me time establish
his importance among the copy-purchasers in town. With this view, he
worshipped the muse; and, conscious of the little regard which is in
this age paid to every species of poetic composition, in which neither
satire nor obscenity occurs, he produced an imitation of Juvenal,
and lashed some conspicuous characters, with equal truth, spirit, and
severity. Though his name did not appear in the title-page of this
production, he managed matters so that the work was universally
imputed to the true author, who was not altogether disappointed in his
expectations of success; for the impression was immediately sold off,
and the piece became the subject of conversation in all assemblies of
taste.

This happy exordium not only attracted the addresses of the booksellers,
who made interest for his acquaintance, but also roused the notice of a
society of authors, who styled themselves "The College," from which
he was honoured with a deputation, offering to enroll him a member by
unanimous consent. The person employed for this purpose being a bard
who had formerly tasted of our hero's bounty, used all his eloquence to
persuade him to comply with the advances of their fraternity, which
he described in such a manner as inflamed the curiosity of Pickle, who
dismissed the ambassador, with an acknowledgment of the great honour
they conferred upon him, and a faithful promise of endeavouring to merit
the continuance of their approbation.

He was afterwards, by the same minister, instructed in the ceremonies of
the college; and, in consequence of his information, composed an ode,
to be publicly recited on the evening of his introduction. He understood
that this constitution was no other than a body of authors, incorporated
by mutual consent, for their joint advantage and satisfaction,
opposed to another assembly of the same kind, their avowed enemies and
detractors. No wonder, then, that they sought to strengthen themselves
with such a valuable acquisition as our hero was likely to prove. The
college consisted of authors only, and these of all degrees in point
of reputation, from the fabricator of a song, set to music, and sung at
Marylebone, to the dramatic bard who had appeared in buskins upon the
stage: nay, one of the members had actually finished eight books of an
epic poem, for the publication of which he was at that time soliciting
subscriptions.

It cannot be supposed that such a congregation of the sons of Apollo