e on like learned dromedaries. Two or three there
are who follow in no sphere-eccentric stars, shooting from space to
space; some few mischievous wags, who delight in a good joke, and will
run the risk of punishment at any time to enjoy it; with here and there
a little twinkling gem, like twilight planets, just emerging from the
misty veil of nature.

These form my dame's dinner party. Reader, do not judge them harshly
from this hasty sketch: take into your consideration their youth and
inexperience; and if they do not improve upon acquaintance, and increase
in estimation with their years, the fault must in justice rather be
attributed to the author than to any deficiency in their respective
merits.

[Illustration: page 041]

~42~~

THE FIVE PRINCIPAL ORDERS OF ETON, DOCTOR, DAME, COLLEGER, OPPIDAN, AND
CAD. A SKETCH TAKEN OPPOSITE THE LONG WALK.

[Illustration: page042]

[Illustration: page043]

ETON DAMES*; AN ODE, NEITHER AMATORY,
ILL-NATURED, NOR PATHETIC.

Let Oxford beaux, to am'rous belles,
Love's warm epistles write;
Or Cambridge youths, in classic dells,
Invoke the shadowy night.

* The above _jeu-d'esprit_ made its appearance on one of
those joyous occasions, when the sons of old Etona return
from Oxford and Cambridge, filled with filial regard for
early scenes and school-boy friendships, to commemorate a
college election. It was, at the time, purposely attributed
to some of these waggish visitors, a sort of privileged
race, who never fail of indulging in numerous good-humoured
freaks with the inhabitants of Eton, to show off to the
rising generation the pleasantries, whims, and improvements
of a college life. The subject is one of great delicacy, but
it will, I hope, be admitted by the merry dames themselves,
that my friend Bernard has in this, as in every other
instance, endeavoured to preserve the strongest traits of
truth and character, without indulging in offensive satire,
or departing from propriety and decorum.--Horatio Heartly.
~44~~

Let Cockney poets boast their flames,
Of ' Vicked Cupit' patter:
Be mine a verse on Eton Dames--
A more substantial matter.
I care not if the Graces three
Have here withheld perfection:
Brown, black, or fair, the same to me,--
E'en age