MORRISON'S FOURS 153 



perceived other seedy-looking men in the passage, whilst from the 

 midst of them there walked into the room a real live Proctor. 



The whole affair at the time seemed so absurd, and the Proctor 

 looked so ridiculous, that we burst into the most uproarious 

 laughter, and the more he asked us if we were members of this 

 University the more did we laugh. At last we told him our names 

 and colleges and, having "troubled us to leave off playing,"- he 

 departed in solemn state. This being the first time, we escaped 

 with a fine of IDS. 



As to being proctorised, that is the common experience 

 of all foolish freshmen ; but Tom Evans is a more interest- 

 ing subject. He was a notable pugilist in his day, and a 

 first-rate instructor at any time, especially as regards 

 footwork. At the period mentioned he must have been 

 well over fifty, and was certainly fat. He did not stand 

 more than about 5 feet 6 inches, but he had great loosely 

 coupled shoulders and prodigiously long arms. At his 

 best he must have been very formidable indeed. I was 

 very much interested in boxing and Tom Evans taught 

 me a great deal, but that did not mean giving up the river 

 not a bit of it ; and I was among the " freshers " 

 drawn for Morrison's Fours, which is a race for Balliol 

 freshmen, with one capable older man to stroke each boat. 

 The strokes choose their crews in rotation from the 

 available material, and it fell to my lot to be rhosen with 

 Wilson and Vaughan by Billy Farrer, who was an extra- 

 ordinary good oar for his weight. Vaughan was bow, I 

 was 2, and Wilson 3, and the following letter to Tom 

 Scott foreshadows what happened : 



2^th Nov. 1870. 



The most aggravating thing is that I have gone and got a sort 

 of gathering inside my hand which necessitated throwing up work 

 for three days. We were getting on splendidly in our boat and 

 were the favourites, but now I fear we shall be no use. We 

 paddled seven miles in our light boat last time I was out, without 

 any inconvenience. 



I am going to essay once more to-day, having had a rapid 

 though hardly effectual cure made of my hand by a Doctor. 



I should think Fret will have a chance at Birmingham as they 

 are judged privately and she will have nothing to frighten her. 



