I cannot
but wonder how it ever came to be considered as so fine a city, and
next to London.
I remained on the hill, on which there was a flight of steps that
led to a subterraneous walk, till sunset, and saw several students
walking here, who wore their black gowns over their coloured
clothes, and flat square hats, just like those I had seen worn by
the Eton scholars. This is the general dress of all those who
belong to the universities, with the exception of a very trifling
difference, by which persons of high birth and rank are
distinguished.
It is probably on account of these gowns that the members of the
university are called Gownsmen, to distinguish them from the
citizens, who are called Townsmen; and when you want to mention all
the inhabitants of Oxford together, you say, "the whole town,
Gownsmen and Townsmen."
This dress, I must own, pleases me far beyond the boots, cockades,
and other frippery, of many of our students. Nor am I less
delighted with the better behaviour and conduct which, in general,
does so much credit to the students of Oxford.
The next morning Mr. Maud, according to his promise, showed me some
of the things most worthy of notice in Oxford.
