.028
17 Sep 1733:12 (103)
Oxford, July 8. On Friday last began our publick act with
great solemnity: about one o'clock the Rev. Dr. Holmes,
President of St. John's College, Vice- Chancellor, together
with the several other members of the University in their
proper habits, and a vast concourse of persons of
distinction of both sexes, repair'd to the theatre, to hear
the speeches which were made there by way of compliment on
the King, Queen, Royal Family, and Prince of Orange; also
verses on several subjects spoken by young noblemen; and a
dialogue between two scholars in the characters of . .
.Upon oratorio's, by Mr. Breckenridge, a gentleman commoner
of St. John's: . . .&c. The evening concluded with Mr.
Handel's oratorio, call'd Esther. On Saturday about seven
in the morning there was a piece of music perform'd in the
Musick School, and about nine . . .; in the afternoon there
were disputations in the theatre, and afterwards an
oratorio. This day Mr. Handel's Te Deum and anthems were
perform'd in St. Mary's Church before a numerous assembly.
The University has been pleas'd to confer the degree of
Doctor of Laws on the Right Hon. the Lord Sidney Beauclerck;
but Mr. Handel has not accepted his degree of Doctor of
Musick, as was reported, that gentleman having declin'd the
like honour when tender'd him at Cambridge. There is a very
great appearance of ladies at all the publick
entertainments, and the town very full of company : It is
computed Mr. Handel has got about 700 l. already.
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