པ་ his friends? I suppose, Mr. Bolter, you hardly oppose the payment of a debt, then it's always expect this bill to be paid "" If I didn't, sir, do youth and inexperience; but when they come to you think I should have allowed it to run up? propose a son or a nephew, who is jist fresh from You don't suppose as I keeps up an expensive college, as a candidate to represent a borough, why establishment at Cambridge, to furnish horses to then jist the last things they would speak of would gents gratis"" "But do you think you are justi- be youth and inexperience. I should like to know fied," asked the major, "in allowing a young what Sir Harry's friends would have said if I had man to run up such a bill without the knowledge talked of youth and inexperience!" of his friends?" 66 Why, sir, where am I to seek Well, Mr. Bolter, I shall not enter any for his friends? What I does I does openly. My further into the matter now," observed the Major: establishment is well known to everybody in the case will, in all probability, be decided elseCambridge; and as to charges, you won't get 'em where." "In court, I suppose you means, sir?" more moderate nowhere-not for such horses as I returned Bolter. "Very well, sir. Perhaps I keeps specially when it's such work as Muster may win-perhaps I may lose; that's all a tossBarrington wants 'em for: he was never satisfied un-up-like-just as juries thinks. It ain't the first les he got the best hunters in my stables." Hunt- time I have been into court on the saine errand, ers! you don't surely supply young men with and I don't suppose it will be the last. As to the hunters!-that at least cannot be known to the tutors talk about youth and inexperience,' that's all and heads of colleges;" exclaimed the Major. bam. There's my son, Dick Bolter, ain't turned "Lord bless you, sir, yes, it be; they knows it and of seventeen yet; and I should like to see him approves of it, and the faculty recommends it too. getting into debt, or living above his means! And There's Dr. Blowerwit says himself there ain't if your son, sir, had been properly hedicated, the nothing so good to cure the effects of a course of same as Dick was, why he would have scorned hard reading as a course of hard riding; and so to tell a parcel of bragging lies-no offence, he sends all his patients to me. In course, you sir-sir, your sarvant;" and with this salutation, know, I considers him in return. Fair play's a the independent Joseph Bolter took his leave.'— jewel: live and let live-them is my maxims." vol. iii., pp. 12–27. "But this debt," resumed the Major, who had been examining the items of the account, "ex- This is not the first time that we have tends, I perceive, over a period of more than two brought forward the subject of College Debt years." "It do, sir," returned the horse-job- (see Q. R., vol. lxxiii.);—and, if the evil ber; and who has most right to complain of that -them who have the wear and tear of my horses, continue, it shall not be the last. We know or me who has been kept out of my money?" that attempts have been occasionally made But this is at the rate of more than a hundred a by the academical authorities to check inyear for horses alone!" cried the Major, still en- creasing extravagance, but no wonder that gaged with the bill. "Well, sir, and little enough they were always unsuccessful, for they too for a gentleman as hunts reg'lar three times a passed over the seat of the disease and atweek all through the season; besides attending tacked a part comparatively sound. races and coursings wherever they are held all We In over the country.' "Hunt regularly three times remember, for instance, that a good many a week!" repeated the Major." For a considera- years ago a few of the colleges in Oxford ble part of the period during which these debts restricted the young men to a certain sum were incurred my son was a minor; and it will in the kitchen and buttery: which merely hardly be contended that horses and carriages can increased the mischief by driving them to a be regarded as necessaries to a young man in his greater expenditure out of college. rank and condition of life.” "Well, sir," re- Cambridge, again, it is a rule for all underturned Mr. Bolter, "I warn't charged with his hedication. If you, sir, and the college tutors and the graduates' bills to be paid by the tutor; but univarsity can't teach your son common prudence, this, too, is a complete farce, for where the what obligation is there on me to do it for you? tutor is known to be above all shabby evaMy business is to look after my own trade, and sions of his duty, nothing is presented to his leave others to mind their own consarns. Another eyes that will not bear inspection: all else thing, sir; how should I know what your son's remains as a private debt between the stufortin might be? He chose to associate with dent and the tradesman. lords and all the out-toppers in the univarsity, and always spoke as if you owned a large estate, and kept as good a stud as any gentleman in the country." We are sorry to say, however, that all tutors do not enjoy the character of perfect clearness in these matters: it is at least very generally Major Barrington still insisted that tradesmen believed that some of them do not examine were bound to be more cautious in giving credit to their boys' bills with the proper strictness, young men, who from their age and inexperience for this base reason, that though the parents were peculiarly open to temptation. Ah! are compelled to settle for these bills quarthat's always the way," observed the sturdy dealer terly with them, the tutors, they do not -"I don't mean no offence, as I said before, sir settle at all so speedily with the tradesmen, but that's the way gen'lemen talk. When it serves their purpose they always bring up the talk about youth and inexperience; but when such things would be in their way, why then we never hears nothing about them. When they wants to but keep very considerable sums of money thus due in their own hands for one, two, or three years, jobbing in the funds or the railways therewith meanwhile: in short, acting open as a drying-ground. On the right, scarcely a stone's throw from the house, and placed upon a gentle eminence, from which it looks down upon the rush-roofed hamlet beyond, rises the village church-a small antique, venerable building, with its ivy-clad tower and grey stone walls; one of those structures so touching in our English landscape, and so dear to the memory of those who in early youth have been in prayer within their walls, and hope to rest at last within their sacred precincts. From the garden to the church runs a private entrance, arched in with trellis-work, over afford shelter from the sun and rain; the passage which grows a profusion of creepers, sufficient to indicating that the mansion is the residence of the rector. in a sort of partnership with the tradesmen, whose bills they ought to inspect with inquisitorial sternness. That nothing of this sort is suspected in the very highest colleges, we need hardly say; but as to not a few the universal impression is as we have stated it. Grant, however, that the tutors do their duty-we maintain that the system is a farce. Such expedients as these go only to control the expenditures or ensure the payment of necessaries; and though we have known instances in which tutors passed over, as necessarics, what every man of common sense must at once pronounce luxuries, is it not worth our while to dwell on that The colloquy between the two occupants of feature of the foul system already alluded the lawn was broken and carried on only at interto; for it is not necessaries, nor articles that vals. But smoking is a deep, contemplative the laxest inspectors could wink at as neces-employment; and its votaries are rarely found saries, but luxuries-obvious, admitted luxuries, which form the great bulk of college extravagance. And as long as there is a possibility of getting and giving almost unlimited credit, so long the evil will continue unchecked. What if a law were passed that every bill for articles supplied to an undergraduate in either University must pass through the tutor's hands, and unless presented to him within a given time, shall not be recoverable by any legal process? At the time when Mr. Bolter invaded the Major, Mr. Edward Barrington was from home. He was then paying a visit to one of his own set at Cambridge, but somewhat his senior, who had already received the episcopal benedictions, and been installed as the reverend incumbent of a fat living in the golden vale of Worcester. We must intrude upon these congenial Cantabs, while enjoying themselves at the rectory sub tegmine fagi : among the loquacious and superficial. Your true addressed, usually allows some minutes to elapse smoker never speaks without thinking; and when before he vouchsafes a reply. The silence which followed the last observation of the younger speaker relative to the increased price of cigars, which he remarked was a scandalous abuse and ought to be reformed, was again broken by his observing that the sun had dried up the mists, and that it was likely to be "a devilish hot day." round in his seat, and looking the speaker very Upon this remark, his companion turned half hard in the face, while he slowly ejected a long column of smoke, replied,-" very.' دو Mr. Edward Barrington, after a pause of some minutes, again broke silence, by suddenly exclaiming, "I say, Marsham, what a devilish lucky felthis!" As this remark related to a subject more low you were to get into such a snuggery as interesting to the person addressed than any other, namely himself, he replied with more than his usual vivacity,-"Ah! you may say that; but it was a very near thing though."“ Near! I thought it was always intended you should have it."-" So it was," returned Marsham; " but there's many a slip between the cup and the lip, and Littleford-cum-Mellowdale was deuced near In the centre of a grass-plot, seated in a garden slipping out of my hands, I can tell you."—“ Inchair, with their feet resting on a rustic table be- deed!" ejaculated his companion, "how was fore them, after the most approved notions of that? I thought Sir Willoughby had made over modern comfort and independence, are two young the presentation to your governor years ago."men, enjoying their morning cigar, as the proper" No, not quite that,-only promised; and that wind-up of a substantial breakfast, and an appro- makes a difference."-" But the baronet is a man priate occupation while discussing the plans of the day. Behind them is, an old-fashioned residence of modern dimensions, its bay windows, its antique portal and vine-covered front breathing an air of quiet, undisturbed enjoyment, and suggesting a thousand pictures of happy peaceful days passed beneath its roof. Around the lawn spread a garden, more remarkable for its bountiful produce than for its arrangement, flowers, fruits, and vegetables growing together in emulous luxuriance, and forming what might be appropriately termed a wilderness of sweets. Through an arched doorway on the left, you look into an orchard of apple-trees, whose boughs, clustering with golden fruit, throw a deep shade upon the green-sward beneath, excepting towards the centre, where a small space has, from time immemorial, been left of his word. I have always heard him spoken of nor. her how he was situated in regard to my gover-ton should accompany him to London, and remain But nothing would do, have it she would; there with him during his short stay. Edward's and Sir Willoughby must have knocked under, for heart jumped at the proposal; but he recollected she is a widow with a large fortune, and neither his father's letter, and mentioned how anxiously chick nor child, when, luckily for me, old Dalber- he was expected by him at home. Shirley laughry, the member for the county, died just in the ed outright at such a reason for not doing what nick of time; and as my governor's assistance would give so much pleasure to both of them. was wanted to put her own cousin, Sir Diggory; Your father," said he, "recollects he has been in his place, why, of course, she was obliged to young himself,-and a soldier too,-pshaw! he allow Sir Willoughby to keep his promise; and would not be so unreasonable. At all events, you here am I, Jack Marsham, Rector of Littleford- can accompany me the next stage,-the mail will cum-Mellowdale, and right glad to see you here, not turn off till we get to S, and if you have too, old fellow. But we must be moving soon. I not made up your mind by that time to go on with promised Beckford to carry you over this morning me to London, why, I can drop you there, and no to Morscroft to troll for a pike; and after that we harm done. What luggage have you got? Oh! are all three going to Marrable's to dine. We that portmanteau there-mail-size, I see, we shall have a famous night of it, it will be a right can take that very well. Here, Crawley, get merry bachelor's party, and he keeps a capital cel-down and put Mr. Barrington's portmanteau into lar. He will give us a bed, so you need not be the boot." -vol. iii., alarmed as to getting home safe. But here comes Martin to say the mare is put to.” ’—vol. iii. pp. 34-38. pp. 57-59. Common as is, in these days, the character of Shirley, we do not recollect having We have copied this scene with great reseen it in type before. This variety of the luctance. We know the evils which it sug-young voluptuary is drawn by our author with admirable spirit : gests are infinitely less common now than they were even within our own memory; Shirley was one of that modern school of young but examples are still to be found-and no men of fortune, who, in a worldly sense, underpower but that of public opinion can whol- stand their own interests perfectly well. He was İy abolish them. The Church herself has quite aware of the great advantages of wealth, and not, and can never have, any effective means resolved, while he put no stint to his pleasures, to of controlling the exercise of private patron-look well after the resources from which they were supplied. By this means, he kept his for age. Mr. Edward's visit to this exemplary rec-tune, as he expressed it, for his own use. tor is curtailed by the arrival of a pithy let- Being yet unmarried, his establishment in the ter from the Major, demanding explanations his large income, being methodically managed, gave country was kept on a very moderate footing; and touching Mr. Bolter's 'little bill:' but his him a considerable surplus, a portion of which he progress homewards is arrested by a casual retained for extraordinary expenses, and set aside meeting with another of the same university clique. While our friend is waiting at a country inn to be picked up by the mail coach, a travelling chariot and four dashes up. Edward observes that the luxurious vehicle contains but a single occupant, and indulges in some envious speculations. Having changed horses, the rest for a fund destined to bear the burden of his future parliamentary contests and the enlargement of his estate. It is not what a man spends upon himself (he was accustomed to say) which can embarrass a splendid fortune, but what he suffers others to spend for him. Upon this principle he was not only liberal, but even profuse in his own expenses. By this policy he secured the gratification of his own tastes, while he acquired the reputation of a liberal, open-hearted fellow, who spent his money freely, although he had never parted with a shilling to a human being except for his own purposes. the postilions had mounted, and were in the act of starting, when the traveller, who had stretched his head out of the window to give some directions to his servant, suddenly shouted out Bar- In the two years that had elapsed since he had rington's name, and at the same moment that quitted the university, he appeared to have lived young gentleman recognized the voice and the fea- ten. His manners indicated all the assurance and tures of his old college acquaintance Shirley. The self-possession of a thorough man of the world; recognition seemed to afford equal pleasure to both and his conversation showed he was perfectly parties. Explanations followed. Shirley was well acquainted with the quid pro quo sort of going, for a single fortnight, to London, on busi- system which characterizes the day. Possessing ness, which would, however, admit of a reasona- little of what is called talent, he was gifted with ble mixture of pleasure. Pleased at this unex-a large share of that shrewdness and discernment pected rencontre and having no one with him in which enabled him to see his own interest, as the carriage, it struck him that Barrington would well as that of others, very distinctly, and conseprove a very passable companion. Young men, quently to form tolerably accurate notions of men's elated with wealth, never consider the real interests motives and professions. By virtue of this quality, of others. How should they, when they scarcely he found it perfectly reasonable that a young man ever regard their own? He wanted a companion with fifteen thousand a year, with large expectafor the moment;-in Edward Barrington he found tions besides, should be very well received one; that was enough. He proposed that Barring-wherever he presented himself, and attract a very considerable portion of other people's regard. He no extraordinary degree of submission." "I am exact proportion to his fortune; and with this he meant no offence, sir." "Oh! don't mistake me," was far from being dissatisfied. In return, he replied Shirley, "I am not offended, never am, repaid the world in its own coin; and, satisfied-I only wished you to see that I understand with enjoying and preserving the real advantages what I am about. Five pounds for the epergne, of his situation, he could easily dispense with the and 81. 10s. for the spoons and forks, make 137. fastidiousness and assumed superiority in which 10s. to be deducted from the bill, which leaves many of his class chose to indulge, but for which just 3147. 3s., instead of 3277. 13s. I believe that he observed they were invariably made to pay in is correct, Mr. Wilcox ?" Why, yes, sir, that some shape or other. There was, besides, a very is, I believe, the precise amount, if you insist upon delectable pleasure in seeing through and discon- the reductions." "In other words, keeping to our certing the little wiles that were prepared for him, agreement," observed Shirley,-"I like calling without betraying any consciousness of their ex- things by their right names.' "Well, sir, as you istence, and consequently giving any ground for please," said Mr. Wilcox, "and if you will give reproach or ill-humour.'-vol. iii., pp. 68-80. me a check for the amount, I shall feel much obliged." The friends are, soon in town and established in a gorgeous hotel near St. James's Street; and here Mr. Shirley is visited, among others, by an eminent silversmith of that vicinity. "ten per Stop a little, my good sir,-we have not got quite so far as that," observed Shirley,-" There I mean is another little matter to be settled first; "Discount!" repeated the amount of discount." Wilcox, in dismay, - -"discount upon a bill cut down as that has been! You are not serious in that, sir,-I can't afford it, sir,-indeed, I can't.” "Good morning to you, Mr. Wilcox; take a" As you please, Mr. Wilcox; only if there is no chair, you have brought your bill, I suppose?" discount, I shall not pay the bill for these two Yes, sir, I have, as you desired it, but in no years." "Not pay for these two years!" repeated sort of hurry. We can let it stand over for the Wilcox. No, sir, without discount I shall present, if you desire it," said the very civil-look-take the same credit as your other customers, and ing tradesman, presenting the document. Shirley I know very well what that is," answered Shirley. received the bill and went very deliberately through "It is all the same to me whether I pay now with all the items, marking several with his pencil,-a a discount, or whether I retain the interest of the proceeding which seemed anything but gratifying money for the next two years; but you may rely to Mr. Wilcox. He then added up the sum, and upon it, I am not going to pay ready money pronounced the addition to be correct. "3271. without a discount, when you are too happy to 13s.," said Shirley. Precisely so, sir, but the get your money from other people at the end of thirteen shillings we shall take off." "And a three or four years;-but the matter rests with good deal more too, Mr. Wilcox, before we have yourself, you may take the money or not, as you done," added the cool-looking Shirley. First of like." The man of trade, experienced in such all," continued he, "we agreed that the epergne matters, saw at once that he had nothing more to should be 371.-in the bill it is 427." (6 Why, yes, gain from his obdurate customer, and said that as sir," said Wilcox, taken considerably aback, and he was in want of money to meet a bill, he would surveying his hat as he turned it round and round allow five per cent. "Ten, you mean," said in his hands as if it had been the epergne itself, Shirley. "Ten!" echoed Mr, Wilcox, "we did agree for thirty-seven, to be sure, there's cent!" "Yes," answered Shirley, "I know perno denying that, but you see, sir, I spoke with-fectly well it is a common thing." Yes, sir," out reckoning at the time; and I assure you, sir, said Wilcox, "when a tradesman charges his own it cost me nearly what I have charged." "Dare prices, but not upon work done upon estimate. say it did," returned Shirley," but you see the I couldn't afford it, sir,-indeed, I couldn't. If it point is not what it cost, but what we agreed for." had not been for the agreement I should have "Well, sir, if you insist upon it, of course charged ten per cent. more than I have done." it must be thirty-seven." "To be sure it must," " Well," said Shirley, "there may be some reason said Shirley. "Then you have charged eight in that, so we will take the discount at only five and sixpence an ounce upon all the forks per cent.,-that will be on 3147. 3s. just 157. 14s., and spoons instead of eight shillings." Why, or, to leave things in round numbers, we will say yes, there again I should have been a loser,-I 14/. 3s., so that I have to give you a check for 300l." could not do it for the money, sir,-consider the Mr. Wilcox bowed his acquiescence, and elaborate work, sir," urged Wilcox. "You should Shirley, requesting Edward to hand him his have considered that," rejoined Shirley. My banker's check-book, which lay near him on the part was to consider what I chose to give,-yours, table, wrote out a draft for the sum mentioned, what you could afford to take. Sixpence an ounce which he delivered to the tradesman. The latter, on three hundred and forty ounces, gives 81. 10s. having given a receipt, which Shirley took care to to be deducted from 1447. 10s." Very well, sir," see was on a stamp of the proper amount, took said Wilcox, "I suppose I must submit." "Sub- his leave, having previously expressed his acknowmit!" repeated Shirley, "what do you talk about ledgments for his customer's punctuality, and his submitting for? If I had paid the bill as it is, I hopes that he might soon be favoured with his orders. might have spoken with some reason about submitting, as I should, in that case, have submitted to an evident imposition. Every man is bound to keep to his agreements, and I suppose that implies cr "He was succeeded by Burton, whose bill for some articles of furniture sent down into the country amounted to 2517. 10s. 4d. By a process similar to that just described, the sum was reduced to 2201., and discharged, like the preceding one, | finances of the assistant curate of a fashionable by a cheque on the bank. chapel, who by express agreement was obliged to "There, Ned," said Shirley, when they were surrender the whole of the stipend he received left alone, "I have given you a practical lesson towards the expenses of lighting and repairing the which is worth all the preaching in the world. building, the opportunity of displaying his talents Out of 5791. I have saved exactly 617.,-and this, as a popular preacher being deemed a sufficient merely at the expense of a few words, and just remuneration for his services. But the speculatwenty-five minutes. I doubt if I could have employed my time much more profitably."-vol. iii., pp. 84-89. tion which the Reverend Theophilus Sibley had entered upon did not allow of too narrow a calculation in his economy. His whole fortune consisted, besides his degree of Baccalareus Artium, of We shall not dwell on the scenes of gam- a few hundred pounds, upon which he calculated bling and every congenial vice into which he should be able to maintain his position until he sundry high-born associates now introduce had secured its permanence by an eligible matrithe weak and worthless son of Major Bar-monial connexion. His appearance in the pulpit was decidedly attractive. His hair, elaborately rington. These things are in main such as parted at the top, was of a glossy jet, which conthey had been depicted long before our trasted admirably with his fair and polished foreauthor wrote. We must, however, pause head. The face, if of too pale a cast for the warfor a moment on a personage new, as we rior, was well suited for the student and the believe, to fiction-though not to fact- preacher ;-at least, such a student as ladies love 'the little milliner'-the great modiste, and to paint. In his efforts to enunciate distinctly for also bill-broker and money-lender, and the benefit of his hearers, he unavoidably displaymoreover fashionable boarding-house keeper. brilliant whiteness, were probably unequalled by ed a set of teeth which, for their regularity and The heroine of a recent cause before the any in his congregation; while the delicate hand, Court of Bankruptcy in London will at once extended upon the red velvet cushion, which lent be recognized as having suggested this it every aid of contrast, might possibly boast the charming Mrs. Bell, alias Madame Belzoni. same distinction. The black frock-coat, the proEdward accompanies a certain Lord Fran- duction of a first-rate tailor, was made to give to cis Devereux to Madame's house, and is the person an amplitude in which it was rather introduced to the lady as a friend' desirous deficient; the light grey gloves were of the best of the honour of her acquaintance, and of front, contrasted with the rich black silk waistFrench kid;-the shirt of the finest cambric in finding a home, during the time he remained coat; and the tie of the neckcloth would have in town, in her tasteful and commodious challenged admiration in those years gone by, residence.' Her terms for boarding and when that difficult achievement was the great perlodging are named, and accepted without an plexity of exquisites. objection; and, after a few gallant speeches But effective as his personal appearance unfrom Lord Francis, and some complimentary doubtedly was, the Reverend Theophilus did not deem it wise to rest upon it entirely. In these nothings on the part of the lady, they enter on the more serious object of Edward's days of requirement he felt that more was necessary. The difficulty lay in selecting one of the visit, that of raising a supply of cash to meet weak points by which the public is approachable. his present necessities. The sum he wished Two parties presented themselves to his choice, to obtain was a thousand pounds, as a secu- the Puseyites and the Evangelicals. The first of rity for which he offered the reversion of these bodies he had penetrated enough to see was eleven thousand in the three per cents., depending on the life of his father. The obliging lady proposes to procure the money for him at 25 per cent., which she afterwards lowers to 20; and orders her carriage, to have recourse, as she says, to a friend for that opposed to the spirit of the age, and stood no chance, therefore, of acquiring permanent success among the laity. The latter, on the contrary, was based on the religious feelings and partialities of a large and increasing section of the public. Doctrines which, not very long ago, were regarded with something more than dislike and contempt by the genteel classes, had of late years been reWe recommend Madame to the good ceived into their special favour. The dogmas of offices of Mr. Planché and Mrs. Glover: Calvin, formerly confined to the gloom of the but, perhaps the modern stage would hardly of fashion and elegance; and the formidable sysconventicle, had been transplanted into the regions venture on the reverend chaplain who now tems of divinity which had so long slumbered in attends the lady-abbess in her drive to Lombard Street : purpose. the ponderous tomes of the seventeenth century, had been condensed into a few charming pages Being unmarried, and consequently not a bound up in gold-lettered volumes, which lay, householder, he had become an inmate of Madame mingled with the works of Moore and Byron, on Belzoni's establishment. In his selection of this the table of the boudoir. This religious revoludomicile he had been led partly by the rank and tion had not been confined to the laity. Its procondition of the persons who frequented it, and gress among the clergy had been equally remarkapartly by the attraction of the excellent living for ble. True, the men of the receding generation, which the house was celebrated. To be sure, the the followers of Pitt and Burke, the church-andterms were not apparently calculated for the king men, embedded in their rectories and preju-, |