Rowlandson's Oxford

e Constitution Club-The Oxford Poetical Club-Its rules

are more conservative in ideas than the members of any other class of society. Their immediate ambitions are

entrate their brains and energies therefore to the formation of new clubs-having already become members of a great percentage of the long-founded university clubs which are open to them. They make the epoch-making discovery that many of their members have cut and dried ideas on politics, and that others are big with new theories on social conditions and the education of the masses. Heedless of the fact that in reality these new theories and political arguments have been discussed and thrashed

py to be enlisted)," wrote Dibdin, "met frequently at each other's rooms, to talk over and to concoct a code of laws or of regulations for the establishment of a society to be called a 'Society for Scientific and Literary Disquisition.' It comprehended a debate and an essay, to be prepared by each member in succession, studiously avoiding, in both, all topics of religious and political controversy. There was not the slightest attempt to beat down any one barrier of university law of regulation throughout our whole code. We were to meet in a hired room, at a priva

lemen, there does not appear to be anything in these laws subversive of academic discipline, or contrary to the statutes of the university-but (ah, that ill-omened But!) as it is impossible to predict how they may operate, and as innovations of this sort, and in these times, may have a tendency which may be as little anticipated as it may be distressing to the framers of such laws, I am compelled, in the exercise of my magisterial authority, as Vice-Chancellor, to interdict your meeting in the manner proposed'"-and then one can see him ringing for the servant to show them out, with a polite smile on his fat face, in the usual red-tape manner. As, however, the deputat

dest, and among my most valued friends, Mr Barwis of Queen's, Mr Gibson (afterwards called Riddell) of Worcester, and George Foster of Lincoln-all united to give strength and respectability to our association. Our meetings were frequent and full. The essays after having been read, were entered in a book; and I am not sure whether, at this very day, such book be not in existence. The subjects of debate usually were, as of old they ever had been, whether the merits or demerits of such a character (C?sar or Queen Elizabeth, for instance) were the greater? Or whether the good or evil of such a

of making a speech, were pretty free in using sneering epithets, and in stigmatising by nicknames. There was, however, one nickname which we instantly and courageously took to ourselves and adopted-and

ring which, Mr Shenstone, I remember, in order to detain us, produced Cotton's 'Virgil Travestie,' which he had lately met with; and which, though full of indelicacies and low humour, is certainly a most laughable performance. I displayed my slender stock of critical knewledge by applauding, as a work of equal humour, Echard's 'Causes of the Contempt of the Clergy.' Mr Whistler, who was a year or two older than either of us, I believe, and had finished his

st as the "Lunatics" was literary and debating, the Constitution Club was political and aggressive, the O

y of the times, and was intended to promote and cultivate friendship between all such persons as favour'd our present happy constitution; they thought themselves obliged openly and publickly to avow their loyalty, and manifest their sincere affection to King George upon all proper and becoming occasions, and to check, as much as in them lay, the vast torrent of treason and dissaffection which overflow'd the university. They thought it their duty to show all possible marks of respect to those faithful

er I

ew of All So

ay aforesaid, the whole body of the Constitution Club met together at a tavern and ordered the windows of the house to be illuminated, and some faggots to be prepared for a bonfire. But before the bonfire could be lighted, a very numerous mob, which was hired for that purpose, tore to pieces the faggots, and then assaulted the room where the club was sitting, with brickbats and stones. All the time that the mob was thus employed, the disaffected scholars, who had crowded the houses and streets near the tavern, continued throwing up their caps and scattering money amongst the rabble and shouting, 'Down with the Constitutioners;

with "unjust and scandalous usage" in St Mary's, Golgotha, the Theatre, Convocation House, and the Schools, which all rang with "invectives and anathemas against them.... Even those grave tools, the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors, to enliven their dull harangues, and gain the ap

of that year he "went with Mr Tristram to the Poetical Club (whereof he is a member) at the Tuns, kept by Mr Broadgate, where met Dr Evans, Fellow of St John's, and Mr Jno. Jones, Fellow of Balliol, members of the club. Subscribed 5s. to Dr Evans's 'Hymen and Juno' (which one m

ssible, to restore it to its pristine vigour and glory. They justly apprehended, both from reason and experience, that a critical lecture, once a term, though never so judicious, was not sufficient; and that the theory of any art was defective without the practice; and, therefore, they thought the best method to forward t

t the Three Tuns would suit them much better; in which they carry'd their point, and the Three Tuns was thereupon nominated the place of meeting, upon these two prov

nction of the club. Terrae Filius immediately began to puzzle his brain as to the membership of the club and its intentions. For a time he admitted himself

be sign'd by three persons of credit, that he has distinguished himself in some tale, cat

visible way of living, or can spend five shillings per annum de propr

the secrets of this society to any bo

otle, or any other sound critick, antient or modern, under pain of having his

y law established, or either of the two famous universities, or upon any magistrate or member o

gation thereof being supposed to cloud the poetical fac

verses, without leave first had

wed above the space of one

es, without the approbation of the major pa

o subscribe his name to

e conscience" that he was unable to spend five shillings per annum de proprio; but the President ably settled the point by observing that "as God is the sole author and disposer of all Things, we cannot in strict sense, call any thing our own; nor say that we have any visible way of living, our daily bread being the only bounty of His invisible hand, and therefore you may, salva conscientia, declare that you have no visible way of living; and that you cannot spend five shillings per annum de proprio, though according to vain h

nstitution, Amhurst, in his subsequent paper in which he described

he Oxford Po

with pipes and tobacco upon it; then the doctor handled his Arms; and as he was glazing his pipe with a Ball of superfine wax, which he always carried in his pocket for that use, he alarm'd the room with a sudden peal of laughter, which drew the eyes of the assembly towards him, and

ha! ha! ha! I cannot tell you for my life-I have made, I say, upon this ball of wax

; 'no body more proper to open t

ing up, with the ball of wax in his right hand, pron

see, with which

x I ever us'd

t, gentlemen ha! ha! ha! Is i

tery, doctor,' said they al

omy and run upon elegies and epitaphs upon living as well as dead men; but you will find them brighten up as the night advance and the

th, as in 1734), on which occasion Dr Leigh, Master of Balliol, was of the High Borlace and the first clergyman who had attended. It seems to have been patronised by the county families, and it is not improb

ce: "Monday Aug. 19, was held at the Angel inn, at Oxford, the High Borlase,

The latter would seem from its name to be a revival of the earlier Banterers existing almost a century before, who are described by Wood as "a set of scholars so-called, some M.A., who make it their employment to talk at a venture, lye, and prate what nonsense they please, if they see a man talk seriously the