~224~~ The moment silence was obtained, old Mark gave three distinct knocks at the door, when Horace himself appeared, and we were immediately admitted to the temple of the Muses; where, seated round a long table, appeared a variety of characters that would have rivalled (from description) the Beggars' Club in St. Giles's--the Covent-Garden Finish--or the once celebrated Peep o' day boys in Fleet-lane. At the upper end of the table were Tom Echo and Bob Transit, the first smoking his cigar, the second sketching the portraits of the motley group around him on the back of his address cards; at the lower end of the room, on each side of the chair from which Eglantine had just risen to welcome me, sat little Dick Gradus, looking as knowing as an Old Bailey counsel dissecting a burglary case, and the honourable Lillyman Lionise, the Eton _exquisite_, looking as delicate and frightened as if his whole system of ethics was likely to be revolutionized by this night's entertainment. To such a society a formal introduction was of course deemed essential; and this favour Horace undertook by recommending me to the particular notice of the _crackademonians_ (as he was pleased to designate the elegant assemblage by whom we were then surrounded), in the following oration: "Most noble _cracks_, and worthy cousin _trumps_--permit me to introduce a brother of the _togati, fresh_ as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clement's. Be unto him, as ye have been to all gownsmen from the beginning, ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term or out of term--against the _Inquisition_ and their _bull-dogs_--the town _raff_ and the _bargees_--well _blunted or stiver cramped_--against _dun or don--nob or big wig_--so may you never want a bumper of _bishop_: and thus do I commend him to your merry keeping." "Full charges, boys," said Echo, "fill up their glasses, Count Dennett{3}; 3 Count Dennett, hair-dresser at Corpus and Oriel Colleges, a very eccentric man, who has saved considerable property; celebrated for making bishops' wigs, playing at cribbage, and psalm-singing. ~225~~Here's Brother Blackmantle of Brazen-nose." "A speech, a speech!" vociferated all the party. "Yes, worthy brother _cracks_," replied I, "you shall have a speech, the very acme of oratory; a brief speech, composed by no less a personage than the great Lexicographer himself, and always used by him on such occasions at the club in Ivy-lane. Here's all your healths, and _Esto perpetua_." "Bravo!" said Eglantine;" the boy improves. Now a toast, a university lass--come, boys, The Doctor's Daughter; and then a song from Crotchet C--ss."{4} BURTON ALE. AN ANCIENT OXFORD DITTY.