"I find that a great part of the book is about the keeping of terms; the granting of various kinds of degrees, of congregations, convocations, dispensations, and all that sort of thing; and I then come--under the head '_Tit._ XIV. _De Vestitu et Habitu Scholastico_'--to the Statutes that more immediately concern my son PETERLOO. And this is the result of my search. "I find that nobody, unless he is a Peer's son--(who may do what he likes, for you will find, _Mr. Punch_, that it is one of the great beauties of our University system, that it allows no distinction of persons, but puts the sons of the ignoble and the noble on equal terms; but I am digressing!)--I find '_Statutum est_,' that 'Nobody shall wear any other clothes than those of a black, or "subfusk" colour' (_coloris nigri aut subfusci_), 'or imitate (in their dress) what is extravagant or fast:' (that seems to be the meaning of the words '_fastum aut luxum_;' but, as I said before, my Latin is rather rusty). Now, since this is the rule, I would ask how it is, _Mr. Punch_, that young BELLINGHAM GREY (my neighbour's son) should, at the end of every term, bring home from Christ Church (where by the way, he is ruining his father, but that is no affair of _mine_!) suits of clothes of every colour _but_ black or 'subfusk' (not that I exactly know what colour that may be), and remarkable solely for their extravagance and 'fast-ness?' I want my lad to dress like a gentleman, but I don't always want to see him putting in an appearance like an undertaker, or counter-skipper, or like the man in the play (is it _Hamlet_? though, probably, _Othello_?) continually clothed in 'an inky suit of black.' And, if he swears to observe such a Statute as the above, why, _of course_, the authorities will see that he obeys it, and dresses accordingly. [Illustration: NOBODY SHALL FOLLOW THAT ABSURD AND PROUD CUSTOM OF WALKING IN BOOTS IN PUBLIC.] "It is next ordered, that 'Nobody shall follow that absurd and proud custom of walking in boots in public.' (_Insuper, ab absurdo illo et fastuoso publice in ocreis ambulandi more, abstinere compellantur._ I give you the very words, _Mr. Punch_, lest you should not believe me.) Now, where on earth is the harm of my lad wearing Wellingtons? But I suppose that every one in Oxford (I do not know the place) wears the 'Oxford Shoes,' and that this Statute has been inserted to keep up what is, doubtless, the staple trade of the city. For, _of course_, the Statute is observed, or they would not make the students swear to obey it.