Promenade. They all had books, some very gay ones, others such as hardly deserved the name an inconsistency which I was at a loss to reconcile, unless it were that the first mentioned had caught the infection of their master's finery. Here and there a cluster of Collegers, with their black gowns, had a good effect among the many varied colours which the greater proportion displayed: indeed I am so far bigotted that I never could have imagined a place of learning without some such classical costume. It was not easy to mistake the settled step, the sedate demeanour, and the pallid and rather sickly hue, which marked the countenances of those boys, whom, for the want of a more expressive name, with which I dare say the Eton vocabulary could supply me, I shall call the studious-such as I could picture to myself never mixing in the sports of their schoolfellows, and preferring a problem of Euclid to the finest game at cricket ever contested. Many of the lesser tribe appeared to be extremely busy in construing their lessons, and comparing their notes as the time of purgatory grew nearer. Two or three seemed to be looked upon as a sort of oracles whom they all assailed with different interrogations. I was almost tempted to ask a question of one of the nearest of them, when the clock struck, and they all hurried away at the same instant to different entrances, and, in less than five minutes, the area was cleared, and the cloisters were silent. There are some associations connected with the sight of a school, particularly a large one, which always bring me back to the time of my boyhood, and recall to my recollection so strongly what I did, and what I thought, in former days, that I fancied myself, in this instance, nearly thirty years younger, and seemed almost transported again to the rule of my ancient Orbilius. I must confess that my situation at that time, both in point of happiness and liberty, was very different from that of an Etonian. The walls were my boundaries; and merely to pass them, without any consequent misdemeanour, was reckoned among the heaviest of those crimes to which the wisdom of the legislative founder had allotted punishments. This place of my education I always considered as a better sort of prison, and left it with all the joy that a prisoner would feel on obtaining his Habeas Corpus, except on stated occasions, when, preceded by our master, we walked in due order and regularity up a high green hill at a short distance off, famous for its having been formerly the station of a Roman camp. Well do I recollect how often I unwillingly encountered the cold frosty air of a winter morning on this bleak and desolate spot; how often, under a sweltering summer sun, I laboured and toiled up the entrenchments, with which the caution of our ancient enemies had fortified the natural steepness. However, such an excursion as this was some relief; and I generally contemplated with increased horror, on my return, the grim bars, the narrow courts, and the closing gates, of School. The very servants partook of the character of the place, and were the most unaccommodating, surly, old beings that can possibly be imagined. In fact, I led a sort of mechanical existence, being compelled to take exercise, as it were by a physician's prescription, to enable me to perform what was required from my mental faculties. Any brought up as I have described myself, agreeably to the most rigid maxims of scholastic discipline, will have many scruples to overcome, many old prejudices to vanquish, before they can bring themselves to allow, that the superior liberty, which Eton grants to her children, can be compatible with the necessary studies of such an institution. What indignation would have ruffled the angry wrinkled visage of my ancient pedagogue, had any of the wretched victims committed to his care ventured to inform him, that there is a place where boys comparatively do as they will, where they are tacitly allowed to commit the unheard-of sin of passing their bounds, and where, in fact, the measure of their labours is in a great degree under the control of their own discretion. When, however, we see in good earnest the first characters in the Bar, the Senate, and the Church, boasting Eton as their common parent,-when we review the illustrious names in former times, whose glory she considers as her own, it really becomes time to account for the effects of this magical education. I myself cannot pretend to any accurate investigation; but, merely as a speculative and casual observer, I should ascribe its influence to that hatred of immoderate restriction which generous talents naturally entertain, and the elevation and expansion which they feel on being principally left to their spontaneous exertions, and experiencing gentle direction rather than positive and harsh control. The spirit of encouragement and emulation cherished by this system is more likely, than any fear of punishment, to stimulate a young and ardent mind to extraordinary efforts. Where much is required, to do that well is, of course, considered sufficient; but where comparatively little is required, and much, on the contrary, expected, true abilities will perceive their own strength, and will labour to obtain praise, which is the more valuable as it is given to labours and acquirements in a great measure voluntary. I have heard from very good authority, that few leave Eton without feeling real sorrow at their departure. It is the fashion, too, at that versifying establishment to compose a poetical farewell, to testify at once their grief and their gratitude. Some of these I have seen; and nature seems really to have a considerable share in their composition. It is lucky for me that this custom did not exist at the school of which I was an unwilling member; or I am afraid that my Vale, as they call it, would have been highly indecorous, since the overflowing joy of my heart would have effectually negatived all expressions of woe. By the by, this brings me to myself again, and reminds me that my reverie on paper has been much too long and too reasoning already. I shall therefore leave every one to form his own conjecture and opinion, and only wish for myself, that I could glory in the name of—“ an Etonian." K. S. And there's a gulph 'twixt thee and me. And know that I no more shall feel To thoughts that held my heart in thrall, And thee the brightest dream of all. My footsteps rove not where they rov'd, My home is chang'd, and, one by one, The "old, familiar" forms I lov'd Are faded from my path-and gone. And 'tis with tears-but not of sorrow, The heart it is thy choice to share; The gentle star that smiles at Even, That melts into my heart from far, And leads my wandering thoughts to Heaven. 'Twould break my soul's divinest dream With meaner love to mingle thee; 'Twould dim the most unearthly beam Thy form sheds o'er my memory. It is my joy, it is my pride To picture thee in bliss divine; Be thou to one a holy spell, A bliss by day-a dream by night,- Still think of me as of a brother, I'd not be lov'd, nor love thee, more. "Twill be no crime to think of me. To breathe thy name-as lovers would; I bend before some lov'd one's shrine, I shall not blush to think of thine. 'In thy calm hour of happiness, Then sometimes-sometimes think of me. Sept. 18, 1820. M. |