LETTERS. 275 



It is only men's extravagance that makes College life so 

 expensive. There are sizars at St John's who spend 

 £150 a-year ; but they are gay, dissipated men, who 

 choose to be sizars in order that they may have more 

 money to lavish on their pleasures. Our dinners and 

 suppers cost us nothing ; and if a man choose to eat milk 

 breakfasts, and go without tea, he may live absolutely 

 for nothing ; for his College emoluments will cover the 

 rest of his expenses. Tea is indeed almost superfluous, 

 since we do not rise from dinner till half-past three, and 

 the supper bell rings a quarter before nine. Our mode 

 of living is not to be complained of, for the table is 

 covered with all possible variety ; and on feast days, 

 which our fellows take care are pretty frequent, we have 

 wine. 



You will now, I trust, feel satisfied on this subject, 

 and will no longer give yourself unnecessary uneasiness 

 on my account. 



* * * * 



I was unfortunate enough to be put into unfurnished 

 rooms, so that my furniture will cost me a little more 

 than I expected ; I suppose about fifteen pounds, or per- 

 haps not quite so much. I sleep on a hair mattress, 

 which I find just as comfortable as a bed ; it only cost 

 me four pounds along with blankets, counterpane, and 

 pillows, &c. I have three rooms — a sitting-room, a 

 bed-room, and a kind of scullery or pantry. My sitting- 

 room is very light and pleasant, and, what does not often 

 happen, the walls are in good case, having been lately 

 stained green. 



I must commission my pister to make me a pair of 

 letter-racks, but they must not be fine, because my fur- 

 niture is not very fine. I think the old shape (or octa- 

 gons one upon another) is the neatest, and white the 

 best colour. I wish Maria would paint vignettes in the 

 squares, because then I should see how her drawing pro- 

 ceeds. You must know that these are not intended as 

 mere matters of show, but are intended to answer some 

 purpose ; there are so many particular places to attend 

 on particular days, that unless a man is very cautious, 



