"I was very nearly forgetting a great institution of the College, which is the Buttery-hatch, just opposite the hall-door. Here abides the fat old butler (all the servants at St. Ambrose's are portly) who serves out limited bread, butter, and cheese, unlimited beer, brewed by himself, for an hour in the morning, at noon, and again at supper-time. Your scout always fetches you a pint or so, on each occasion, in case you want it; and if you don't, it falls to him; but I can't say that my fellow gets much, for I am naturally a thirsty soul, and cannot often resist the malt myself, coming up as it does, fresh and cool, in one of the silver tankards of which we seem to have an endless supply."
The Buttery-hatch itself is an institution as absolutely unknown to American colleges as is the unlimited distribution of beer. It must be said, in defence of the Buttery-hatch and of Mr. Tom Brown, that while the beer is certainly cool and fresh, it is invariably very mild; and it is as harmless a beer as can be brewed.
Hughes was graduated from Oriel in 1845.
When Edward Freeman was appointed to the chair of Modern History in 1886, he wrote, from Trinity College: "I have come up here, taken possession of my quarters for the term, received Her Majesty's sign-manual as Professor, been admitted Fellow of Oriel, dined with the
