George II. and the Accession of George III.," which Dr. Johnson said was "a very pretty performance of a young man"; but which Bentham himself, after the deliberation of maturity, pronounced to be a "mediocre performance on a trumpery subject, written by a miserable child." The Georges, Second and Third, certainly were trumpery subjects!
Bentham took his degree of B. A. at the age of eighteen, and he left Oxford in 1767. The only picture of his personal appearance at this period which has been handed down to us, represents him as "walking from Oxford to Farringdon in a peagreen coat and green silk breeches, bitterly tight." The description, as contained in the last two words, is a little vague; but it is to be inferred that the green garments were tight, not the wearer of them!
William Mitford the Historian, although four years older than Bentham, entered Queen's a year later. He neglected the ordinary studies, he left before Bentham left, and without a degree, his chief attainments being great physical strength and general physical good looks. He and Bentham belonged to the same breakfast-club, and, naturally, were thrown much together, although Bentham has put on record the fact that he, at that time, looked upon Mitford's conversation as being commonplace.
