~141~~ After a dissertation upon _new college puddings_,{40} rather a choice dish, an elegant dessert and ices was introduced from Jubbers.{41} The glass now circulated freely, and the open-hearted mirth of my companions gave me a tolerable idea of many of the leading eccentricities of a collegian's life. The Oxford toast, the college divinity, was, I found, a Miss W-, whose father is a wealthy horse-dealer, and whom all agreed was a very amiable and beautiful girl. I discovered that Sadler, Randal, and Crabbe were rum ones for prime hacks--that the _Esculapii dii_ of the university, the demi-gods of medicine and surgery, were Messrs. Wall and Tuckwell--that all proctors were tyrants, and their men savage bull dogs--that good wine was seldom to be bought in Oxford by students--and pretty girls were always to be met at Bagley Wood--that rowing a fellow{42} was considered good sport, and an idle master{43} a jolly dog--that all tradesmen were duns, and all gownsmen suffering innocents--and lastly. 40 New College puddings--a favourite dish with freshmen, made of grated biscuit, eggs, suet, moist sugar, currants and lemon-peel, rolled into balls of an oblong shape, fried in boiling fat, and moistened with brandy. 41 A celebrated Oxford pastry-cook. 42 Rowing a fellow--going with a party in the dead of the night to a man's room, nailing or screwing his oak up, so as it cannot be opened on the inside, knocking at his door, calling out fire, and when he comes to the door, burning a quantity of shavings, taken from halfpenny faggots dipped in oil from the staircase lamps, so as to impress him with an idea that the staircase, in which his rooms are, is on fire. And when he is frightened almost out of his senses, setting up a most hideous horse-laugh and running away. This joke is practised chiefly upon quiet timid men. 43 An idle master--a Master of Arts on the foundation, who does not take pupils. ~142~~ I was informed that a freshman was a scamp without seasoning--and a fellow of no spirit till he had been pulled up before the big wig and suffered imposition{44} fine, and rustication.{45} It was now half an hour since old _Magnus Thomas_ had tolled his heavy note, most of the party were a little cut,{46} and the salt pits of attic wit had long since been drained to the very bottom--Sparkle proposed an adjournment to the Temple of Bacchus,{47} while Echo and a man of Trinity set forth for the plains of Betteris.{48} Pleading the fatigues of the day, and promising to attend a spread{49} on the morrow to be given by Horace Eglantine, I was permitted to depart to my inn, having first received a caution from Echo to steer clear of the Don Peninsula{50} and the seat of magistracy.{51}