Long distance to encounter, fear to spurn, Are there any more Etonian Poets?-Oh! yes! There is Walker, who only needs to exert his strength, in order to have it felt and acknowledged; and there is H. N. Coleridge, whose name would be a sufficient voucher for him if he had never written a rhyme, and there is the Hon. F. Howard, to whom Eton will look for something more than the Newdigate Prize, which he has just obtained. There are many other names which claim a notice; and, if I had twenty pages to spare, I could easily fill twenty pages with expressions of my gratitude to some, and my esteem for all. And what should I say of Moultrie? The humorous Moultrie, and the pathetic Moultrie, the Moultrie of "Godiva," and the Moultrie of "My Brother's Grave?"-Truly I should say nothing of him, for his Genius is so incomprehensible, and his capabilities so varied, that if I were to attempt to draw his character or define his powers, it would be ten to one that the next effort of his pen would prove my every word a lie. I am safe, at least, in predicting, that he will be great, whatever he attempts; and that, whether he chooses to laugh or to weep, he will laugh and weep to some purpose. And here I stop. Some weeks ago what I have said might have been considered an interested piece' of Flattery; at the present time, and under the present circumstances, I am free, or I ought to be free, from such an imputation. The Rashleigh Letter-Bag. X. Mr. Samuel Rashleigh to R. Rashleigh, Esq. MY DEAR FATHER, I perfectly agree with you that the routine of Eton lessons is much more difficult to learn than the lessons themselves; and perhaps many things that appear very plain and simple to me, from being so accustomed to them, may seem to you quite incomprehensible. Indeed almost every week is different, for something or other interferes to break the regular course : sometimes a Saint's day, sometimes an Anniversary, or any happy event at the present time entitles us to drop one or more of the exercises, according to the number or efficacy of these fortunate interruptions. When a proper and lawful reason occurs, the two first in the School go on a sort of embassy to the Head Master, in the name of the Boys, and ask for the indulgence: so that every Birth and Marriage, in which we can be said to be at all concerned, is celebrated by us with quite as much joy and pleasure, as by the parties themselves. Verses, however, can never be dispensed with under any pretence; or, as the phrase is, skipped. We are obliged to do a certain number, but it is reckoned very idle to be contented with doing that, and, indeed, one ought very nearly to double it. When Henry first came he had some easy English given him to turn into Latin verse. This they call sense. By degrees he had less and less, and at present he trusts entirely to his own ideas, or what the Master supplies him with, when he sets the subject. All our lessons are construed over to us beforehand, at our Tutor's; so that we are expected, when we come into school, to be ready and prepared at all points. It is considered the height of ill-nature not to prompt and assist your neighbour to the utmost of your ability, whenever he happens to fail, even at the risk of a flogging to yourself, which is pretty sure to follow, if you are discovered. Swinburne has particularly cautioned me against being anybody's Poet, which means doing all his exercises; for he says it is a very great trouble, for which you are hardly thanked: besides, it is very likely to make you careless in your own verses, from being accustomed to do bad and slovenly ones for other people. by the people. No doubt he is quite right, and I shall be fully contented with getting through with my own business as well as I can. Some have an innumerable quantity of old copies; that is to say, compositions of all kinds for the last seven or eight years past, which they keep hidden with ticular care, as of course they are unlawful, but very valuable, possessions; for directly the subject par is given out, away they fly to their treasure, and unless a very unluckily new theme has been started, they generally succeed in finding some of the labours of their predecessors exactly suited to the present occasion. If this resource fails, they get one or two couplets, or a few lines of prose, as each may be wanted, from some of their friends, and, between them all, contrive to patch up something resembling an exercise. I am afraid that I have already sinued unpardonably in disclosing to you these mighty mysteries of Eton Education; and, in case that these accounts of mine should leave any bad impressions behind them, I must give you a description of some of my studious schoolfellows, the brightest luminaries of " our little world," as one of the learned writers in "The Etonian" calls it. Perhaps you will hardly believe that there are some boys who look as pale as a sheet from positive hard reading, who dread a cricket-ball as much as if it were discharged from a cannon, who would in fact prefer doing a good long copy of Greek verses to the very finest Match that has ever been contested. These are a sort of persons who consider it quite a crime to be seen within the precincts of the Playing Fields, unless by chance they happen, in a truly contemplative mood, to take a few turns in Poet's Walk, or to lie down, on a hot Summer's day, with a book in their hand, under one of the trees by the water side. Sometimes too I have caught them fishing for dace, and suchlike small fry in the river here; which I am sure is quite enough to exhaust anybody's patience, for the fish are very few, and those more shy than you can possibly conceive. It does not appear to me, however, that these respectable folks are the most clever, although they may be most persevering. They are, generally speaking, boys of rather steady than brilliant abilities, who wish to accomplish by their diligence what others do more easily by means of superior talents. You can hardly imagine in how many ways this temper shows itself. They are always particularly careful to write down every word that they are not acquainted with in the lesson, and to mark its meaning and origin; they fill their books with appropriate quotations from every quarter they can think of, and try to ingratiate themselves with their superiors by their punctuality and strict observance of every little duty, which is rather likely to escape your attention. I heard a story of somebody of this description, who, after he had been at school very nearly a year, wished to know which was the way to Slough. Now Slough is hardly more than a mile off; and I should just as soon have thought of asking the way to Windsor; for, before I had been here a month, I had visited that, and most other places within a good deal longer distance. Now I would not have you imagine, for all the world, that I mean to vilify my studious friends. On the contrary, I believe them to be a very great credit to Eton, and, as Matthew Swinburne tells me, very good contributors to "The Etonian." By-the-bye, I understand that this renowned Publication is upon its last legs, as all the principal supporters take their leave after the next Holidays. It is a thousand pities that it should be dropped after it has gone on so long; and I am the more sorry, as I have just begun to take a little interest in it; and Henry, I assure you, when he does read any thing, likes to take up his Schoolfellows' productions. It is infinitely better that he should amuse himself with this than reading a pack of horrible stories of Ghosts, and enchanted Knights, which one sees in innumerable quantities, displaying their Fairy frontispieces in the shop windows; and indeed I am sorry that many of the little boys are much better acquainted with them than their Greek and Latin Grammars. Perhaps too there is a deeper interest in these performances than you would be likely to guess, for some of the Authors may be found at no very great distance, who, actuated no doubt by a very laudable desire of appearing in print, have chosen to try their youthful talents in this romantic style of writing. These things are termed here indiscriminately Pamphlets, and every one that comes forth from the prolific London press, with the words "By an Etonian "on the Titlepage, possesses a natural charm, and is sought for with the utmost avidity by the devourers of this kind of Literature. I have interdicted Henry from all things of this kind, and have given him very fair notice that I shall burn the very first that I find in his possession. He told me the other day, that one of his particular friends subscribed to a circulating library in Windsor, where he gets as many Novels and Romances as he can manage. I could very plainly discern that he had a great inclination to add his name to the 1 list, but this I positively set my face against. They tell me that sometime before I came here there was a Theatre first started, and afterwards entirely supported, by the exertions of various amateur actors, all belonging to this same all-powerful School. Many, who had seen their performances, declared to me that they were really excellent, and that many of the players were equal, if not superior, to the best in the Windsor company. Perhaps the testimony of such an audience is not always so impartial as one might wish; but, be that as it may, I would rather have seen a common farce at Eton, with bad scenes and worse dresses, than the finest spectacle ever displayed on the London stage. This Theatre remained for a long time undiscovered, which is not at all surprising, for it was concealed in a place where no strolling manager would have thought of raising his apparatus. However, at last, like every thing else, it came to the ears of the Higher Powers, and the whole business was stopped in the most unceremonious manner. I do almost wish that some new Rosciusses could revive the theatrical fame, for I should like beyond all things to look at my schoolfellows rustling in petticoats, or strutting about in military uniform, or in old men's clothes, with painted wrinkles, wig and cane, and all the stage paraphernalia. I cannot think how any spectator can keep his coun tenance. Our Cricket Club goes on famously, but I have hardly room to tell you much about its proceedings. It is my intention, if I go on improving, to promote myself to a higher one, where there is better ground and better players; but the end of the season is now not very far off, and nobody thinks of touching a bat after the Holidays, however fine the weather may be. It would be very unfashionable. Henry shall write the next letter, that you may judge if he advances as favourably in the epistolary style as he does in all other kinds of learning; besides it is but right that he should relieve me sometimes. We are allowed now to bathe at certain times and certain places, where a man is always ready, to guard against any accident. I hope this will quiet Mamma's fears on this head. Remember me kindly to her, and to all at home, and believe me, my dear Father, Your affectionate Son, SAMUEL RASHLEIGH. XI. Master Henry Rashleigh to Miss H. Rashleigh. MY DEAR SISTER, Samuel takes such infinite pains in explaining to you all that may appear difficult in our school business, that it would be an unpardonable shame if I were to trespass on any of his rights in this way: positively I have neither inclination nor ability to interfere with his dry details, so I must endeavour, in lieu of instruction, to amuse you by a very faithful account of a Cricket-match which took place the other day, between eleven of our best players, and eleven gentlemen who came on purpose to try their strength with them. In the first place, you must imagine a most beautiful spot of ground,-not such a one as you may have seen for the same purpose among our open naked downs at home, but surrounded by the finest trees, and commanding views of the River, Windsor Castle, the College, and enough others in fact entirely to fill up your sketch-book; and, let me tell you, it could hardly be better used. The middle of this of course is reserved for the combat Eton Coll. July 18, 1821. ants; two tents are pitched on the outskirts, which are lined, almost in a circle, by a great crowd of Ladies, Gentlemen, or Boys, lying, standing, or sitting, in various groupes; so that altogether they form the prettiest sight imaginable. To enjoy all this perfectly, you must fancy a most glorious day, as it really was; you must wish for us to be victorious, as we were, and easily too; and you must take the same pleasure in reading about a game of Cricket, although I am the Historian, as the Eton belles appear to have in looking at one. You cannot conceive how many happy faces there were whenever one of the heroes on our side struck a ball with more than usual violence. Such a buz ran through the field, such a bustle took place immediately, as evidently showed that very few were indifferent spectators. Then if the fatal wickets fell, if any thing happened at all unfavourable to us, one might easily observe the interest that every one took by the sudden silence and the serious looks of the |