deity of the place (I hope not symbolical), a leaden Mercury{2}; the
gift of Dr. John Radcliffe, which rises from the centre of the basin,
on the spot where once stood the sacred cross of St. Frideswide, and the
pulpit of the reformer, Wickliffe.

2 Since pulled down and destroyed.

THE DINNER PARTY.

Bernard Blackmantles Visit to Tom Echo---Oxford Phraseology-
Smuggled Dinners--A College Party described--Topography of a
Man's Boom--Portrait of a Bachelor of Arts--Hints to
Freshmen--Customs of the University.

~132~~ "When first the freshman, bashful, blooming, young, Blessings
which here attend not handmaids long, Assumes that cap, which franchises
the man, And feels beneath the gown dilate his span; When he has stood
with modest glance, shy fear, And stiff-starch'd band before our prime
vizier, And sworn to articles he scarcely knew, And forsworn doctrines
to his creed all new: Through fancy's painted glass he fondly
sees Monastic turrets, patriarchal trees, The cloist'ral arches'
awe-inspiring shade, The High-street sonnetized by Wordsworth's jade,
His raptured view a paradise regards, Nurseling of hope! he builds on
paper cards."

On the western side of Tom Quad, up one flight of stairs, by the
porter's aid I discovered the battered oaken door which led to the
_larium_ of my friend Echo: that this venerable bulwark had sustained
many a brave attack from besiegers was visible in the numerous bruises
and imprints of hammers, crowbars, and other weapons, which had covered
its surface with many an indented scar. The utmost caution was apparent
in the wary scout,{1}

1 A Scout, at Christ Church, performs the same duties for
ten or twelve students as a butler and valet in a
gentleman's family. There are no women bedmakers at any
college except Christ Church, that duty being performed by
the scout.

~133~~ who admitted me; a necessary precaution, as I afterwards found,
to prevent the prying eye of some inquisitive domine, whose nose has a
sort of instinctive attraction in the discovery of smuggled dinners.{2}

Within I found assembled half a dozen good-humoured faces, all young,
and all evidently partaking of the high flow of spirits and animated
vivacity of the generous hearted Tom Echo. A college introduction is one
of little ceremony, the surname alone being used,--a practice, which,
to escape quizzing, must also be followed on your card. "Here, old
fell