(4.) An Ensign, the second boy, that is a king's scholar, to whom is entrusted the College Flag.

Besides these a great many (5.) Sergeants, and (6.) Corporals, in their proper uniforms. These are all who are of acknowledged rank; they consist entirely of king's scholars, and sixth form. (7.) The rest of the fifth form are attired in military coats, cocked hats and feathers, white trowsers, and boots; girded with a sword, quite a la milituire, of all ranks. The dresses worn by the fifth form on this day are continued till the midsummer holidays, while, on the contrary, the fancy costumes of the sixth form and salt-bearers are merely put on for the occasion: hence the boys of the fifth form obtain the cognomen of "Lobsters."

(8.) The remainder of the boys, entitled “lower boys,” are dressed in white waistcoats, trowsers, silk-stockings, and pumps: their coats are blue, and they carry a white pole. (9.) The Salt-bearers and their Servitors, Scouts, or Runners, wear every kind of fancy dress that can be devised, of all nations and of all colors (each however is furnished with a large embroidered bag for " salt,") so that they are the gayest of the gay. Throughout this account, the word "benefit" has been used in a doubtful and ambiguous sense, and may require a little explanation. All however that need be urged is that frequently, far from proving beneficial to the young man whom it is intended to assist during his stay at the University, the Montem has the very opposite effect of leaving him out of pocket. The cause of which is the expense of the superb dress he has to wear, the dinner at Salt-hill which he has to give to certain boys, the payment of all damage done to the garden, and above all the breakfast, which is expected to be an elegant dejeuné a la fourchette,provided at his own cost for two-hundred school-fellows! the collection, however, frequently amounts to between £800 and £1000. His Majesty's contribution varies from £50 to £100.

Here it occurs as being proper to add from the "Winsor guide" a pleasant note "Some writers of the present day have objected to the continuance of this custom, on the ground of its inutility, but it has been successfully vindicated

by several able advocates, one of whom thus pleasingly describes the attractions of this animated spectacle:- Out upon the eternal hunting for causes and reasons! I love the no-meaning Eton Montem. I love to be asked for salt by a pretty boy in silk stockings and satin doublet, though the custom has been called something between begging and robbing. I love the apologetical Mos pro lege, which defies the Police and the Mendicity Society. I love the absurdity of a Captain taking precedence of a Marshal, bearing a guilt Bâton at an angle of forty-five degrees from his right hip; and an Ensign flourishing a flag with the grace of a Tight-rope Dancer; and Sergeants paged by fair-skinned Indians and beardless Turks; and Corporals in sashes and gorgets, guarded by innocent Polemen in blue jackets and white trowsers. I love the mixture of real and mock dignity; the Provost in his cassock clearing the way for the Duchess of Leinster to see the ensign make his bow, or the Headmaster gravely dispensing leave of absense till nine to Counts of the Holy Roman Empire and Grand Seigniors. I love the crush in the cloisters and mob on the Mount-I love the clatter of car

riages and the plunging of horsemenI love the universal gaiety, from the Peer who smiles and sighs that he is no longer an Eton Boy, to the Country Girl who marvels that such little Gentlemen have cocked hats and real swords. Give me a Montem with all its tom-foolery I had almost said before a coronation. It is a right English scene;-there is the staymaker's wife from Thames Street,*elbowing a Cavendish, and a Gentleman-commoner of Cambridge playing the agreeable to a farmer's pretty daughter from Chippenham-green. Cynics, Cynics, abandon your heresy !'"

There are copies of doggrel verses distributed on the occasion, and, having fortunately one of the last before me, it is annexed. It will be instantly perceived that there is no attempt at euphuism in them-the names are those of the Boys in their order in the procession.

Montem Ode, June 9, 1829. Behold me once more your old poet ecstatic, Though old, blind, and nearly three parts rheumatic,

*Windsor, not London, gentle reader.

And, as I drank a pint of purl, I
Wrote upon the hurly-burly.

Hark! by the sound of the fifes and drums,
I think the Marshal surely comes;
And here he is, Oh! only look!

your

In red and gold like a leaving book ;*
Then march on Mr. Hughes,
In boots 'stead of shoes ;
And y'r servants follow two by two,
But none so gaily dress'd as you.
But see! how grand, with pages fine,
Comes the Captain quite divine!
Ah! noble Captain Brown
Sure your coat was made in town;
And your pages dress'd as Greeks,
I've not seen such for many weeks';
See they walk so nobly by, humph!
Fit to grace a Roman triumph.

my

But they're gone by,
And, oh! my eye,
The Sergeant Major,
With a page, or

Two in his train,
Stalks o'er the plain:
March on then YONGE
Your praise I've sung,
So do'nt be vex'd;
But who comes next?

By my fame, I think 'tis BARRETT,

Dress'd as fine as any parrot;
In his clothes of brilliant red,
With his hat upon his head.
But only see, sir,

Sergeant MEASOR,

Just look at him if you please, sir. Behind him sergeant HIBBERT moves, In a pair of new white gloves;

It may perhaps be necessary to explain this to some readers. There is a custom at Eton of giving a book to a boy at his departure; this is therefore called a leaving book, and, as it is generally handsomely bound and gilt, the simile is on this occasion very appropriate. Pilgarlic,

away, Mr. SCARLETT.

March away, march
Not less enchanting,
See Mr. CARLTON, saunter in
With his legs in leather boots,
Moving to the sound of flutes;

And the portly Mr. CRAVEN,
Gently skims along the field:
And Mr. ARMSTRONG nearly raving,
With a sword but not a shield.

Then comes Mr. SNOW,
Whose red coat as you know
Is as fine as it can be,

With lace very handy;

And JILP the very pink of fashion,

With breeches, shoes, and hat, and sash on.

After him comes gallant MOORE,
And he looks any thing but poor;

And see behind him Mr. HULSE,
With beating heart, and beating pulse,
Dress'd as gay

As any jay,

In honor of the Montem day.
Then, behold, comes colonel MONCK,
Admiring thousands cry "quid nune;"

See his sword upon his thigh,
See his feathers towering high;
Now, however, he's gone by.
But soft, with a flag,
What ensign is this;
Were I now a wag,
I might say Adonis ;

No, sirs, in a word,

Let the plain truth be heard;

Ensign ELLIOT, advance

With your new step from France,

Wave the flag, see how funny

The people all talk,

The gents cry out

well done he!"

The mob cry out "Oh lank!” Next the gay lieutenant THEED Struts along; he's fine indeed! Methinks I hear each lady sigh, As the lieutenant marches by: Το say the truth, He's a noble youth, So full of grace and dignity. But the ladies like, I know, Most of all the motley show, Mr. PRICE,

Who looks as nice
As king Cambys-
Es,

Or Achilles.

And brave Mr. YARD,

With a mantle of velvet,

If it should, rain ill-starr'd
Young man! 'twill be well-wet.
The march is done,

Not so my song;
I'd near forgot
(Oh no! I'd not),
The steward FORD,
Upon my word,

Without the aid of silk and lace;
His native dignity and grace
Male him a good one for bis place.

My tale is o'er, my lyre unstrung,
The last, last rhyme upon my tongue;
My donkey, first and best of asses,
Well fed to day, at least, on grass is;
Farewell, then! should the toward muse
Expire, e're the next Montem views,
O, give a pearly drop of tear,
If not, a pint of purl, or beer-
To HERBERT STOCKHORE,
Punctual as clock, or
Bailiff, or dun,

[From the same Correspondent.] To render more complete the account of the Montem, which I have already sent, I transmit the following:

Extract from the Courier, May 1799.† Yesterday this triennial ceremony took place, with which the public are too well acquainted to require a particular description. A collection, called salt, is taken from the public, which forms a purse, to support the captain of the school in his studies at Cambridge. This collection is made by the scholars, dressed in fancy dresses, all round the country.

At eleven o'clock, the youths being assembled in their habiliments at the college, the royal family set off from the castle to see them, and, after walking round the court yard, they proceeded to Salt Hill in the following order:

His majesty, his royal highness the prince of Wales, and the earl of Ux-bridge.

Query, Odd. PRINTER'S DEVIL.

+ Copied from Miss Edgeworth's Parent's Assistant, p. 239, vol. iii., edition in 3 vols.

1831.

Their royal highnesses the dukes of Kent and Cumberland, earl Morton, and general Gwynne, all on horseback, dressed in the Windsor uniform, except the prince of Wales, who wore a suit of dark blue, and a brown surtout over.

Then followed the scholars, preceded by the marechal, sergeants, the musicians of the Staffordshire band, and Mr. Ford, captain of the seminary, the sergeantmajor, sergeants, colonels, corporals, mu sicians, ensign, lieutenant, steward, saltbearers, polemen, and runners.

The cavalcade being brought up by her majesty and her amiable daughters in two carriages, and a numerous company of equestrians and pedestrians, all eager to behold their sovereign and his family. Among the former lady Lade was foremost in the throng; only two others dared venture their persons on horseback in such a multitude.

The king and royal family were stopped on the bridge by Messrs. Young and Mansfield, the salt-bearers, to whom their majesties delivered their customary donation of fifty guineas each.

At Salt Hill, his majesty, with his usual affability, took upon himself to arrange the procession round the royal carriages; and, even when the horses were taken off, with the assistance of the duke of Kent, fastened the traces round the pole of the coaches, to prevent any inconvenience.

An exceedingly heavy shower of rain coming on, the prince took leave, and went to the Windmill Inn, till it subsided. The king and his attendants weathered it in their great coats.

After the young gentlemen had walked round the carriage, ensign Vince, and the salt-bearers, proceeded to the summit of the hill, but, the wind being boisterous, he could not exhibit his dexterity in displaying his flag, and the space being too small before the carriages, from the concourse of spectators, the king kindly acquiesced in not having it displayed under such in

convenience.

Their majesties and the princesses then returned home, the king occasionally stopping to converse with the dean of Windsor, the earl of Harrington, and other noblemen.

The scholars partook of an elegant dinner at the Windmill Inn, and in the evening walked on Windsor Terrace.

Their royal highnesses the prince of Wales and duke of Cumberland, after taking leave of their majesties, set off for

town, and honored the Opera House with their presence in the evening.

The profit arising from the salt collected, according to account, amounted to above £800.

The stadtholder, the duke of Gordon, lord and lady Melbourne, viscount Brome, and a numerous train of fashionable nobility were present.

The following is an account of their dresses, made, as usual, very handsomely, by Mrs. Snow, milliner, of Windsor :Mr. Ford, captain, with eight gentle men to attend him as servitors.

Mr. Serjeant, marechal.
Mr. Brandrith, colonel.
Mr. Plumtree,* lieutenant.
Mr. Vince, ensign.

Mr. Young, college salt bearer, white and gold dress, rich satin bag, covered with gold netting.

Mr. Mansfield, oppident, white, purple, and orange dress, trimmed with silver; rich satin bag, purple and silver, each carrying elegant poles with gold and silver cord. Mr. Keity, yellow and black velvet, helmet trimmed with silver.

Mr. Bartelot, plain mantle and sandals, Scotch bonnet, a very Douglas.

Mr. Knapp, † flesh-color and blue; Spanish hat and feathers.

Mr. Ripley, rose-color; helmet. Mr. Islip (being in mourning), a scarf; helmet, black velvet; and white satin.

Mr. Tomkins, violet and silver; helmet. Mr. Thackery, lilac and silver; Roman cap.

Mr. Drury, Mazarin blue; fancy cap.
Mr. Davis, slate-color and straw.
Mr. Routh, pink and silver; Spanish hat.
Mr. Curtis, purple; fancy cap.
Mr. Lloyd, blue; ditto.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the royal family returned to Windsor, and the boys were all sumptuously entertained at the tavern, at Salt Hill. About six in the evening, all the boys returned in the order of procession, and, marching round the great square of Eton, were dismissed. The captain then paid his respects to the royal family, at the queen's lodge, Windsor, previous to his departure for king's college, Cambridge, to defray which expense the produce of the Montem was presented to him.

Afterwards a master, and at present a fellow of Eton.-PIL.

At present second master of Eton, having succeeded Mr. Yonge, 1830.-PIL.

The day concluded by a brilliant promenade of beauty, rank, and fashion, on Windsor Terrace, enlivened by the performance of several bands of music.

The origin of the procession is from the custom by which the manor was held. The custom of hunting the ram belonged to Eton College, as well as the custom of Salt; but it was discontinued by Dr. Cook, late dean of Ely. Now this custom we know to have been entered on the register of the royal abbey of Bee, in Normandy, as one belonging to the manor of East or Great Wrotham, in Norfolk. When the harvest was finished, the tenants were to have half an acre of barley,and a ram let loose, and, if they caught him, he was their own to make merry with, but if he escaped from them, he was the lord's. The Etonians, in order to secure the ram, houghed him in the Irish fashion, and then attacked him with great clubs. The cruelty of this proceeding brought it into disuse, and now it exists no longer.-See Register of the Royal Abbey of Bee, folio 58.

The article in the Courier concludes with this statement-"After the dissolution of the alien priories, in 1414, by the parliament of Leicester, they remained in the crown till Henry VI., who gave Wrotham manor to Eton College; and if the Eton fellows would search, they would, perhaps, find the manor, in their possession, that was held by the custom of Salt."

The Courier narrative differs but in a very slight degree (and that almost entirely on account of the different reign in which the Montem described in the "Courier" took place) from the description which I have already furnished. Thirty years have elapsed between that Montem and the last, another thirty years may find it extinct, or deprived of all its present splendor. April, 1831.

May 12.-Day breaks

PILGARLICK.

Sun rises

sets

Twilight ends 10 33 German Flower de Luce flowers. Pale piony flowers; in a few days it is succeeded by the common crimson variety; but the pale retains its petals longer.

Scentless hesperis flowers.

Motherwort (IESPERIS MATKINALIS) flowers.

If hawking were fashionable, May would be a busy season with lovers of the diversion. It was the most predominant rural amusement for many ages, and followed by all the gentry of the country at a great expense. There were large tracts of land in and near Cranbourne chase, called "Hawking Downs," which were covered with gorse and fern, and resorted to by pheasants and partridges. The bordering woods produced woodcocks; these, when disturbed from the woods, came to "a flight" for the hawks, in the open glades, and showed great sport.

The amusement was carried to such a height, that no gentleman could be completely dressed for company without having a glove on his left hand, and a hawk sitting on it. He who bore his hawk in the most graceful manner was deemed the most accomplished cavalier; and, to please the ladies, it was the practice to play flirting tricks with the plumes of the hawks, at the same time, and in like manner, as the ladies did with their fans.

VOL. I.-20.

According to the reverend Mr. Chafin, although falconry had such a despotic sway for many ages, it is now a question whether there is one reclaimed foreign hawk in the western part of the kingdom; but there may be a few English hawks annually trained in the neighbourhood of Bridport, in Dorsetshire, for the taking of land-rails in the hemp and flax fields near that town, in which, during some seasons, they are very plentiful.

W. Tregonwell Frampton, Esq., seems to have been, about the year 1670, the most active pursuer of this diversion in the west of England. He was a gentleman of family and fortune in Dorsetshire, and generally resided there; but he had a house also at Newmarket, and was a person of great notoriety on the turf there. He had race-horses in training, and regularly attended all the race meetings, carrying with him several casts of fine hawks, for the diversion of his numerous associates.

X