the date when it was
abolished in 1847, Montem at Eton was a school holiday, an "event,"
as we should now say, of the London season. Of its origin nothing is
known, but the ceremony of a procession in military costume "ad
Montem" to a mound near Slough, now called Salt Hill, can be traced
back to the sixteenth century. Visitors were offered salt by some of
the boys, and in exchange gave money. The amount collected after
payment of the expenses belonged to the captain of the school.
--"History of Eton College," by H. C. Maxwell-Lyte, p. 450.

(162) Edward Emly, Dean of Derry.

(1781,) June 1, Friday m(orning).--I am at this moment employed fort
pedagoguement. I have taken into my own department Mie Mie's
translations out of English into French. That is, I am at her elbow
when she translates, and by that means can see what faults she makes
from insufficiency, and what are produced from carelessness. She is
very much so if left to herself, but is very much improved, as I
perceive. But Mrs. Webb can be of no use in this, and so I have the
task when Labort is not here. I hope that Caroline has somebody to
read French with her who has a real good pronunciation, otherwise it
will take un mauvais pli, which will not be so easy to recover, and
it is better not to speak a language at all than without some sort
of grace.

To-day I give a dinner to the bankers; the two not upon duty come
here at five, and when the other two come off they will find here
des rechauffes; to the Duke of Q(ueensberry) and Mr. Greenville, and
to two chance comers; it may be Boothby and Storer, or Sir C.
Bunbury. It is too hot to go out to-day. I have seen nobody, and the
rise and fall of the bank is not as yet added to the other stocks in
the morning papers. It is frequently declared from the window, or
gallery, aux passans. Pigott was there this morning at four, and
from May the 31st (sic) at night, that is, from Tuesday night, about
nine. The account brought to White's, about supper time, was that he
had rose to eat a mutton chop. But that merits confirmation.

Young Pitt made yesterday on the Accounts another speech,(163) which
is much admired, in which there was du sel, et du piquant, a pleines
mains. Charles en fut enchants, and I hear that the satire of it was
pointed strongly against Lord N(orth). It wanted no other
recommendation to the party who dines here to-day. Sir J. Irwin will
be soon with you. I supped with him at White's, and with