I may add, as being worthy to be classed among the clever fellows, Derham, whose ability was honoured by a sneer from Voltaire; and finally, among the audacious fellows was Zinzano, a conscientious clergyman, who thought to make Milton be forgotten by writing “an entirely new poem entitled ‘Paradise Regained,’” which turned out to be a treatise on the art of gardening! But the pupil whose name conferred most glory (so it is alleged) upon the records of the school during the Georgian days, was Clive,—that young hero who began by climbing church-spouts, and ended so miserably after he had added a wide empire to our little kingdom. If the celebrated Cline, another “Merchant Tailor,” killed more men in the practice of his profession, Clive, who was by no means contemptible as a slayer of legions, added millions of living subjects to our imperial sway. The only pupil who has been “distinguished from the crowd by being remembered to his infamy,” is Luke Milbourne, the antagonist of Dryden. It has been said that Dr. South was a pupil of Merchant Tailors’, but this is not the case. He was however appointed chaplain to the Company; and he showed how he appreciated the honour, by taking for the text of his inauguration sermon the words, “A _remnant_ shall be saved!” The greater portion of the men of whom the Merchant Tailors are proud, are men who made themselves, so to speak, and were not indebted in any way for fortune to their tailors. There was another class of men however, of whom the contrary may rather be said,—men who assumed the poor vocation of the beau, and found it a bankrupt calling. They have existed in all ages, and we will go back to those of old times. _Seniores priores._ Chapters on Beaux. THE BEAUX OF THE OLDEN TIME. “Le Beau ne plaît qu’un jour, si le Beau n’est utile.”—ST. LAMBERT. Dress, like all other things, has been amply used and abused in all ages; but there is this to be said for man, that he is the only animal born without being provided with a necessary costume. This shows that he is a migratory animal; and if he be not naturally covered so as to suit all climates and himself, he has reason given him to meet all exigencies, and it is only a pity that he exhibits so little taste in the application of it. His storehouse, or rough wardrobe, is in the vegetable and animal kingdom; and plants die that man may live, and animals are skinned that the lord of creation may be covered.