a Latin speech is delivered by the senior boy on the foundation they then proceed to chapel. During the following week, an examination takes place as to the proficiency of the Scholars in classical literature, before the Provosts of each college, the Vice-Provost, the Head-Master, and the Posers, when the Scholars are placed in the order of their future succession to King's, and, on vacancies in the latter, they are admitted on that foundation: after the expiration of three years from the day of their admission, they are received as Fellows. Eton also sends two Scholars to Merton College, Oxford, called Portionista, or, by singular corruption of the term Postmasters. They were established by the Rev. John Chamber, Fellow of Eton, 1582, and Canon of Windsor. There are also some exhibitions for superannuated Scholars.

The independent Scholars, or Oppidans, as they are universally denominated, are very numerous. They are boarded in private houses in the immediate environs of the college, the presiding mistresses and masters of which enjoy the prescriptive title of Dame and Domine. When Dr Barnard, "magnum et memorabile nomen," was Master, the school flourished under his superior administration and eminently judicious discipline, beyond every preceding period. At the election of 1764, which was in the year previous to his resignation of the mastership, he could boast of five hundred and sixteen boys. At present that number is exceeded; a circumstance peculiarly honorable to the talents and care of its masters: for, when the very prevailing fashion of sending youth for education to confined and limited seminaries is considered, the present character and prosperity of Eton School is evidently, as it is proportionably, enhanced and established.

The Montem, a triennial ceremony peculiar to Eton, and whose origin antiquarian sagacity has not yet discovered, seems to require some general account to be given of it. It consists of a procession of the boys in a kind of military order, to a small tumulus on the southern side of the Bath road, which gives the name of Salt Hill to a place so well known for the spacious inns that distinguish it. Here the collegiate regiment dines; and, after a Latin prayer has been read upon the mount, returns in the same order in which it issued forth. The head boy of the foundation Scholars

takes the lead as the captain of the cohort; the colors, decorated with the arms of the college, and the motto, Pro More et Monte, is borne by another; and the different ranks, in as regular subordination as can be expected, are filled by the respective classes according to the order of the school. Till the predominating good sense of Dr Barnard interposed to correct the customary absurdities of this celebrity, all Monmouth street was unfolded, to clothe, in every variety of splendid dresses, this youthful corps; but his retrenchments and a better taste have prevailed to give it an appearance more suited to the occasion. Whatever might have been the original motive to this festival, the present object is principally to collect money from all the spectators of the show, as it is called, for salt. The two chief collectors or salt-bearers are, an Oppidan and a Colleger, whose activity will enable them to go through the fatigues of the day. The former is generally some young nobleman whose figure and personal connections may advance the interest of the collection. They are arrayed in light and elegant dresses, each bearing a silk bag, with a small quantity of salt in it, to receive the contributions: they are also assisted by others of a similar but less showy appearance. This ceremony is always very numerously attended by Etonians; the neighboring gentry come from no small distance to attend it, and the relations of the Scholars may be supposed to feel an interest in such a spectacle. It has also been frequently honored by the presence of his Majesty and the dif ferent branches of the royal family. The sum collected on the occasion has been known to exceed eight hundred pounds; and, whatever it may prove, is given to the senior Scholar on the foundation, as the captain of the school and of the day.

Of the Provosts of Eton, the following deserve honorable mention.

William Waynflete, December 21, 1442, Hen. VI. 21. His connections with Eton College have been already detailed in the foregoing pages. It may be thought necessary, however, to resume the subject, just to observe, that, after his elevation to the see of Winchester, he remained a confidential and faithful servant to his royal master. As a further proof of his sovereign's regard, he was, in October, 1456, appointed Lord High Chancellor of England, in the room of

Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury. July 7, 1460, he was with the king at Northampton, a few days before the fatal battle near that town. He afterwards resigned the office of Lord Chancellor, and lived to the 11th of August, 1486, having held the see of Winchester twentynine years; during which period he began and completed the great work which will immortalize his virtues and his name, the foundation of Magdalen College, in the University of Oxford.

Henry Savile, May 26, 1596, Eliz. 37. Knight. This most learned person who entered at Merton College, Oxford, in the year 1561, where he took his degree in Arts, and was chosen Fellow. In 1578, having acquired uncommon celebrity for his early erudition, particularly in mathematics and the Greek language, he entered on his travels through different parts of the Continent. At his return, he became tutor in the Greek language to Queen Elizabeth. In 1585, he was elected Warden of Merton College, which he governed thirtysix years, with great honor to himself and the advancing prosperity of the foundation. In 1596, he was appointed Provost of Eton College, in which distinguished situation, he was careful to call to his society men the most eminent for their learning and piety; among whom were, Thomas Allen, John Hales, Thomas Savile, and Jonas Montague, all of Merton College. He received the honor of knighthood at Windsor, in 1604, from James I. who was pleased to manifest a disposition to gratify any wishes he might entertain of promotion either in church or state. 1619, he founded two lectures, or professorships, in Geometry and Astronomy, which bear, as they have immortalized his name. In the commencement of the reign of this king, he was one of the learned persons to whom the translation of the Bible was intrusted. His name is among those to whom the portion containing the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Apocalypse, was allotted. One of the most important translations in the sixteenth century was by Sir Henry Savile. It consists of the four first books of Tacitus, and the Life of Agricola, whose notes were considered to be so valuable as to be translated into Latin by Gruter, the celebrated Dutch critic, who published them at Amsterdam. He enriched the public libraries with various collections of rare books, and contributed to many buildings.

In

He died at Eton College, February 19, 1621; and was buried in the chapel, under a monument, with this inscription -"Hic jacent ossa et cineres Henrici Savile, sub spe certâ resurrectionis, natus apud Bradley juxta Halifax, in comitatu Ebor. ann. Dom. 1548, ultimo die mensis Novembris, obiit in Collegio Etonensi, anno Domini 1621, 19 die mensis Februarii." His works are numerous, and maintain a high rank in the world of letters. Isaac Casaubon, Mercerus, Meibomius, Joseph Scaliger, Montague the learned Bishop of Winchester, and other distinguished men, have left their unqualified testimonies to his superior intellect, as well as the extent and variety of his knowledge. He was highly favored by Queen Elizabeth, and it was in the first year of his provostship that she favoured Eton with her presence. He is said to have practised an austerity in the government of his college that was felt even by the Fellows, and prevented him from possessing the love of the Scholars. Persevering and indefatigable industry was the quality which he uniformly preferred in others; he considered wit and brilliant talents as far inferior endowments. But, after all, in the language of Mr Harwood, "Sir Henry Saville was a splendid ornament of the sixteenth century, a magnificent patron of learned men, a gentleman of polished manners, of virtue, and of piety; equally celebrated for his universal knowledge of ancient and modern learning."

Sir Henry Wotton, July 24, 1624, James I. 22. This eminent man was educated at Winchester School; and thence, in 1584, he was elected to New College, Oxford. Having acquired no common distinction for his great literary attainments in the University, he proceeded to visit the different countries of the Continent. His foreign residence occupied nine years, during which he qualified himself for the important diplomatic offices he afterwards filled, with honor to himself and advantage to his country. On his being appointed ambassador to the republic of Venice, the honor of knighthood was conferred upon him. In 1624, he became Provost of Eton, though not without first taking Deacon's orders, as a requisite qualification for the office. But notwithstanding the important embassies in which he had been employed, on his election to the provostship, his means were so small, that the Fellows of the college were obliged to furnish the bare walls of his lodging, and whatever

else was wanting. The value of this preferment in the reign of Henry VIII. is known from the following story: "Sir Thomas Wyatt one day told the king, that he had found out a living of 100l. a year, more than enough, and prayed that it might be bestowed on him. Truly' said the king, we have no such in England. - Yes, sir,' replied Sir Thomas, the provostship of Eton, where a man has his diet, his lodging, his horse-meat, his servant's wages, his riding charges, and 100l. per annum.' Though the king had actually granted a dispensation to hold the provostship without taking holy orders, Sir Henry was ordained Deacon in 1627. He was very attentive to the Scholars, and never failed to give ample encouragement to such as discovered superior talents: it was also his constant practice to invite them to his apartments, that they might profit by his conversation, and be incited by his praise. Mr Boyle mentions, that he and his elder brother were sent to be bred up at Eton College when Sir Henry Wotton was its Provost, who, he observes, was not only a fine gentleman himself, but well skilled in teaching others to acquire that desirable character. He was the friend of Milton, who makes honorable mention of him in his Defensio secunda Populi Anglicani. In his will he left all his MSS. to the library at Eton, and to each of the Fellows a plain gold ring, enameled in black, with the following motto engraved within it: Amor unit omnia. He died at Eton in 1639, aged seventytwo, and was buried in the college chapel. He ordered this epitaph to be placed over his grave: "Hic jacet hujus sententiæ primus Auctor, DISPUTANDI PRURITUS ECCLESIARUM SCABIES. Nomen aliàs quære." His death was lamented in a beautiful elegy by by Cowley, which is to be found in the works of that poet. His life was written by Walton, and first printed in the year 1653.

Of the Masters, we mention only one, Nicholas Udall, or Woddall, 1534. He was remarkable for the severity of his discipline; to which Tusser, of the year 1543, who among other works on agriculture, published Five Hundred Points of good Husbandry in 1486, in verse, which bears the following curious testimony: