ETON MONTEM.
[_Extracted from the_ “_Courier_” _of May_, 1799.]
“YESTERDAY this triennial ceremony took place, with which the public aretoo well acquainted to require a particular description. A collection,called Salt, is taken from the public, which forms a purse, to supportthe Captain of the School in his studies at Cambridge. This collectionis made by the Scholars, dressed in fancy dresses, all round the country.
“At eleven o’clock, the youths being assembled in their habiliments atthe College, the Royal Family set off from the Castle to see them, and,after walking round the Courtyard, they proceeded to Salt Hill in thefollowing order:—
“His Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the Earl ofUxbridge.
“Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Cumberland, Earl Morton,and General Gwynne, all on horseback, dressed in the Windsor uniform,except the Prince of Wales, who wore a suit of dark blue, and a brownsurtout over.
“Then followed the Scholars, preceded by the Marechal Serjeant, theMusicians of the Staffordshire Band, and Mr. Ford, Captain of theSeminary, the Serjeant Major, Serjeants, Colonels, Corporals, Musicians,Ensign, Lieutenant, Steward, Salt Bearers, Polemen, and Runners.
“The cavalcade was brought up by her Majesty and her amiable daughters intwo carriages, and a numerous company of equestrians and pedestrians, alleager to behold their Sovereign and his family. Among the former, LadyLade was foremost in the throng; only two others dared venture theirpersons on horseback in such a multitude.
“The King and Royal Family were stopped on Eton Bridge by Messrs. Youngand Mansfield, the Salt Bearers, to whom their Majesties delivered theircustomary donation of fifty guineas each.
“At Salt Hill, his Majesty, with his usual affability, took upon himselfto arrange the procession round the Royal carriages; and even when thehorses were taken off, with the assistance of the Duke of Kent, fastenedthe traces round the pole of the coaches, to prevent any inconvenience.
“An exceeding heavy shower of rain coming on, the Prince took leave, andwent to the ‘Windmill Inn,’ till it subsided. The King and hisattendants weathered it out in their great-coats.
“After the young gentlemen walked round the carriage, Ensign Vince andthe Salt Bearers proceeded to the summit of the hill; but the wind beingboisterous, he could not exhibit his dexterity in displaying his flag,and the space being too small before the carriages, from the concourse ofspectators, the King kindly acquiesced in not having it displayed undersuch inconvenience.
“Their Majesties and the Princesses then returned home, the Kingoccasionally stopping to converse with the Dean of Windsor, the Earl ofHarrington, and other noblemen.
“The Scholars partook of an elegant dinner at the ‘Windmill Inn,’ and inthe evening walked on Windsor Terrace.
“Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cumberland, aftertaking leave of their Majesties, set off for town, and honoured the OperaHouse with their presence in the evening.
“The profit arising from the Salt collected, according to account,amounted to 800 pounds.
“The Stadtholder, the Duke of Gordon, Lord and Lady Melbourne, ViscountBrome, and a numerous train of fashionable nobility, were present.
“The following is an account of their dresses, made as usual, veryhandsomely, by Mrs. Snow, milliner, of Windsor:—
“Mr. Ford, Captain, with eight Gentlemen to attend him as servitors.
“Mr. Sarjeant, Marechal.
“Mr. Bradith, Colonel.
“Mr. Plumtree, Lieutenant.
“Mr. Vince, Ensign.
“Mr. Young, College Salt Bearer; white and gold dress, rich satin bag,covered with gold netting.
“Mr. Mansfield, Oppidan, white, purple, and orange dress, trimmed withsilver; rich satin bag, purple and silver: each carrying elegant poles,with gold and silver cord.
“Mr. Keity, yellow and black velvet; helmet trimmed with silver.
“Mr. Bartelot, plain mantle and sandals, Scotch bonnet, a very Douglas.“Mr. Knapp, flesh-colour and blue; Spanish hat and feathers.
“Mr. Ripley, rose-colour; helmet.
“Mr. Islip (being in mourning), a scarf; helmet, black velvet; and whitesatin.
“Mr. Tomkins, violet and silver; helmet.
“Mr. Thackery, lilac and silver; Roman Cap.
“Mr. Drury, mazarin blue; fancy cap.
“Mr. Davis, slate-colour and straw.
“Mr. Routh, pink and silver, Spanish hat.
“Mr. Curtis, purple, fancy cap.
“Mr. Lloyd, blue; ditto.
“At the conclusion of the ceremony the Royal Family returned to Windsor,and the boys were all sumptuously entertained at the tavern at Salt Hill.About six in the evening all the boys returned in the order ofprocession, and, marching round the great square of Eton, were dismissed.The captain then paid his respects to the Royal Family, at the Queen’sLodge, Windsor, previously to his departure for King’s College,Cambridge, to defray which expense the produce of the Montem waspresented to him.
“The day concluded by a brilliant promenade of beauty, rank, and fashion,on Windsor Terrace, enlivened by the performance of several bands ofmusic.
“The origin of the procession is from the custom by which the Manor washeld.
“The custom of hunting the Ram belonged to Eton College, as well as thecustom of Salt; but it was discontinued by Dr. Cook, late Dean of Ely.Now this custom we know to have been entered on the register of the RoyalAbbey of Bec, in Normandy, as one belonging to the Manor of East or GreatWrotham, in Norfolk, given by Ralph de Toni to the Abbey of Bec, and wasas follows:—When the harvest was finished the tenants were to have halfan acre of barley, and a ram let loose; and if they caught him he wastheir own to make merry with; but if he escaped from them he was theLord’s. The Etonians, in order to secure the ram, houghed him in theIrish fashion, and then attacked him with great clubs. The cruelty ofthis proceeding brought it into disuse, and now it exists no longer.—SeeRegister of the Royal Abbey of Bec, folio 58.
“After the dissolution of the alien priories, in 1414, by the Parliamentof Leicester, they remained in the Crown till Henry VI., who gave WrothamManor to Eton College; and if the Eton Fellows would search, they wouldperhaps find the Manor in their possession, that was held by the customof Salt.”
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MEN.
Alderman Bursal, Father of young Bursal.
Lord John, Talbot, Wheeler, Bursal, Rory O’Ryan } Young Gentlemen ofEton, from 17 to 19 years of age.
Mr. Newington, Landlord of the Inn at Salt Hill.
Farmer Hearty.
A Waiter and crowd of Eton Lads.