This
science, which is known by the vulgar appellation of puffing, they
carried to such a pitch of finesse, that an author very often wrote
an abusive answer to his own performance, in order to inflame the
curiosity of the town, by which it had been overlooked. Notwithstanding
this general unanimity in the college, a private animosity had
long subsisted between the two rivals I have mentioned, on account
of precedence, to which both laid claim, though, by a majority of
votes, it had been decided in favour of the present chairman. The
grudge indeed never proceeded to any degree of outrage or defiance,
but manifested itself at every meeting, in attempts to eclipse
each other in smart sayings and pregnant repartee; so that there
was always a delicate mess of this kind of wit served up in the
front of the evening, for the entertainment and example of the junior
members, who never failed to divide upon this occasion, declaring
themselves for one or other of the combatants, whom they encouraged
by their looks, gestures, and applause, according to the circumstances
of the dispute.
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