A gentleman present used a queer
expression in reference to the drowning of two college men; he said "it
was an awkward affair." I think this is equal to Longfellow's story of
the Frenchman who avowed himself very much "displeased" at the news of
his father's death. 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.
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