to understand that I am not an admirer of the " Vagabond" style. I think our own language is sufficiently copious and sonorous; I disapprove of that tasteless attachment to French words, which boys just escaped from their boarding-schools are so ridiculously fond of. Why in the name of common sense should we Frenchify the Military Art? Do not those words sound as well as "L'Art Militaire ?*" I have no objection to quotations, but I am so true a John Bull that I most firmly believe we are as much superior to the French in our Language as we are in our Arms; and that the present vitiated taste for interlarding our sentences with Gallic frippery arises principally from the vanity of being thought adepts in that language. I wish to call the attention of my literary brethren to one particular part of the Belles Lettres. I mean Criticism on new and popular works, as it possesses all the attraction of novelty in Essays of this nature. The species of Criticism I wish for is to be found in the Quarterly, British, and Edinburgh Reviews. Not a mere string of quotations from the best or the worst parts of the publications reviewed; but also dissertations illustrative of the various subjects; anecdotes of the * Il Vagabondo, No. 1. authors; and allusions to other works of the same nature. I shall not object to my Paper being the vehicle for bringing before the public "Rejected Essays and Poems," which although not deemed worthy of being placed first in the academical list, may yet possess great merit, and may do honour to myself and their authors. I cannot help hoping that my Lucubrations, assisted by the literary strength of Oxford, may at some future period stand by the side of the "Connoisseur," which sprang from the same source. We have not a Bonnell Thornton, a Warton, and a Colman amongst us in these days; but I could mention many of equal literary celebrity, and I anticipate with rapture our producing a Periodical Paper in this University which will outlive the day of its publication, and may be thought worthy of being collected together, when finished, and given to the world in the shape of a BOOK. I am arrived thus far without giving my Miscellany a name. I find the ceremony of christening my intended work a very arduous undertaking. I am like Tristram Shandy's Father, very fond of particular names. We have had the Connoisseur,―The Student, The Looker On,—The Olla Podrida, and va rious other appellations in Oxford; but here Mr. Shandy has the advantage of me. He wished for a name because it had been worn by some great personage: I must not take one that has been used before-but I cannot lose my time in seeking for a name, the Printer's boy being now with me, loudly calling for "more Copy, Sir," I hope, therefore, that some Correspondent will send me a title, enclosed in his Essay or Poem, as early as possible. By the bye, I wish my own name to be kept in recollection. It should be remembered that the "Lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaffe, Esquire," alias "The Tatler," obtained and still possess great celebrity; and why not the "LUCUBRATIONS OF COUNSELLOR BICKERTON, ESQUIRE," alias the ". My Correspondent will fill up the hiatus. Some of my Readers may think it necessary to enquire into my history. This they may soon have an opportunity of being acquainted with, as I have in the Press "Memoirs of my own Life," which no doubt will be equally as interesting as the Life of any other learned Man that has lately appeared in "The Public Characters" of Sir Richard Phillips, although I cannot dub myself B.D. a Senior Fellow and Tutor of College, and one of the Public Examiners. - " Previous to the appearance of my LIFE, I must, however, say a few words about myself, at least so far as relates to my intended farrago :-but stop, gentle Reader, a sudden thought strikes me.-Why not make FARRAGO the Title of my Miscellany? It shall be so; and now be it known unto all Persons, that NUMBER ONE of the " FARRAGO,” or the "LUCUBRATIONS OF COUNSELLOR BICKERTON, ESQUIRE," will be published on Monday next, the 17th instant, and will continue to appear weekly, during Term, as long as the University shall remain. Let not this bold assertion startle my Readers. I have deeply studied Hermippus Redivivus" with my learned friend and fellow Collegian, Constantine Demetriades, the great Athenian Philosopher; and have read through the thirty-six Books on Philosophy and the six on Physics, written by Hermes Trismegistus, who flourished under Niņus, Anno Mundi 2016. These inestimable treasures were discovered, a few years since, in a vault under the foundation of our College Library, and have been wisely withheld from the inspection of all but myself, and our learned Principal, I am (although unlike the Wandering Jew in his "Vagabond, habits") similar to him in longevity, and I mean to amuse and instruct Oxford, unti!-I was just going to say "time shall be no more; but, upon reflec tion, I find that I must eat and drink, although immortal; and I know my Printers will expect to be paid their bills regularly; therefore my 66 Terminal Miscellany" must have a termination, unless I discover the Philosopher's Stone, by perusing the celebrated Manuscript entitled " Περι της Ιερας τέχνης της το χρυσό και TU AGYURB WOINTEWG," written by Zosimus the Panopolite, in the year of Christ 316; the only copy of which was in the King of France's Library, until my Hartwell friend, LOUIS XVIII. sent it to me from Paris, as a reward for my services. My Coadjutors, I am sorry to say, are at present not very numerous. Constantine Demetriades has promised me two Comedies and one Tragedy in modern Greek; a beautiful Cossack Ode, which he picked up during his last trip from Greece to St. Petersburgh, and a Dissertation upon the Greek language, clearly proving that the Professors and Tutors know nothing of it; and that he is the only person now in England who is able to teach it, as it should be taught, in this and every other University. My Friend and travelling Companion during my last CIRCUIT, has kindly given me some specimens of his poetical talents, which I have placed at the end of this my Prefatory Address; and I hope for many |