Memorials and Other Papers — Volume 1De Quincey, Thomas
General
Memorials and Other Papers — Volume 1
De Quincey, Thomas
English essays
Now, let us sum up; premising that the extreme duration of residence
in any college at Oxford amounts to something under thirty weeks. It
is possible to keep "short terms," as the phrase is, by a residence of
thirteen weeks, or ninety-one days; but, as this abridged residence
is not allowed, except in here and there a college, I shall assume--as
something beyond the strict _maximum_ of residence--thirty weeks as my
basis. The account will then stand thus:
1. Rooms,......................................... £10 10 0
2. Tutorage,................ ..................... 10 10 0
3. Servants (subject to the explanations made above),
say........................................... 5 5 0
4. Battels (allowing one shilling a day beyond what
I and others spent in much dearer times; that is,
allowing twenty-eight shillings weekly), for
thirty weeks,.................................. 40 4 0
-------- £66 9 0
This will be a liberal calculation for the college bill. What remains?
1. Candles, which the reader will best calculate upon the standard of
his own general usage in this particular. 2. Coals, which are remarkably
dear at Oxford--dearer, perhaps, than anywhere else in the island; say,
three times as dear as at Edinburgh. 3. Groceries. 4. Wine. 5. Washing.
This last article was, in my time, regulated by the college, as there
were certain privileged washer-women, between whom and the students
it was but fair that some proper authority should interfere to prevent
extortion, in return for the monopoly granted. Six guineas was the
regulated sum; but this paid for everything,--table-linen, &c., as
well as for wearing apparel; and it was understood to cover the whole
twenty-eight or thirty weeks. However, it was open to every man to
make his own arrangements, by insisting on a separate charge for each
separate article. All other expenses of a merely personal nature, such
as postage, public amusements, books, clothes, &c., as they have no
special connection with Oxford, but would, probably, be balanced by
corresponding, if not the very same, expenses in any other place or
situation, I do not calculate. What I have specified are the expenses
which would accrue to a student in consequence of leaving his father's
house. The rest would, in these days, be the same, perhaps, everywhere.
How much, then, shall we assume as the total charge on account of
Oxford? Candles, considering the quantity of long days amongst the
thirty weeks, may be had for one shilling and sixpence a week; for few
students--unless they have lived in India, after which a physical change
occurs in the sensibility of the nostrils--are finical enough to burn
wax-lights. This will amount to two pounds, five shillings. Coals,
say sixpence a day; for threepence a day will amply feed one grate in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account