 pass a great many unsavoury jokes upon his
misfortune, which they now discovered no inclination to alleviate; and he found
himself very uncomfortably beset, when Pickle pitying his situation, interposed
in his behalf, and prevailed upon the chairmen to carry him into the house of an
apothecary in the neighbourhood, to whom his mischance proved a very
advantageous accident; for the fright operated so violently upon his nerves,
that he was seized with a delirium, and lay a whole fortnight, deprived of his
senses; during which period he was not neglected in point of medicines, food and
attendance, but royally regaled, as appeared by the contents of his landlord's
bill.
    Our adventurer having seen this unfortunate beau safely housed, returned to
the scene of the other calamity, which, as it was no other than a foul vent,
soon yielded to the endeavours of the family, and was happily overcome, without
any other bad consequence than that of alarming the neighbours, disturbing the
college, and disordering the brain of a beau.
    Eager to be acquainted with the particular constitutions of a society which
seemed to open upon him by degrees, Mr. Pickle did not fail to appear at the
next meeting, when several petitions were laid before the board, in behalf of
those members who were confined in the prisons of the Fleet, Marshalsea, and
King's bench. As those unhappy authors expected nothing from their brethren but
advice and good offices, which did not concern the purse, their memorials were
considered with great care and humanity; and, upon this occasion, Peregrine had
it in his power to manifest his importance to the community; for he happened to
be acquainted with the creditor of one of the prisoners, and knew that
gentleman's severity was owing to his resentment at the behaviour of the debtor,
who had lampooned him in print, because he refused to comply with a fresh
demand, after he had lent him money to the amount of a considerable sum. Our
young gentleman therefore understanding that the author was penitent, and
disposed to make a reasonable submission, promised to employ his influence with
the creditor towards an accommodation; and, in a few days, actually obtained his
release.
    These social duties being discharged, the conversation took a general turn,
and several new productions were freely criticised; those especially which
belonged to authors who were either unconnected with, or unknown to the college.
Nor did the profession of stage-playing escape the cognizance of the assembly: a
deputation of the most judicious members being sent weekly to each theatre, with
a view of making remarks upon the performance of the
