said to be entirely the case when they know personally all the candidates. We can only hope that the Gymnasium may still continue to flourish under the able management of Mr. Griffiths, and that our next account may be no less favourable to all parties connected with it. Correspondence. THE NEW STAINED WINDOW IN THE CHAPEL. Gentlemen,-Allow me to suggest, through the medium of your pages, that the proposed Stained Window for the College Chapel, should be devoted to the memory of the Rev. E. B. Wawn, our former Theological Tutor. I think that no more sutable memorial of one, who was as a father to those who enjoyed the privilege of receiving their Theological tuition from his hands, could be erected, than in that Chapel where he so disinterestedly and earnestly laboured to throw some warmth and energy into the Service, by introducing as near an approach as possible to a Choral Service. There are many of us at Oxford and Cambridge who would willingly join in Subscriptions for such an object, and a sum of money would soon be raised, sufficient to furnish a window in some degree worthy as a memorial of our former friend and master. I am, Gentlemen, yours &c., AN OLD CHELTONIAN. PRIZE COMPOSITIONS. To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-I would suggest that the Prize Compositions of past years should be reprinted, and published at a cheap price, in their present form. It is almost impossible to get a collection of earlier date than 1859, and there are numbers of "old men" (I do not refer to their respective ages), who would gladly buy the production of Cheltonian intellect. I am, Gentlemen, yours &c., AN "OLD MAN." THE GYMNASIUM COMPETITION. To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-Having been a witness of the late competition at the Gymnasium, and also of the one which took place on December the Fifth, I was much surprised at there being on the former occasion only one mark difference between Johnston and Porter, while on the latter they were exactly equal. Without wishing at all to enter into the respective merits of the two, about which the opinion seemed to be pretty unanimous, I cannot help thinking that it would have been far more satisfactory to both had some more decisive result been obtained, which surely might have been done by introducing some harder exercises, or something of the kind. I would also suggest that at future competitions, some one in no way connected with the Gymnasium should be appointed as a judge, and an exact table of the marks gained for each exercise should be given to the competitors, so that they may see in what respect they are most deficient. I am, Gentlemen, yours sincerely, To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-I think a few words about our late December meeting may not be out of place. It was, I believe, the most numerous of any which have as yet taken place at Christmas time; and in point of numbers almost rivalled the well known "Old Eleven" meeting in June. I would ask, gentlemen, may it not be now fairly said that two meetings of old Cheltonians are regularly established? The best way of making this generally known is through your columns, and I thought that the "old boys" will not stand upon ceremony, waiting to be asked, but rally round the place at the close of each half-year. They are sure to find many old school friends, and I will promise them an hearty reception from the present generation, and a warm and cordial welcome from the Principal and Masters. And here it will not be out of place, in the name of all old Cheltonians to thank Dr. Barry and his colleagues for their hospitable entertainment in the Gymnasium, after the Football Match. Let me assure them that we old boys take it (and I trust we are not presuming too much in doing so), as a proof on their behalf of confidence in us, that we have hitherto kept, and that for the future we will keep, pure and unspotted, the honour of Cheltenham College, entrusted to each one when leaving school to fight life's battle. Many of your readers will be glad to hear of the "sayings and doings" of their old friends. The Football Match on the Wednesday was a most evenly contested affair, and terminated just in favour of the Present Collegians, and well they deserved the victory. Their play throughout was admirable, but what especially struck us was their complete unanimity, each one having a duty assigned to him, and performing that duty at the right time and place. And when their Captain did call upon them, right well did they respond "with a long pull, with a strong pull, and a pull altogether." For the first half-hour or more they carried all before them, the "old ones" appearing to have forgotten all about it, however they soon warmed to their work and a fine hour's contest ensued. Towards the close the old Cheltonians had it pretty much their own way, but too late to wrest back the laurels already gained by the Present boys. It was not till the last half-hour or so that the old boys played up, and worked together. Though one of the vanquished I will not have recourse to the generally allowed weapon, and say that if a certain thing had happened, or if a certain thing had not happened, that then, perhaps, a certain other third thing might possibly have taken place, which would have altered the whole complexion of the game. Not so, facts are stubborn things. We old Cheltonians were beaten,--but I'm quite sure that the Present boys themselves, and all who witnessed the Match will allow that the grand attempt of Mr. Atkins at goal deserved a better fate. When all struggled hard for victory it is perhaps invidious to single out one or two, but we cannot help mentioning Messrs. Tyers and Atkins. On the Tuesday evening a supper was given at the Queen's, by about thirty old boys to which some of the "Authorities among the Present Collegians" were invited. This, as well as all the other proceedings was a complete success. The only fault being the unavoidable absence of many well remembered and much loved faces. But though not present we did not forget them, and the toast of "Absent friends," was received with an enthusiasm second only to that which greeted the toast" Floreat Cheltonia." In conclusion, I think we ought all to tender our best thanks to Messrs. Cooke and Reid, of Trinity College, Cambridge, for the never ending trouble they took to collect the old "Football Company" together. I fear many old Cheltonians stop away from these meetings, simply because they have left so long and fear they will not know anyone when they get there. This fear may be very possible with those who have left years back, but let them remember that the becoming acquainted with the generations between their own day and the present, adds links to that chain of affection which binds all true Cheltonians together. The peculiarity of this chain is, that it cannot be broken by time, absence, or distance, but with the durabilty of iron it combines the elasticity of India rubber. If the "patriarchs" as we may call them, doubt this, my only advice is "try it." I have tried it. 'Others, my seniors, have tried it but in all cases the result is the same. If possible they repeat the dose. May all do the same, and may we often meet and chat about the "old place.”—I am, Gentlemen, yours faithfully, F. R. PRICE. The Cheltonian. FEBRUARY 1867. Leicester's Departure for the Low-Countries. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH. I N the harbour of Harwich, a very considerable fleet was ready to sail, waiting for the favourable meeting of wind and tide, two allies without which a good sailor never leaves a safe anchorage to wage war with the boisterous ocean. The streaming pennants, moved by a light breeze, fluttered high in the air, whilst the sails were flapping mournfully against the masts, and the gentle wind whistled through the ropes and sent forth tunes, as if the whole fleet were but a grand Æolian harp, though it was for the nonce not powerful enough to swell the sails to that size so agreeable to the eye of the anxious harbour-bound mariner. It began already to grow dark, but if we had cast our eye a little earlier on the scene, before the setting of the sun, we might have seen the great Royal Standard of England waving from the top-gallant mast of the Admiral's vessel, of which the equal in splendour could not be found in the days of Elizabeth Tudor. Lanterns hung in the cordage, amidst the many-coloured flags, cast their unsteady but brilliant light, reflected a thousand times by the tempestuous waves, over the dark extent of the waters; while not a single star shone through the gloomy clouds, and even the moon was not able to pierce the thick fogs, to throw her soft light on the many fantastic looking vessels. In the port of Harwich this fleet appeared to produce quite another effect than quietness and obscurity. In 1585 street lanterns were not yet invented, but the citizens tried to remedy this by torches and lanterns, and were all moving to and fro in the streets, as if in expectation of an attack by No. 10.-Vol. II. the French or Spaniards. But it was a Queen, who had encamped near the good town of Harwich, not from any mere duty to defend her people against a foreign invasion, but to superintend in person the embarking of auxiliary troops, sent to a foreign station. It was Elizabeth of England, who honoured Harwich with her presence in order to count with her own eyes the vessels, which she sent to Holland, and to address once more the gallant band which was to assist the Dutch in the war against Philip II. And the inhabitants of Harwich had welcomed their Queen as zealously as they were now ready to bid farewell to their countrymen; and this was the reason of all the noise at this advanced hour of the night. For the short stay of the Queen a wooden pavilion, or banqueting-house as it was then called, had been erected, covered outside with painted sailcloth, and inside with hangings, and with as much foliage and as many flowers as could be gathered in so short a time and at this season of the year. In This pavilion, erected not even twenty-four hours-for the Queen had for the first time taken her luncheon there in the morning and would before night go back to the castle of one of her nobles— was however fitted up with a splendour to which Elizabeth and her retinue were accustomed, even during their travels. A throne was there for the Queen, silken and velvet cushions for the ladies of the Court, carpets for the feet, and vessels of gold and silver for her use. Though dark outside yet there was light enough streaming from brass lustres, nearly wholly covered by gay ornaments. the full light of one of these lustres sat Elizabeth of England, under a canopy of green yew branches, surrounded by the principal nobles of her court, or by those who shared her confidence; some of her ladies, sitting on cushions at a distance from her, all the men standing, and vieing in silent zeal with one another, to come a step nearer to her throne. Before her stood a man, envied, hated, admired, slandered, served, opposed, honoured or despised by all, but certainly feared by all, and placed above them all by the affection of his Queen; this man was Robert Dudley, Baron of Denbigh, and Earl of Leicester. He wore a travelling dress, alike suited to a courtier and to a warrior, and which became him as splendid garments and a picturesque variety of colours ought to become the man, who was still known as the handsomest man in England. In his attitude he tried to express that respect for the Queen and that gentle tenderness for the woman which Elizabeth exacted from her favourites, and to show that air of sadness fitting the occasion; for he bade farewell to a royal mistress. a farewell for a long time. He did |