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Page 13
"'Circiter festum Conversionis Divi Pauli ad horam nonam quodam die
pro arbitrio moderatoris' (ex consueto modo quo eunt collectum
Avellanas Mense Septembri), itur a pueris ad Montem. Mons puerili
religione Etonensium sacer locus est; hunc ob pulchritudinem agri,
amoenitatem graminis, umbraculorum temperationem, et Apollini et
Musis venerabilem sedem faciunt, carminibus celebrant, Tempe
vocant, Heliconi pr�ferunt. Hic Novitii seu recentes, qui annum
nondum viriliter et nervose in acie Etonensi ad verbera steterunt
_sale primo_ condiuntur, tum versiculis qui habeant _salem_ ac
leporem, quoad fieri potest egregie depinguntur. Deinde in recentes
epigrammata faciunt, omni suavitate sermonis, et facetiis alter
alterum superare contendentes. Quicquid in buccam venit libere
licet effutire, modo Latine fiat, modo habeat urbanitatem, modo
caveat obscoen� verborum scurrilitate, postremo et lacrymis
_salsis_ humectant ora genasque' et tune demum veteranorum ritibus
initiantur. Sequuntur orationes et parvi triumphi, et serio
l�tantur, cum ob pr�teritos labores tum ob cooptationem in tam
lepidorum commilitonum societatem."
It seems that "salting" was a sort of initiation, like that which
prevails among our Teutonic brethren, where the "Fuchs" is raised to the
sublime degree of a "Brandfuchs," "junge Bursch," "bemorstes Haupt," by
successive promotions. Not improbably in after times, especially at the
Universities, like "passing the Line," it admitted of being commuted for
a money payment. The exact nature of the "salting" at Eton I cannot
explain; perhaps your able correspondent, R.O., may afford information
on this head.
C.R. SOC.
_College Salting_ (no. 17. p. 261.).--I cannot but think that the asking
for salt at the now abolished ceremony of the Eton Montem (whence also,
as it is said, "Salt Hill" was named) must have been connected with the
"College Salting." The salt, or money, then collected belonged, as is
well known, to the head-boy who had "got Montem," as it (alas!) _was_
called, and who was about to enter on his career (of course as a
freshman) at Cambridge.
I would gladly, if permitted, draw the attention of your correspondents,
who are considering the original subject, to the latter, by placing it
in juxtaposition with "College Salting."
G.W.
Hamilton Terrace.
* * * * *
JUNIUS.
The questions asked by your correspondent "P." (No. 18. p. 172.)
perplexed by their simplicity. The answer, if answer can be seriously
required, was obvious. All that was ever urged in favour of every other
claimant was against the claim of Sir George Jackson. Beyond this I know
not what reply could be given. Emboldened by silence, "P." now proceeds
(p. 276.) to adduce certain evidence which he supposes has some bearing
on the question. "I possess," he says, "an unpublished letter by Junius
_to_ Woodfall, which once belonged to Sir George Jackson. My query is,
'Is it likely he would have obtained it from Junius, if he were neither
Junius himself nor a party concerned?'" What can be the meaning of this,
obtain _from Junius_ a letter which Junius had sent to Woodfall? Why, it
is obvious that Sir George must have obtained it as "P." obtained it--as
all autograph collectors obtain their treasures--directly or indirectly,
by gift or by purchase, mediately or immediately from one of the
Woodfalls--probably from Henry Sampson Woodfall--probably from George
Woodfall, who has recorded the fact that he lent one letter to a Mr.
Duppa, which was never returned. "P." then proceeds a step further, and
observes--"The manner in which Burke evades the question, as to himself
being the author of Junius, makes me think two or three were concerned
in these letters." Well, and it made others think so half a century or
more since. The three Burkes have often been named--the Burkes again,
with the assistance of Samuel Dyer: and Mr. Prior put forth a very
reputable argument in favour of the claims of the Burkes, but it was
delicate and died young. If your correspondent has nothing to urge in
favour of this conjecture, why disinter it? "P.," however, has it
in his power to do some service to the cause: let him send you, for
publication, an exact copy of the Junius' letter, following carefully
the spelling, the capital letters, the instructions, and even the
punctuation.
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