The Sun.
London, England, 1832-06-13 00:00:00

ETON MONTEM.

The triennial celebration of the " Mouton" took plan,
esterday.

The origin of this singular ceremony is very obscure;
it appears, however, to be coeval with the foundation of
Eton College. It consists, as most of our readers know,
of a procession formed by the whole of the Eton scholars,
from the college to Salt-bill, on the Bath-road. Previously,
and during the march of the procession, a collection is
made from the company who are in attendance, and from
all passengers on the road, for the benefit of the " captain,"
or heart boy on the foundation of the school, preparatory
to his departure for the University of Cambridge. The
money collected is called " Salt ;" wherefore it is so
called, we are not prepared to say. It is collected by the
upper boys, called " salt-bearers," who are habited in very
rich and fantastic dresses. The rest of the scholars are
dressed in scarlet or blue coats, according to their rank in
the school, and the whole spectacle is in consequence ex-
ceedingly lively and splendid. On the present occasion
the dresses and decorations surpassed any thing of the sort
we remember to have witnessed on former occasions, and
the sum of money collected exceeded the collection of any
former period ; we believe it did not fall far short of
1,2001. Mr. Williams, the son of the bookseller and
publisher of the Eton classics, is the fortunate individual
who is enriched by this popular contribution, and be is
greatly indebted both to the activity and energy of his "salt-
bearers," and the liberality of the public, for obtaining
so large a sum to defray his outfit to King's College, Cam-
bridge. At twelve o'clock, according to a previous an-
nouncement, their Majesties, accompanied by Prince
George of Cambridge, the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, and
attended by Lord and Lady Howe and children, and Lady
Gore and family, arrived in three carriages at the cham-
bers of the Rev. Dr. Keat, and from thence passed into
the quadrangle of the college, which was crowded by
well-dressed people, principally old Etonians, or relations
and connexions of the scholars. The procession, after
parading before their Majesties, proceeded in military order,
with banners flying, and accompanied by the hinds of
the Life Guards, and Scotch Fusileers, to Salt-hill. The
road was literally crammed with the carriages of the nobi-
lity and gentry, together with a very dense cavalcade of
horsemen. The most conspicuous among the numerous
equipages were those of the Royal party, of the 'Marquess
of Londonderry, the Earl of Bandon, Lady Linton, and of
Lords Hawarden, Doneraile, and Kinnaird. The order
of the procession was well preserved throughout, and about
two o'clock reached the principal seat of action, Salt-hill,
where the usual waving of the flag took place in the pre-
sence of their Majesties, who seemed highly delighted
with the scene, though we regret to sly his Majesty slid
not look in health.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather,
there were sufficient intervals between the showers to en-
able the company assembled to enjoy the scene, and we
can safely affirm a greater show of female fashion and
beauty than the numerous carriages contained was never
witnessed on a similar occasion. Mr. Botham, the excel-
lent host of the Windmill, and Mr. Cecil, his rival, at
the Castle, had provided an ample stock of provisions to
sustain the siege which their respective establishments lite-
rally underwent for several hours, from the hundreds, or
rather thousands, of persons who were assembled. rhe heavy
fall of rain which took place towards five o'clock, pre-
vented the promenade in the gardens of the Windmill, and,
in cooperation with the gentlemanly feeling- which pre-
vailed among the boys, preserved the flowers and plants
from the destruction which we have witnessed on former
occasions. The road home to Eton, on the return, pre-
sented a scene which must have been seen to be properly
understood. The torrents of rain which were falling,
completely drenched all those who were not fortun ite
enough to be in close carriages. Horsemen, chaises,
coaches-and-four, and innumerable groups of people on
foot, were flying in all directions ; the road was a mingled
crowd of " Greeks, archers, highlanders, soldiers, and
nondescripts." It resembled the rout and flight of an
army ; and by the time they arrived at Eton, nothing was
to be discerned of the pomp and circumstance by which the
morning had been distinguished. We arc happy to say no
accidents occurred.