Once, but once only, he was guilty, as an innocent freshman, of a breach of the laws of his order.  He wrote too good an essay.  He tells his father: 

     “OXFORD, February, 1837.

“Yesterday (Saturday) forenoon the Sub-dean sent for me, took me up into his study, sat down with me, and read over my essay, pointing out a few verbal alterations and suggesting improvements; I, of course, expressed myself highly grateful for his condescension.  Going out, I met Strangeways.  ’So you’re going to read out to-day, Ruskin. Do go it at a good rate, my good fellow.  Why do you write such devilish good ones?’ Went a little farther and met March.  ’Mind you stand on the top of the desk, Ruskin; gentlemen-commoners never stand on the steps.’  I asked him whether it would look more dignified to stand head or heels uppermost.  He advised heels.  Then met Desart.  ’We must have a grand supper after this, Ruskin; gentlemen-commoners always have a flare-up after reading their themes.’  I told him I supposed he wanted to ’pison my rum-and-water.’”

And though they teased him unmercifully, he seems to have given as good as he got.  At a big wine after the event, they asked him whether his essay cost 2s.6d. or 5s.  What he answered is not reported; but they proceeded to make a bonfire in Peckwater, while he judiciously escaped to bed.

So for a home-bred boy, thrown into rather difficult surroundings, his first appearance at Christ Church was distinctly a success.  “Collections” in March, 1837, went off creditably for him.  Hussey, Kynaston and the Dean said he had taken great pains with his work, and had been a pattern of regularity; and he ended his first term very well pleased with his college and with himself.

In his second term he had the honour of being elected to the Christ Church Club, a very small and very exclusive society of the best men in the college:  “Simeon, Acland, and Mr. Denison proposed him; Lord Carew and Broadhurst supported.”  And he had the opportunity of meeting men of mark, as the following letter recounts.  He writes on April 22, 1837: 

     “My Dearest Father,

“When I returned from hall yesterday—­where a servitor read, or pretended to read, and Decanus growled at him, ’Speak out!’—­I found a note on my table from Dr. Buckland, requesting the pleasure of my company to dinner, at six, to meet two celebrated geologists, Lord Cole and Sir Philip Egerton.  I immediately sent a note of thanks and acceptance, dressed, and was there a minute after the last stroke of Tom.  Alone for five minutes in Dr. B.’s drawing-room, who soon afterwards came in with Lord Cole, introduced me, and said that as we were both geologists he did not hesitate to leave us together while he did what he certainly very much required—­brushed up a little.  Lord Cole and I were talking about some fossils newly arrived from India.  He remarked in the course of conversation that his friend