of the provost and fellows, in solemn conclave assembled, in which vast erudition was displayed, and much black letter learning was brought to bear on the subject of cocked-hats, it was determined that a modification of that appendage might so far take place as to allow of a change from the cocked-hat, properly so-called, to one of a flat shape of equal sides and equal angles, but still of a sufficiently grotesque appearance to distinguish the college dignitaries from ordinary persons. And so I believe it has remained even unto this day; the masters sporting an academical tile consisting of a flat piece of board, about a foot square and a quarter of an inch thick, covered with black cloth, and ornamented (with classic severity of style) with a single tassel of black silk; the whole being intended, doubtless, to inspire the beholder with a sort of reverence for the bearer of so imposing a piece of machinery; a feeling, however, which was but moderately entertained by the Eton boys, who, like all other boys, were rather inclined to make fun than otherwise of any thing that afforded them the opportunity. But I must not forget to say a word about the other and the far larger portion of scholars who were not on the foundation.

These were called "Oppidans," from the Latin "oppidum," a town, denoting that they were town boys, which, no doubt, originally they were, who were admitted by favour, and for the sake of the pecuniary aid, perhaps, which their attendance furnished, to partake of the superior education gratuitously provided for the sixty-two scholars on the foundation. The celebrity of the college, in the course of years, attracting the attention of the nobility and higher gentry of the kingdom, by degrees it came to be considered as an aristocratic school, which, as it partook of that exclusiveness which is so much prized by the higher classes of this country, was the more eagerly sought for. Thus, in process of time, the foundation school of Eton has come to be changed from its original character; and, instead of being a place of gratuitous education for a fixed number of scholars, ecclesiastically trained, it is now the highest place of resort for the sons of the nobility and aristocracy of the empire, whose presence has not only changed the general aspect of the school, but has occasioned modifications in the class of "king's scholars,” as the foundation boys are sometimes called, not contemplated by the fcunder. For, instead of the king's scholars being taken from that class who could not otherwise obtain the superior education which the college was designed to give, they are now composed, for the most part, of the sons of persons in easy circumstances, who, by solicitation and favour, obtain the gift of the presentation of a boy to the foundation, to the exclusion of those for whom the benefit was originally intended. Nothing, I believe, but the queer costume of the knee-breeches, causing thereby a distant and somewhat humiliating resemblance to ordinary muffin-caps, prevents the higher aristocracy from taking possession of this partially eleemosynary institution for their own children.

The regulations, however, respecting the king's scholars, have been preserved with more strictness than might have been expected from the changes of the times, and the innovations of intruders. The king's scholars, it was so in my time, at least, and I believe no material change has taken place since then, form a class apart and distinct from the Oppidans. They are not permitted to sleep out of the college dormitories, and they are obliged to take their meals in the college hall; they are not allowed

to go beyond certain restricted limits, in which the village of Eton, in which the Oppidans roam, is not included; and they must on all occasions wear their gowns, which, being composed of woollen of a tolerable thickness, is, in the hot season, a very disagreeable infliction. With respect to their association with the Oppidans, no restriction is placed upon that other than the regulations appertaining to the constitution of the college, which, by obliging them to remain within their own walls after a certain hour in the evening, and of sleeping there at night, prevent their intercourse with the Oppidans at those times, which, in some respects, may be considered greatly to their advantage.

With respect to the saying of lessons in school, they and the Oppidans are precisely on a par; and in the playing-fields, at cricket, or foot-ball, &c., and at other recreations and amusements, no one dreams of any distinction between the Oppidans and the collegers, except such as may be derived from personal merit, from greater skill, or from superior intellectual attainments; for nowhere does personal merit, apart from rank or wealth, receive its just tribute of respect and deference more than among the Eton boys. And on this point there is a remarkable distinction established by the boys themselves, which I will take the opportunity to note at this place, lest it should be forgotten amidst the flood of recollections which crowd upon me of my juvenile days.

Among the Eton boys, respect is paid to intellectual attainments, but homage is paid to talent. When a boy works hard at his lessons, they call him a 66 Sap" now, as I say, they award due respect to the "Sap," who, by dint of labour, achieves a certain amount of learning; but they say, any one may do it if he chooses to sap ;" but what they regard with the higher respect, and with a sort of intuitive admiration, is the intellect which arrives at the same point as the hard-working "Sap," without the same expenditure of labour. In fact, it is the pure intellect which they worship: the mental power by which the possessor leapsnot climbs-to the summits of Parnassus. It is for this reason, perhaps, that those few remarkable for facility of versification-Latin, of course— are the most highly esteemed. Knowing, as the boys do, that, although the facility of the mechanical structure of verse may be, in a great degree, acquired by labour and diligence, the poetical spirit cannot be attained by any exertion of the will-that the poetical mind must be born with the individual, and cannot be manufactured by himself, nor for him-they regard with enthusiastic admiration, a gift which, being beyond the reach of the many, is, so far, beyond their envy.

Akin to this feeling is the sort of dislike which they exhibit to a boy who surpasses the rest, and beats the boy of superior talents, by sheer labour and poring over his books. The boys regard this as taking an unfair advantage of the others; they say that all ought to study alike, and then let the best win; but they don't like the tortoise to pass the hare, nor the dull boy to crawl past the clever one by a system of slow, steady, and unremitted progression. I mention this fact for the contemplation of those who are fond of psychological inquiries, to assist them in building up a system.

I conjecture that those who may read these memoirs of an old Eton boy would be disappointed if I did not say something about the system of fagging, which prevails more or less at all public schools, and which flourished with extraordinary licence at the period to which these descrip

tions refer. I am the more readily inclined to devote a portion of my space to a consideration of this subject, as it really is a very serious question, which latterly has again come into public discussion, but about which a great many erroneous notions are entertained. It may be useful, therefore, to record the evidence of an eye-witness, who has had a personal experience of the practice in the capacity both of fagger and fag. But this is too important a matter to be appended to the end of a chapter. Besides, it is proper that I should give some account of the proceedings which took place consequent on my introduction among my companions as a "new boy."

CHAPTER VI.

It was at the close of the autumn that I first entered the college, and the evenings were drawing in fast; so that there was ample time before turning in for the night to discuss the events of the day and the politics of the school; and to engage also in such interesting recreations to pass away the time, as any one who had a genius that way might take it into his head to suggest. As for me, being young and one of the "little fellows," though I was tall and robust for my age, I was placed in a room with two other boys, both older than myself, who had been at the school one or two years before my arrival, and who were well initiated, therefore, in all the mischief incidental to the place.

I was sitting very disconsolately with my hands in my breechespockets, gazing at the fire, having studied the mysterious hieroglyphics on my one-pound note with much admiration, and counted the silver which my mother had given to me before my departure from home, over and over again, when my meditations were interrupted by the entrance of my new associates. I was a little shy at first, as was natural; but the modest diffidence which abashed me was by no means predominant in the air of my companions. Without the slightest reserve they assailed me with a series of questions, as to my name, my parents, family, and paternal habitation. These, it appeared, were answered to their satisfaction; and the mention of my pony, whom I particularly described (not forgetting his mane and tail), served to prepossess them with a favourable opinion of my personal character and predilections; and the elder of the two, who rejoiced in the name of Elmes, was pleased to express his opinion, that "I did not seem to be a spooney." In this eulogistic observation the other, whose name was Linden, kindly acquiesced, and in a very few minutes we became on friendly and, indeed, intimate terms, for Elmes had the consideration to inquire if " the governor had pouched me handsomely?"

The purport of this question having been condescendingly explained to me, I produced my one-pound note and the dozen shillings in silver with which I was enriched, but this amount of wealth did not seem to convey to them, by any means, the idea of an inexhaustible supply.

However, it was ready-money, and that was something; as there were some articles which I afterwards learnt, such as spirits and wine, which were obtainable only by the actual transfer of a proportional amount of the national currency.

In the meantime, the circumstance of a new arrival had so far excited the curiosity of the junior portion of the inmates, that several of them

dropped in to have a look at me, and to see how far my exterior promised to afford them a suitable object for exercising their mischievous propensities; which, although practised in the most good-natured way in the world, were not always considered agreeable by the noviciates, but which, from immemorial usage, were considered indispensable for the due installation of the tyro. These ceremonies, however, were discussed apart in a select committee assembled for that purpose in another room, and I became acquainted with the result of their deliberations only by the consequences of the resolutions, which were there passed for my personal edification. In the meantime, the important point to be settled was the style and quality of the entertainment to be given on the occasion of my introduction.

After a short discussion, it was decided that a supper on a superior scale should immediately be prepared for eight, and cards of invitation were issued accordingly, which were graciously responded to by the invited, in person, by putting their heads inside the room, one after the other, and assuring us that "they would come." Elmes being most experienced in these matters, undertook the solids, while Linden engaged to superintend the tart department; the liquids being left for consideration. Some little difference of opinion took place between my seniors on this latter point, Elmes giving it as his opinion that whiskey-punch was the most suitable tipple for so hilarious an occasion, and Linden inclining to "bishop," composed of port-wine, sugar, and lemons, peculiarly Etonic, and compounded with curious felicity by the operative at "Christopher's;" so that it was difficult, as I afterwards had occasion to experience on more than one occasion, to leave off imbibing that fascinating beverage when the mind had once become a little enthusiastic in its discussion. At the same time, they both had a strong predilection. for "shrub," that pleasing liquor possessing a sweetness and flavour particularly ingratiating with juvenile dispositions.

As it was impossible to come to an undivided vote on this question, and as time pressed, for the hour was fast approaching when "absence at Dame's" would be called, after which egress from the house was difficult and dangerous, it was amicably decided, with a charming deference of opinion on either side, that we should have all three; namely, bishop to be a preliminary drink; shrub as an auxiliary whet; and whiskey-punch for a wind-up. Plates, glasses, and tumblers were immediately borrowed from the different guests, with other necessary articles, and I timidly tendered my one-pound note in aid of the potatory part of the entertainment; but this was summarily rejected, the supper being given, as they said, in honour of my arrival, and my character as a guest precluding my joining in the expenses. My seniors, therefore, undertook the providing of the drink as well as of the substantials; and as I was a new boy, and unacquainted with the ways of the place, I was not allowed to undertake any of the out-door work, Elmes taking on himself to procure the "lush," as he called it, from resources to which he had access. Leaving me, therefore, to arrange the table-cloth and accessories in an appropriate manner, by joining together our own table and a borrowed one, with a washing-stand set out as a side-board, the purveyors departed on their respective duties, and I found myself invested with the extemporaneous office of butler to the party; being busily

occupied in laying the knives and forks, and brightening up the glasses with such towels as I found convenient to my hand.

All matters being prepared, the guests assembled, and I was introduced to them generally and individually by Elmes, who, as head of the room, assumed, as a matter of right, the head of the table, Linden acting as deputy chair, and I being placed, as a "new boy," in the place of honour at the chairman's right hand. As each boy is allowed a candle for himself every night for the convenience of writing his exercises and preparing his lessons for the next day, the illumination from that source alone was tolerably brilliant, which was increased by a happy idea of Linden's, who displayed on the mantelpiece a row of four dips of six to the pound, artistically stuck in ingeniously prepared potatoes, which had a very fine effect. There was a little difficulty about snuffers, no one of the assembled party having been able to furnish that convenient instrument; but that embarrassment was got over by a general agreement, that each boy, under penalties for default, should keep his own candle duly and scientifically snuffed, either by the administration of the tongs, or by his own fingers, according to his individual courage or inclination.

This point having been satisfactorily settled, the company sat down to table, I being the youngest of the party, and Elmes the eldest, who was in the fourth form, and of the adolescent age of fourteen. The display of the supper excited a subdued murmur of applause, and all the party having had a glass of the bishop, which was placed in a water-jug in the middle of the table, a pint bottle of "shrub" being placed at either end (the whiskey being kept as a reserve), they proceeded to make a vigorous onslaught on the eatables, with a power of demolition which can be appreciated only by those who have had experience of the inexhaustible nature of juvenile appetites at all seasons and at all hours when good things are set befere them.

As it is usual to immortalise the bill of fare on regal and lordly occasions, by serving it up next day in print before a sympathising public, I shall comply with that edifying custom, by recording the present "spread" for the satisfaction of my readers :

One moor-hen roasted by myself by a string:

A pigeon-pie:

A plate of ham:

Two oval-shaped dishes of potted beef:

Two apple pies, quinced:

One dozen raspberry tarts (cross-barred):

Four tri-corners (highly jammed):

A parabolic section of Stilton cheese:

Four twos of butter:

Four bricks (not such, as I innocently supposed, as are used for the building of houses, but loaves of superior quality symmetrically baked in tin cases and much patronised):

Four twists (small fancy loaves, consisting of a congeries of knobs): Grapes on a raised dish, supported by a lexicon and a classical dic