A subject that proves the gratitude of mankind, even to boys, must be acceptable, as the choicest fruits rise in value in proportion to their scarcity; we were all of us at church, in one pew of sufficient capacity to contain us all with ease. Several pews were at right angles to ours; one of which, after the beginning of the service, remained vacant; into this was introduced by the sexton, a family, apparently strangers. There being no prayer books in that pew, we offered one for each person; they accepted them; the same in the afternoon.

The next day, when school was ended, we were called by a loud knocking at one of our side tall fences, covered with tenter hooks, to attention; we went there, and on inquiry, we were informed, that the gentleman whose family we had obliged the day before, had brought us a large basket of cakes and fruit; but how to get them was the question: we prepared our skip ropes to get up the basket, and the boys made a pair of steps for me: I had just mounted, and thrown part of the rope over, when one of the boys giving way, I suddenly clasped one of the tenter hooks, and he, being alarmed at my crying out, attempted to look up; this weakened my footing; I slipped, and fell down with fingers dreadfully torn by the hooks; the middle finger was ripped from the palm to the nail: I have the mark of that wound to this day.

When I was about thirteen years of age (I cannot be very particular about dates, as I write without minute or memorandum) I was sent to Eton. I was admitted into the fourth-form, first as an oppidane, then, some interest being used, as a collegian; and I put

on the gown. Nothing of importance occurred, as I recollect, during the first three or four years, unless it should be of importance to know, that, being a stout boy, I was generally forced by the senior class, to steal wood, and bring it to college; to knock down our neighbour's fowls, and watching the baker's tray, (while he left it outside of the door; to deliver a pye to a customer) to relieve him of his burden, by taking away as many as we could carry. These actions were undoubtedly charitable, as the baker was thereby eased of his load, the woodman's horse less cruelly oppressed, and the farmer's wife devested of her care for those poor animals, who formed the principal ingredients of our college chicken feasts.

Yes, once I remember, one of our tenderestly feeling upper boys, was kind enough to attempt to cure his neighbour, who lived about three miles off, of a lethargic disposition he was used to indulge in a favourite summer house. Having a long time in vain racked his intelligence for medicinal remedies for his friend, he at last determined, that cure was only to be effected by mechanical operation. Accordingly he summoned (having named them) six of the stoutest boys in the fourth-form, . I was one, and ordered us to follow him, without saying a word-we were obliged to do so. He led us, no one knew where, in the night, three miles as we thought; then desiring us to wait for what he would give us, he climbed a garden wall, and delivered to us six handsome chairs, with which he ordered us to make our way immediately to college; we did so, and we delivered them to him.

I at once conceived a detestation of this wretch, he is still living, as I believe, and I trust he will see this. To what house we went I know not.

About this time, as boys, Mr. Canning (the late minister of England) and myself were intimate; he was reputed the best scholar in his class; he was, as myself, attached to Greek and Latin theatrical writers, and, like myself, desirous of establishing little private theatrical amusements among ourselves; I in college, and he in the town; we did so, and, for a long time, they were not noticed by the provost and the masters, but carried on with instruction as well as amusement. I think I never saw any boy play with more energy, spirit, and science, than young Canning.

There was at this time one of those singular phenomena of human character, which sometimes make their appearance on the great theatre of the world, residing in Eton town, in the shape of a blacksmith; he used to offer himself as a target for ridicule, and, of course, found enough ready to shoot at him. We had already enjoyed a great deal of fun, as we used to call it, at his expense; but, at last, our college comedians were determined to dramatise him. Accordingly, we prepared a farce, in which his representative was the principal character. Other persons connected with him, were of course introduced, to make the scene complete. We performed it several times; but, whether from complaints made to the master, or from some other cause, I know not, at length the hand of power, whose weight no mortal can resist, fell on us. Our machinery, I mean that of my party, was suddenly seized upon by the master, though twelve of us paid a guinea a piece for

the establishment, and subscribed a shilling a week for defraying the expenses, which consisted principally in lights and dresses; at least, what remained necessary after we had secretly conveyed away as many of the former from our dames' houses, and the chapel, as we could, and obtained from the maid servants as much as we could coax from them, of such certain parts of their equipment, as would answer for our blue, crimson, and scarlet cloaks.

Dr. Davies, then head master, destroyed more kings and queens (I mean gentleman queens) with one word, in one hour, than could Buonaparte, with all his armies, in one year-because we dared not resist.

It may not be unpleasant to the readers, in the United States, into whose hands these memoirs may fall, to give a short description of an establishment at Eton, commonly called Montem.

There is an elevation of the earth about two miles from Eton, denominated Salt Hill. To this hill it is customary for the boys to parade in their best dresses, in companies, having their captains and regular officers, every three years. The boys are reviewed, passing in regular procession, ordinarily, by the king and their master; the king standing with his hat off, the master with his hat on; this first, because it is an established law, that only one should be covered in the king's presence, and, therefore, the king resigns the privilege to the master, that, in the eyes of the boys, he may appear the greater man; next, from the respect he feels himself bound to pay to the foundation of Henry VI.

The profits of the collection are paid to the captain of the school, who employs two of the upper class, who

are called salt-bearers, to gather in his harvest; and they employ twelve others to assist them, called servitors. The salt-bearers remain within the limits of the college and town. The servitors scour the country round, and collect from every traveller as much as they can; giving in return, a ticket with this imprint: "Mos pro lege est"" Custom answers for law." The collections of the day generally used to amount to 6 or 700l. which, after the captain had paid his salt-bearers and servitors, and given a handsome supper, were his own. The first and last at which I attended, the amiable William Roberts, editor of the "Looker On," that excellent paper, obtained; I may safely pay now a tribute to the amiability of his conduct while in power; though nephew to the provost, he never presumed on his superior influence from that cause, but performed his duty as prepostor and captain, with a dignity derived from himself, and with a discipline, softened by his own humanity.

Soon after this circumstance, a rebellion broke out, in which I was not personally concerned. The oath to the institution, executed by us on entering it, prevented every collegian from joining in it.

It originated thus: the boys had been in the practice after absence (roll call) on Saturday evening, to go, or rather fly to a certain part of the Thames, put on our respective uniforms, enter the boats, already elegantly prepared, and some with eight, some with six, and some four oars, flags and ensigns flying, row up the Thames to a house about two miles from the place of departure; there take a quick refreshment and return to our boats; glide gently back again, till arriving at Windsor bridge, we were called by our cockswain to our oars; we seized