186 A VISIT 



number of jolly youngsters. All my arguments, 

 however, were of no avail, and at the appointed 



hour I repaired to College. I found a large 



party assembled, and a table covered with wine, 

 glasses, and an expensive dessert. My companions 

 were gay and joyous, and amused me much with 

 college anecdotes and Oxford puns. Some of the 

 latter I had heard before, though I took especial 

 care duly to express my approbation, as if in total 

 ignorance of their antiquity. Indeed I have ob- 

 served that a genuine Oxford pun is handed down 

 from year to year for the benefit of all new comers, 

 and probably many of the freshmen^ on hearing 

 one of these for the first time, repeat it as if it had 

 just been uttered by one of the reigning wits of the 

 day. I heard, however, two or three which were 

 new to me, and trust they will prove so to my 

 readers. At all events, they will serve to remind 

 me of the joyous reception they met with from my 

 young companions. 



A wealthy and well-known London brewer 

 thought proper to join a pack of fox hounds one 

 day, and on the occasion appeared with moustaches. 

 He was well mounted, and dressed in a very con- 

 spicuous manner. A French nobleman who was 

 present, and was struck by his appearance, asked 

 Lord A. if he was not un grand militaire. ( No,' 

 replied his Lordship, ' il n'est qu'un Chevalier de 

 < Make.' 



