14 JANUARY 1905, Page 15

S In, While you are on the subject of Old Balliol

epigrams, may I give you the version of the " Port and Porter " which occurs in my father's commonplace-book ? He took his B.A. degree in 1848, so his authority is that of a contemporary :— " Why was his time already short Cut so untimely shorter?

It was because he floored the port, And then he floored the porter."

This is followed by a Latin version, which runs :- " Dic age, cur UR quamquam breve tempus in horam

Contraxit subito sore inimica brevem ? Iverat ills force vino gravis ; obvius ictu Decidit ecce gravi janitor ante forest'

—I am, Sir, &c., C. H. P.