At length silence is once more obtained; the author finishes his task, and retires from the _Green-room_ ~369~~looking as blue as Megrim, and feeling as fretful as the renowned Sir Plagiary. Of the success or failure of the two productions, I shall speak in the next volume; when I propose to give the first night of a new play, with sketches of some of the critical characters who usually attend. In the evening, Transit, Echo, and Heartly enlisted me for the Lord Mayor's ball at the Mansion House--a most delightful squeeze; and, it being during Waithman's mayoralty, abounding with lots of character for my friend Bob; to whose facetious pencil, I must at present leave the scene (see plate); intending to be more particular in my civic descriptions, should I have the honour of dining with the Corporation next year in their Guildhall. [Illustration: page369a] The wind-up of the term rendered it essentially necessary that I should return to Oxford with all possible expedition, as my absence at such a time, if discovered, might involve me in some unpleasant feeling with the big wigs. Hither I arrived, in due time to save a lecture, and receive an invitation to spend a few weeks in the ensuing year at Cambridge, where my kind friend Horace Eglantine has entered himself of Trinity; and by the way of inducement, has transmitted the characteristic sketch of the notorious Jemmy Gordon playing off one of his mad pranks upon the big wigs of Peter-House, (see plate) the particulars of which, will, with more propriety, come into my sketches at Cambridge. [Illustration: page369b] We are here all bustle--Scouts packing up and posting off to the coach-offices with luggage--securing places for students, and afterwards clearing places for themselves--Oxford Duns on the sharp look-out for shy-ones, and pretty girls whimpering at the loss of their lovers--Dons and Big wigs promising themselves temporal pleasures, and their ladies reviling the mantua-makers for not having used sufficient expedition--some taking their last farewell of _alma mater_, and others sighing to behold the joyous faces of affectionate kindred and early friends. Long ~370~~bills, and still _longer_ promises passing currently--and the High-street exhibiting a scene of general confusion, until the last coach rattles over Magdalen bridge, and Oxford tradesmen close their _oaks_. Bernard Blackmantle. [Illustration: page370] TERM ENDS. CONCLUSION OF VOLUME ONE. [Illustration: page371] VOLUME II. THE ENGLISH SPY AN ORIGINAL WORK, CHARACTERISTIC, SATIRICAL, AND HUMOROUS, COMPRISING SCENES AND SKETCHES IN EVERY RANK OF SOCIETY, BEING PORTRAITS OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS, EMINENT, ECCENTRIC AND NOTORIOUS DRAWN FROM THE LIFE By BERNARD BLACKMANTLE THE ILLUSTRATIONS DESIGNED BY ROBERT CRUIKSHANK VOL. II [Illustration: Spines] By Frolic, Mirth, and Fancy gay, Old Father Time is borne away. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY SHERWOOD, GILBERT, AND PIPER, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1826.