After this anecdote, we all agreed to separate. Transit would fain have led us to the Covent-garden finish, which he describes as being unusually rich in character; but this was deferred until another night, when I shall introduce you to some new acquaintances.--Adieu. Lady Mary Oldstyle and the D'Almaine family are off to-morrow for Brighton, from which place expect some few descriptive sketches. Horatio Heartly. [Illustration: page220] THE SPREAD,{1} OR WINE PARTY AT BRAZEN-NOSE. ~220~~ "Hear, Momus, hoar! blithe sprite, whose dimpling cheek Of quips, and cranks ironic, seems to speak, Who lovest learned victims, and whose shrine Groans with the weight of victims asinine. Nod with assent! thy lemon juice infuse! Though of male sex, I woo thee for a Muse." _A College Wine Party described--Singular Whim of Horace Eglantine--Meeting of the Oxford Crackademonians--Sketches of eccentric Characters, drawn from the Life--The Doctor's Daughter--An old Song--A Round of Sculls--Epitaphs on the Living and the Dead--Tom Tick, a College Tale--The Voyagers --Notes and Anecdotes._ A college wine party I could very well conceive from the specimen I had already of my companion's frolicsome humours, was not unlikely to produce some departure from college rules which might eventually involve me in _rustication, fine_, or _imposition_. To avoid it was impossible; it was the first invitation of an early friend, and must be obeyed. The anticipation of a bilious head-ache on the morrow, or perhaps a first appearance before, or lecture from, the vice-chancellor, principal, or proctor, made me somewhat tardy in my appearance at the _spread_. The butler was just marching a second 1 A spread. A wine party of from thirty to one hundred and twenty persons. The party who gives the spread generally invites all the under-graduates he is acquainted with; a dessert is ordered either from Jubber's, or Sadler's, for the number invited, for which he is charged at per head.