The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-21 00:00:00

THE ETON MONTEM.

The Scholastic Jubilee, known by this title,
which has -existed from time immemorial, and _is celebrated
every third year, took place yesterday, with the accustomed
solemnities at this classic spot,
Where grateful science still adores
Her holy Henry's shade, . •
and were it not for the unfortunate absence of Royalty, the
whole would have gone off with a joyous magnificence scarcely
ever witnessed on any similar occasion. this is a tribute to
juvenile talent, which forms a remarkable trait in our national
character; and it must excite no common share of interest when
one considers that warriors, legislators, and statesmen, in em-
bryo, were among the actors in this imposing scene. There has
always been a numerous attendance of noblemen and gentle-
men of fortune, relatives of the Eton scholars ; and the num-
ber yesterday was greater than, perhaps, was ever witnessed
before. During the whole of Sunday and Monday, visi.
tors from London and all parts of the surrounding country
continued to arrive at Windsor and Eton. The crowd on
Monday evening was so great, that the inns and private lodg-
ing-houses were all occupied; not a decent bed could be had for
less than a guinea a night; and many persons were obliged to
repose upon chairs or sofas. Meanwhile every coach that ar-
rived from London brought a cargo of boxes' filled with the
splendid new dresses which were to be worn by the scholars ;
with whom study and discipline were entirely suspended. Their
amusements chiefly consisted of acquatic excursions; and in
the evening there was a grand rowing match, which excited
considerable interest. party of young
.gentlemen from Ox-
ford, who came to visit the scene of their preparatory studies,
where bold adventurers disdain the limits of their little reign,
entered the lists with a party of their former companions ; two
six-oared funnies startedathout five o'clock from Eton.bridge,
one- of them manned by the Oxonians, the other by the
Etonians ; and after a sharp contest of three miles up the river
and back again, the race was won by the latter, in the pre-
sence of a vast concourse of spectators who were seated on each
bank.
At an early hour yesterday morning, every thing was in a
state of preparation for the grand procession to the favourite
mount. Near 500 young gentlemen, some of them splendidly
attired in scarlet military dresses, with swords and Field-
Marshalls' huts, and many others in glittering silks and tur-
' bans and feathered caps, such as are worn by the heroes in Asiatic
Melodramas, were all lrawn up in the principal square of the
College. About ten o'clock they partook of a sumptuous break-
fast set out for them in one of the great rooms. By this time
two military bands arrived, and continued playing several mar-
tial airs. The square and all the avenues leading to the Col-
lege were crowded by persons of all descriptions; by far the
greater number, however, were highly respectable in appear-
ance and elegantly dressed. The females were by far the most
numerous. • All these were in continual motion until half-past
one o'clock ; some parties of them rushing into, and some out
of the College ; and it often happened that the opposing crowds
blocked up the gate in such dense bodies that for half an hour
at a time ingress and egress became impracticable. A large
party of the light-fingered gentry, who had come down from
London for the purpose, took advantage of this confusian, and
lightened several gentlemen of their purses and watches.
About half-past one, all the scholars, headed by the Mares..
dal, Mr. Thackerny, and their Captain, Mr. Barnard, and pre-
Ceded by the military bands, were drawn up in the meadow in
military array, and proceeded on their march through Slough,
ad litontem. Many hours before this young gentlemen in
splendid dresses were stationed at all the entrances leading to
Lton fir the purpose of collecting salt. In other words, they
stopped every passenger whether on foot or horseback, or in car-
riages, and made them deposit a sum of money in their large
purses. Each contributor received a small ticket with the words,
Mos pro le,re—virat Custom for law—long live the
'King :"—atil those tickets stuck in the hats of the men, or in
the bosoms of the women, served as passports against future
demands. The procession towards Salt-hill was followed by a
line of carriages more numerous than were ever seen here
before. They occupied a line of about two miles and a half.
One-third of them were the barouches and chariots of Noble-
men, among which we observed those of the Duke of Devon-
shire and Lord Ilarrington ; the others belonged for the most
part to priVate gentlemen. There were some hundreds of
gentlemen on horseback, and thousands of pedestrians. The
roads and fields adjacent to Salthill were insufficient to contain
them. When the young gentlemen arrived at the destined spot,
their Ensign, Mr. Dansey, ascended the summit, and there
before innumerable applauding spectators, waived and furled
his flag in a most dexterous spanner. When this ceremony
was concluded, the young gentlemen immediately repaired to
the great Inn near the. Mount, and partook of a dinner, which
had been previously prepared for them. Many of them, as
usual, indulged rather more freely in their devotions to the
jolly god than was suitable to their tender years. Between six
and seven o'clock they marched back to Windsor, and'went
upon the Terrace, wherethey, paraded for some time with the
bands of niusic; and finished the revelries of the day by retiring
to the College.
A great and general disappointment was experienced in the
lamented absence of his Majesty, and the still more lamented
cause of that absence. But the Sovereign was not unmindful
of those to whom his liberality had been extended on so many
former occasions; he sent his usual purse of 100 guineas;
and Mr. Cannizig-Lonce the most distinguished Alumnus of
this ancient Seminary, was the bearer of it. •
The day was uncommonly tine, and rendered doubly grate-
ful in consequence of some refreshing showers which had fallen
during the preceding night, and early in the morning. It was
the general feeling of all the visiters, that a more delightful
Montem had never before occurred. Mr. Barnard, the Captain
of the Scholars, will receive all the money that has been collect-
ed, and iii immediately tea enter the University upon the founda-
tion. The grandfather of this young gentleman was once Pro..
cost of Eton College.

Our town yesterday (Whit-Monday)
_preeented a scene
vf animation and gaiety most truly, .gratifying, it being the
Anniversary of the several Benefit Societies in this place.—
Tmorning
he was ushered in by the ringing of bells, and
at an early hour the Club Hopes displayed their various ban-
ners, and were decked out also with oak boughs, &c. The
day being peculiarly. fine, hundreds of fair visitants from the
surrounding neighbourhood thronged the streets and rendered
them almost impossable. At eleven o'clock the different socie-
ties, six in number, assembled in the High-street, and, after
forming themselves' in order, proceeded to church, attended
by bands of music, flags, oquets of flowers, &c., whigre a
most excellent and appropriate sermon was preached by the
Rev. B. Heawood, Chaplain to the Corporation, who those
for his text the 7th chap. Ist Corinthians, 24th verse.
" Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein
abide with God." From these words the Rev. Gentleman
descanted at length on the great benefit derived from these
institutions, as not only affording relief to the distressed
and comfort to the afflicted, .but as being also conducive to
public good. He besought his hearers not to murmur at the
dispensations of Providence, although they might not have
the enjoyments anti comforts that others had, but to be content
and cheerful in the several stations of life to which they had
been called. He alluded to the establishment of a Savings
Bank in this town,. and spoke in the highest terms of these In-
stitutions, expressing a conviction that time and experience
would shew their great utility, and that they would ere
long be generally resorted to. In conclusion he exhorted
them to be honest and upright, and to continue to • show
towards one another that brotherly love which was so truly ap-
parent on that occasion. At the conclusion of the service, the
Societies paraded the streets, and then retired to their mipec-
tire dub-houses, where dinnerS were , provided on the occa-
sion, and the afternoon was spent with the greatest order and
conviviality, highly creditable to these praiseworthy institu.
tions, whiell we sincerely hope will long continue to prosper,
and Shed their blessings on those of their brethren in affliction.
The number of Members assembled on this anniversary amount.
ed to 121tf, viz. :—The Friendly Brothers, at Golden Lion,
308 established in the year 1790 ; The United Kentish Britons,
at Town Arms, 280, established in 180 ti ; The. Friendly
Brothers, at Sun, 273, established iet 1811 ; The humane and
Brotherly Society of Paper-Makers, 130, established in 1814
The Brotherly Society, at Jolly 'Waterman, 122, established in
1801; and Brotherly Society, at Prince of Wales, 108, esta-
blished in 1813. On no similar occasion do we remember to
have seen the town so thronged with visitors, and the church
was so crowded that hundreds could not gain admittance.—
( Ilfaidettnie Janrnal, May 20.
BENEFIT SOCIETIES..--On Thursday last a case
was heard before the Magistrates in the town-hall, wherein
a Member of "the third battalion of the Sons of Mersey,"
Benefit Society, complained against the officers for refusing
to pay him the -weekly stipend be was entitled to by the
articles during his sickness. It appeared in evidence that
the complainant was one of the original members, had duly
paid his subscription, and through sickness hed been upon
the box since Christmas last; that he was entitled to thirteen
shillings per week for six months, and had received it until
within the last two weeks, when one of the officers told him
the box was shut, and . they could pay him no longer fur want
of funds. In this tiilentme he was obliged to apply to the
parish, and the select vestry now assisted him in this ap-
plication. • As the officers did not admit funds, .the Maws.
trates made inquiry therein, when it appeared by the books
there was sufficient for the urpose and they made an order
for the poor man to be paid; observing that the object of such
societies being to contribute to the support of each member when
in need, it was not creditable to them to endeavour to withhold
their subscriptions when the necessities of a Weller required
them.—(Clicstcr Nardi 20,,)