865._

On the 3rd of July 1865, the ceremony of distributing prizes at
Wellington College was performed by the Prince of Wales, in presence of
a distinguished company. The Governors of the College were in
attendance, the Bishop of Oxford, the Earl of Derby, Earl Stanhope, Lord
Eversley, Lord Chelmsford, Mr. Walter, M.P., and Mr. Cox. At the
luncheon, which followed the proceedings in the large hall of the
College, the head master, Mr. Benson (now Archbishop of Canterbury),
having proposed the toast of the Prince of Wales, thanking him for his
presence that day, and for the kind favour and interest with which he
had uniformly regarded the institution, the Prince replied:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen,--I am deeply sensible of the manner in
which Mr. Benson has proposed my health, and in which it has
been received by the company assembled here to-day. I need
hardly assure you that it is a source of sincere gratification
to me to find myself once more within the walls of Wellington
College, taking part in the proceedings of 'Speech Day,' and
distributing prizes to the successful competitors. Allow me, Mr.
Benson, to congratulate you, and through you the whole college,
on the highly efficient state in which I find it. I feel
convinced that my young friends have not forgotten that it bears
the name of one of the greatest soldiers England ever knew. In
the success of this institution Mr. Benson has already
mentioned, and I need hardly remind you, that the Queen takes a
strong interest; a still greater interest was taken by my
father, to whose exertions the college really owes its origin. I
have now, my lords and gentlemen, a very pleasing task to
perform, and that is to make an announcement which I hope will
not be considered indiscreet on my part. At the last meeting of
the Governors of Wellington College, Lord Derby intimated that
it was his intention to devote the profits of his justly
celebrated translation of 'Homer' to the production of a prize
to be given annually as a reward to the foundationer who within
the year of his leaving the college should conduct himself to
the entire approbation of the Head Master--be considered, in
fact, the most industrious and well-conducted boy or young man
in the school. I feel certain that this announcement will be
received with great pleasure. It will show you the interest