At the confluence of the Cherwell and Isis we saw a
good many boats, belonging to the students of the various colleges; some
of them being very large and handsome barges, capable of accommodating a
numerous party, with room on board for dancing and merry-making. Some of
them are calculated to be drawn by horses, in the manner of canal-boats;
others are propellable by oars. It is practicable to perform the voyage
between Oxford and London--a distance of about one hundred and thirty
miles--in three days. The students of Oxford are famous boatmen; there
is a constant rivalship, on this score, among the different colleges; and
annually, I believe, there is a match between Oxford and Cambridge. The
Cambridge men beat the Oxonians in this year's trial.
On our return into the city, we passed through Christ Church, which, as
regards the number of students, is the most considerable college of the
University. It has a stately dome; but my memory is confused with
battlements, towers, and gables, and Gothic staircases and cloisters. If
there had been nothing else in Oxford but this one establishment, my
anticipations would not have been disappointed. The bell was tolling for
worship in the chapel; and Mr. Parker told us that Dr. Pusey is a canon,
or in some sort of dignity, in Christ Church, and would soon probably
make his appearance in the quadrangle, on his way to chapel; so we walked
to and fro, waiting an opportunity to see him.
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