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'That's true； your reverence。 But it comes to the same thing。'
'Not to the pigs；' retorted the rector。
'To your reverence； I means。'
'A pig at the butcher's；' I suggested； 'is worth a dozen unborn。'
'No one can deny it；' said the rector； as he fingered the small change in his breeches pocket； and pointing with the other hand to the broad back of the black sow； exclaimed； 'This is the one； DUPLEX AGITUR PER LUMBOS SPINA！ She's got a back like an alderman's chin。'
'EPICURI DE GREGE PORCUS；' I assented； and the fate of the black sow was sealed。
Next day an express came from Holkham； to say that Lady Leicester had given birth to a daughter。 My tutor jumped out of his chair to hand me the note。 'Did I not anticipate the event'？ he cried。 'What a wonderful world we live in！ Unconsciously I made room for the infant by sacrificing the life of that pig。' As I never heard him allude to the doctrine of Pythagoras； as he had no leaning to Buddhism；
and； as I am sure he knew nothing of the correlation of forces； it must be admitted that the conception was an original one。
Be this as it may； Mr。 Collyer was an upright and conscientious man。 I owe him much； and respect his memory。 He died at an advanced age； an honorary canon； and … a bachelor。
Another portrait hangs amongst the many in my memory's picture gallery。 It is that of his successor to the vicarage； the chaplaincy； and the librarianship； at Holkham … Mr。 Alexander Napier … at this time； and until his death fifty years later； one of my closest and most cherished friends。 Alexander Napier was the son of Macvey Napier； first editor of the 'Edinburgh Review。' Thus； associated with many eminent men of letters； he also did some good literary work of his own。 He edited Isaac Barrow's works for the University of Cambridge； also Boswell's 'Johnson；' and gave various other proofs of his talents and his scholarship。 He was the most delightful of companions； liberal…minded in the highest degree； full of quaint humour and quick sympathy； an excellent parish priest； … looking upon Christianity as a life and not a dogma； beloved by all； for he had a kind thought and a kind word for every needy or sick being in his parish。
With such qualities； the man always predominated over the priest。 Hence his large…hearted charity and indulgence for the faults … nay； crimes … of others。 Yet； if taken aback by an outrage； or an act of gross stupidity； which even the perpetrator himself had to suffer for； he would momentarily lose his patience； and rap out an objurgation that would stagger the straiter…laced gentlemen of his own cloth； or an outsider who knew less of him than … the recording angel。
A fellow undergraduate of Napier's told me a characteristic anecdote of his impetuosity。 Both were Trinity men； and had been keeping high jinks at a supper party at Caius。 The friend suddenly pointed to the clock； reminding Napier they had but five minutes to get into college before Trinity gates were closed。 'D…n the clock！' shouted Napier； and snatching up the sugar basin （it was not EAU SUCREE they were drinking）； incontinently flung it at the face of the offending timepiece。
This youthful vivacity did not desert him in later years。 An old college friend … also a Scotchman … had become Bishop of Edinburgh。 Napier paid him a visit （he described it to me himself）。 They talked of books； they talked of politics； they talked of English Bards and Scotch Reviewers； of Brougham； Horner； Wilson； Macaulay； Jeffrey； of Carlyle's dealings with Napier's father … 'Nosey；' as Carlyle calls him。 They chatted into the small hours of the night； as boon companions； and as what Bacon calls 'full' men； are wont。 The claret； once so famous in the 'land of cakes；' had given place to toddy； its flow was in due measure to the flow of soul。 But all that ends is short … the old friends had spent their last evening together。 Yes； their last； perhaps。 It was bed…time； and quoth Napier to his lordship； 'I tell you what it is； Bishop； I am na fou'； but I'll be hanged if I haven't got two left legs。'
'I see something odd about them；' says his lordship。 'We'd better go to bed。'
Who the bishop was I do not know； but I'll answer for it he was one of the right sort。
In 1846 I became an undergraduate of Trinity College； Cambridge。 I do not envy the man （though； of course； one ought） whose college days are not the happiest to look back upon。 One should hope that however profitably a young man spends his time at the University； it is but the preparation for something better。 But happiness and utility are not necessarily concomitant； and even when an undergraduate's course is least employed for its intended purpose （as； alas！ mine was） … for happiness； certainly not pure； but simple； give me life at a University；
Heaven forbid that any youth should be corrupted by my confession！ But surely there are some pleasures pertaining to this unique epoch that are harmless in themselves； and are certainly not to be met with at any other。 These are the first years of comparative freedom； of manhood； of responsibility。 The novelty； the freshness of every pleasure； the unsatiated appetite for enjoyment； the animal vigour； the ignorance of care； the heedlessness of； or rather； the implicit faith in； the morrow； the absence of mistrust or suspicion； the frank surrender to generous impulses； the readiness to accept appearances for realities … to believe in every profession or exhibition of good will； to rush into the arms of every friendship； to lay bare one's tenderest secrets； to listen eagerly to the revelations which make us all akin； to offer one's time； one's energies； one's purse； one's heart； without a selfish afterthought … these； I say； are the priceless pleasures； never to be repeated； of healthful average youth。
What has after…success； honour； wealth； fame； or； power … burdened； as they always are； with ambitions； blunders； jealousies； cares； regrets； and failing health … to match with this enjoyment of the young； the bright； the bygone； hour？ The wisdom of the worldly teacher … at least； the CARPE DIEM … was practised here before the injunction was ever thought of。 DU BIST SO SCHON was the unuttered invocation； while the VERWEILE DOCH was deemed unneedful。
Little； I am ashamed to own； did I add either to my small classical or mathematical attainments。 But I made friendships … lifelong friendships； that I would not barter for the best of academical prizes。
Amongst my associates or acquaintances； two or three of whom have since become known … were the last Lord Derby； Sir William Harcourt； the late Lord Stanley of Alderley； Latimer Neville； late Master of Magdalen； Lord Calthorpe； of racing fame； with whom I afterwards crossed the Rocky Mountains； the last Lord Durham； my cousin； Sir Augustus Stephenson； ex… solicitor to the Treasury； Julian Fane； whose lyrics were edited by Lord Lytton； and my life…long friend Charles Barrington； private secretary to Lord Palmerston and to Lord John Russell。
But the most intimate of them was George Cayley； son of the mem