The Sun.
London, England, 1829-06-10 00:00:00

ETON MON TEM.

WINDSOR, TUESDAY NIGHT, JUNE 9.—This cus-
tom, triennially observed on Whit-Tuesday at Eton,
bearing the title of Mouton, appears to have been
coeval with the foundation of the College, although
both its design and mode of observance have been
entirely changed since that period. It now consists
of a procession formed by the whole school to a
small mount, supposed to be a Saxon barrow, near
a village on the Bath road, called Salthill, where the
remainder of the day is spent in festivity. The ob-
ject of the ceremony is to obtain a collection for the
head scholar on the foundation, preparatory to his
removal for the University, which is accomplished
by laying all the spectators and passengers under a
contribution, demanded as money for " Salt," for
which a ticket is given, with the motto of " Mos
pro Lege." The spectacle partakes of a military
array ; the greater part of the Gentlemen are habit-
ed in uniforms, and the senior scholars have the
dresses of a Marshal, Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant,
and Ensign ; the. latter of whom bears the College
flag, with the motto" Pro More et Monte," which
he waves with much form before the departure of
the procession from the College, and on the summit
of the Mount at Salthill. The two principal col-
lectors are termed Saltbearers; they are habited in
splendid fancy dresses, and are assisted in the duties
of the day by several more of the upper boys, having
the title of Servitors. The following will describe
the present custom :—At an early hour in the morn-
ing the Servitors were stationed at every approach
to Eton, within a distance of ten miles, who de-
mand Salt of the passengers, and the two Saltbear-
ers were actively engaged in levying contributions on
the Masters, Boarding Dames, &c. within the pre-
cincts of the school. At half after nine o'clock, a
public breakfast was given by the Provost and Head
Master, at their residences, to which the head
scholars were invited. At eleven the procession
formed in the College Square, and after going three
times round, the Ensign waved the flag before the
Provost, Head Masters, &c. and the procession then
moved to Salthill, where the flag was again waved
by the Ensign on the Mount. Dr. Keate, Head
Master of the College, entertained a distinguished
party of Noblemen and Gentlemen having sons at
Eton, at Mr. Botham's, the Windmill Inn, where a
great portion of the young Gentlemen also dined.
The Captain and friends, Saltbearers, Servitors,
&c., dined at Mr. Cecil's, where an elegant and
sumptuous entertainment was furnished. The young
Gentlemen left Salthill shortly after six o'clock, for
the Terrace at the Castle, where they promenaded
with their friends until dusk, the band of the Life
Guards adding to the scene by their masterly per-
formances.

The dresses of the servants to the Captain (Mr.
Brown) and the Marshal (Mr. Hughes) were very
splendid, as was also that of the Marquis of Granby,
servant to one of the senior scholars.

Mr. SIIEIL has been in Louth canvassing.
He has just returned, and states that he has been most suc-
cessful. He met with scarcely a refusal, and has no
doubt of his return whenever a vacancy offers.—Morning
Paper.

NEW REGISTRY OF FREEHOLDS IN IRE-
LAND.--The operation of the recent Act, in diminishing
the number of freeholders in Ireland, is thus adverted to
in a private letter which we have seen from highly re-
spectable and very intelligent individual resident in the
county of Tipperary If title is looked into as on an
ejectment, very few can vote. This town (Nenagh) for-
merly turned out 350 freeholders. I have, with others,
gone over the rental of the Nenagh estate, and can make
out of 501., 201., and 101., altogether, hut 92 freeholders;
of these, 15 are non-resident, and perhaps about 10 had
titles, so that I calculate upon about 75 to vote, instead of
the 350; and this I believe will be found the proportion
throughout the kingdoin."—Morning Paper.