ile I admire
The young and gay, with souls of fire,
Unloose the cheerful heart.
Hence with thy puritanic zeal;
True virtue is to grant and feel--
A bliss thou'lt ne'er impart.

I love thee, Montem,--love thee, by all the brightest recollections
of my youth, for the inspiring pleasures which thy triennial pageant
revives in my heart: joined with thy merry throng, I can forget the
cares and disappointments of the world; and, tripping gaily with the
light-hearted, youthful band, cast off the gloom of envy and of worldly
pursuit, reassociating myself with the joyous scenes of my boyhood. Nay,
more, I hold thee in higher veneration than ever did antiquarian worship
the relics of _virtu_.

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~97~~

Destruction light upon the impious hand that would abridge thy ancient
charter;--be all thy children, father Etona, doubly-armed to defend
thy ancient honors;--let no modern Goth presume to violate thy sacred
rights; but to the end of time may future generations retain the spirit
of thy present race; and often as the happy period comes, new pleasures
wait upon the Eton Montem.{1}

1 The ancient custom, celebrated at Eton every third year,
on Whit-Tuesday, and which bears the title of The Montem,
appears to have defied antiquarian research, as far as
relates to its original institution. It consiste of a
procession to a small tumulus on the southern side of the
Bath road, which has given the name of Salt-Hill to the
spot, now better known by the splendid inns that are
established there. The chief object of this celebration,
however, is to collect money for salt, according to the
language of the day, from all persons who assemble to see
the show, nor does it fail to be exacted from travellers on
the road, and even at the private residences within a
certain, but no inconsiderable, range of the spot. The
scholars appointed to collect the money are called _salt-
bearers_; they are arrayed in fancy dresses, and are
attended by others called scouts, of a similar, but less
showy appearance. Tickets are given to such persons as have
paid their contributions, to secure them from any further
demand. This ceremony is always very numerously attended by
Etonians, and has frequently been honored with the presence
of his late Majesty, and the different branches of