 valued himself upon
his ability in smoaking the greatest number of pipes, and drinking the largest
quantity of ale; these were qualifications of too gross a nature to captivate
his refined ambition. He piqued himself on his talent for raillery, his genius
and taste, his personal accomplishments, and his success at intrigue; nor were
his excursions confined to the small villages in the neighbourhood, which are
commonly visited once a week by the students for the sake of carnal recreation.
He kept his own horses, traversed the whole country in parties of pleasure,
attended all the races within fifty miles of Oxford, and made frequent jaunts to
London, where he used to lie incognito during the best part of many a term.
    The rules of the university were too severe to be observed by a youth of his
vivacity; and therefore he became acquainted with the proctor, by times. But all
the checks he received were insufficient to moderate his career; he frequented
taverns and coffee-houses, committed midnight frolics in the streets, insulted
all the sober and pacific class of his fellow-students; the tutors themselves
were not sacred from his ridicule; he laughed at the magistrate, and neglected
every particular of college-discipline.
    In vain did they attempt to restrain his irregularities by the imposition of
fines; he was liberal to profusion, and therefore paid without reluctance.
Thrice did he scale the windows of a tradesman, with whose daughter he had an
affair of gallantry, as often was he obliged to seek his safety by a precipitate
leap; and one night would, in all probability, have fallen a sacrifice to an
ambuscade that was laid by the father, had not his trusty squire Pipes
interposed in his behalf, and manfully rescued him from the clubs of his
enemies.
    In the midst of these excesses, Mr. Jolter finding his admonitions
neglected, and his influence utterly destroyed, attempted to wean his pupil from
his extravagant courses, by engaging his attention in some more laudable
pursuit. With this view he introduced him into a club of politicians, who
received him with great demonstrations of regard, accommodated themselves more
than he could have expected to his jovial disposition, and while they revolved
schemes for the reformation of the state, drank with such devotion to the
accomplishment of their plans, that before parting the cares of their patriotism
were quite overwhelmed.
    Peregrine, though he could not approve of their doctrine, resolved to attach
himself for some time to their company; because he perceived ample subject for
his ridicule, in the characters of these wrong-headed enthusiasts. It was a
constant practice with them, in their midnight
