“As there are here books suited to every Taste, so there are liquors adapted to every species of reading. Amorous tales may be perused over Arrack punch and jellies; insipid odes over orgeat or capilaire; politics over coffee; divinity over port; and defences of bad generals and bad ministers over whipt syllabubs. In a word, in these libraries instruction and pleasure go hand in hand; and we may pronounce, in a literal sense, that learning remains no longer a dry pursuit.” And in Gibbon’s day the dons changed their seats from chapel to hall, and from common room to coffee-house, in an indolent circle; and not only dons, but the infinite variety of University types in the distinguishing raiment of that day-- Such nice distinction one perceives In cut of gown, and hoods and sleeves, Marking degrees, or style, or station, Of Members free, or on foundation, That were old Cato here narrator He must perforce have nomenclator. There, or at an ale-house, which appears to have been less exposed to a proctorial raid, the sociable spent the Oxford evening, which grew longer as the nineteenth century approached. Sunday evenings were frequently devoted to the fair sex in Merton walks, which were always gay. My hair in wires exact and nice, I’ll trim my cap to smallest size, That _Polly_ sure may see me, exclaims an eighteenth-century spark, with a hint that the kindly relations between town and gown sometimes reached the married state. Yet another writer with an eye for the amusing side of Oxford life drew the following picture, which a diligent seeker might, with difficulty, parallel to-day. Gainlove and Ape-all, two Oxford undergraduates, are talking:-- “_Gainlove._ What, bound for the Port of Wedlock, Sir? “_Ape-all._ No, no, no, no, Sir; I only use her as a Pleasure boat to dabble about the stream with, purely for a Passo Tempo, or so. O Lord, Sir, I have been at London, and know more of the world than to make love to a woman I intend to marry--only it diverts the spleen to talk to a girl sometimes, you know--and ’tis such a comedy, when one gallants them to college, to [Illustration: THE BOTANIC GARDEN The Garden is surrounded by a wall, commenced in 1632, pierced by several noble gateways one of which shows to the left of the picture. The entrance gateway fronting the High Street was designed by Inigo Jones. The Garden is a favourite promenade and spot for rest; Magdalen Tower is seen to great advantage through its grand trees.] see all the young Fellows froze with envy, stand centinel in their niches, like the figures of the Kings round the Royal Exchange. And the old Dons who would take no more notice of one at another time than a bishop of a country curate, will come cringing, cap in hand, to offer to show the ladies the curiosities of the College--when the duce knows they only want to be nibbling.”