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TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,

FORTY YEARS AGO.

It was a lovely morning; a remittance had arrived in the very nick of time; my two horses were in excellent condition; and I resolved, with a college chum, to put in execution a long concerted scheme of driving to London, Tandem. We sent our horses forward, got others at Cambridge, and tossing Algebra and Anarcharsis "to the dogs," started in high spirits. We ran up to London in style-went ballpitch to the play; and after a quiet breakfast at the St James's, set out with my own horses upon a dashing drive through the west end of the town. We were turning down the Haymarket, when whom, to my utter horror and consternation, should I see crossing to meet us, but my old warm-hearted, but severe and peppery, uncle, Sir Thomas

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To escape was impossible.-A cart before, and two carriage's behind, made us stationary; and I mentally resigned all idea of ever succeeding to his five thousand per annum. Up he came. "What! can I believe my eyes? George? what the do you here? Tandem too, by.' (I leave blanks for the significant accompaniments which dropped from his mouth like pearls, and rubies in the fairy tale, when he was in a passion.) I have it,

thought I, as an idea crossed my mind which I resolved to follow. I looked right and left, as if it was not possible it could be me he was addressing: "What! you don't know me, you young dog? Don't you know your uncle? Why, Sir, in the name of common sense : Phsaw! you've done with that: Why, in

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name an't you at Cambridge!" "At Cambridge, Sir," said I, "At Cambridge, Sir, he repeated, mimicking my affected astonishment! "why, I suppose you never were at Cambridge? Oh! you young spendthrift: is this the manner you dispose of my allowance? Is this the way you read hard? you young profligate, you young Seeing he was getting energetic, I began to be apprehensive of a scene; and resolved to drop the curtain at once. "Really Sir," said I, with as brazen a look as I could summon upon emergency, "I have not the honour of your acquaintance." His large eyes assumed a fixed stare of astonishment: "I must confess you have the advantage of me. Excuse me; but, to my knowledge, I never saw you before." A torrent I perceived was coming." Make no apologies, they are unnecessary. Your next rencontre will, I hope, be more fortunate, though your finding your country cousin in London is like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay. Bye, bye, old buck." The cart was removed, and I drove off, yet not without seeing him, in a paroxysm of rage, half frightful, half ludicrous, toss his

hat on the ground, and hearing him exclaim: "He disowns me! the jackanapes! disowns his own uncle, by

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Poor Philip Chichester's look of amazement at this finished stroke of impudence is present, at this instant, to my memory. I think I see his face, which at no time had more expression than a turnip, assume that air of a pensive simpleton, d'un mouton qui reve, which he so often and so successfully exhibited over an incomprehensible problem in "Principia." Well! you've done it; Dished completely. What could induce you to be such a blockhead?" said he. "The family of the blockheads, my dear Phil," I replied, “is far too creditably established in society to render their alliance disgraceful. I'm proud to belong to so prevailing a party." "Pshaw this is no time for joking. What's to be done?" "Why, when does a man want a joke, Phil, but when he is in trouble? However, adieu to badinage, and hey for Cambridge instantly.' "Cambridge?" In the twinkling of an eye-not a moment to be lost. My uncle will post there with four horses instantly; and my only chance of avoiding that romantic misfortune. of being cut off with a shilling, is to be there before him."

Without settling the bill at the inn, or making a single arrangement, we dashed back to Cambridge. Never shall I forget the mental anxiety I endured on my way there. Every

thing was against us. A heavy rain had fallen in the night, and the roads were wretched, the traces broke, turnpike gates were shut, droves of sheep and carts impeded our progress; but in spite of all these obstacles, we reached the College in less than six hours. 66 Has Sir Thomas been here?" said I to

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the porter, with an agitation I could not conceal. "No, Sir." Phil thanked God, and took courage. "If he does, tell him so and so, said I, giving veracious Thomas his instructions, and putting a guinea into his hand to sharpen his memory. 'Phil, my dear fellow, don't show your face out of College for this fortnight. You twig! God bless you." I had barely time to get to my own room, to have my toga and trencher beside me, Newton and Aristotle before me, optics, mechanics, and hydrostatics, strewed around in learned profusion, when my uncle drove up to the gate.

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Porter, I wish to see Mr said he; "is he in his rooms?" "Yes, Sir; I saw him take a heap of books there ten minutes ago." This was not the first bouncer the Essence of Truth, as Thomas was known through college, had told for me: nor the last he got well paid for.

"Ah! very likely; reads very hard, I dare say?" No doubt of that, I believe, Sir," said Thomas, as bold as brass, "You audacious fellow how dare you look in my face. and tell me such a deliberate falsehood? You know he's not in college!" "Not in college!

Sir, as I hope-""None of your hopes or fears to me. Show me his rooms. If two See him,-Yes,

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I did not see I've seen him, and he's seen the last of me."

He had now reached my rooms; and never shall I forget his look of astonishment, of amazement bordering on incredulity, when I calmly came forward, took his hand, and welcomed him to Cambridge. "My dear Sir, how are you? What lucky wind has blown you here?" "What, George! who-what-whyI can't believe my eyes!" "How happy I am to see you!" I continued; "how kind of you to come! how well you're looking!""How people may be deceived! My dear George, (speaking rapidly.) I met a fellow, in a tandem, in the Haymarket, so like you in every particular, that I hailed him at once. The puppy disowned me-affected to cut a joke and drove off. Never was I more taken off my stilts. I came down directly, with four post-horses, to tell your tutor; to tell the master; to tell all the college, that I would have nothing more to do with you: that I would be responsible for your debts no longer; to inclose you fifty pounds and disown you for ever." "My dear Sir, how singular!"—"Singular! I would wonder at perjury no longer, for my part. I would have gone into any court of justice, and have taken my oath it was you. I never saw such a likeness. Your father and the fellow's mother were acquainted, or I'm

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