494 



Esfablishment at Stonyhurst Collegr. 



[Ju!^ I, 



'I'm sorry for it, Harry, very sorry, 

 indeed ; did not,expect to see you on 

 such an en and. Take off your coat 

 aud waistcoat, Harry, and let down 

 your Ijnices: there, kneel down on my 

 oratory ;' and smack sound tiie cords 

 twenty-five tunes on Harry's shoul- 

 ders. Such resignation is decisively 

 an inference of a general sense of fair- 

 ness and justice ; and I was very glad 

 to learn, from a scholar of five years' 

 standing, that he only remembered one 

 instance of resistance during his time. 



At half past five the rattle spriugs 

 rounds the dormitory ; aud at six each 

 one has washed, and all are moving to 

 the cluipel. Morning prayers and a 

 lesson are there read : mass is heard ; 

 aud from a (|uarter before seven to a 

 quarter bel'ore eight is aa hour of 

 ruoruing study. Tiien there is as much 

 bread-and-milk for breakfast as each 

 one may desire; afier which they all 

 divide to their schools. The day's 

 task and (heme are heard, and the 

 morrow's ju-Dpounded by the master, 

 until half |>ast ten, when all congregate 

 again in the stmly under the wriliug- 

 inaster. A <iuarter of an hour is 

 allowed to wash ; and at half ))ast ele- 

 ven dinner is ready. On Sunday it is 

 of roast beef; Monday, veal ; Tuesdn^', 

 boiled mutton; Wednesday, boiled 

 beef; Thur:<day, roast mutton; Fri- 

 day, rice-milk, fisli, and some sweet 

 pie; Saturday, pease-soup, eggs, and 

 some sweet pudding: bread, cheese, 

 and butter, are daily allowed. Au 

 hour and a half's play follows ; and it 

 is joyous to note the rush aud l;ear the 

 wild cry with which the throng sweeps 

 down the stairs, and leaps to the 

 ground. The i)re\iuus morn liad 

 passed in gloom severe and silence, 

 one whispering word of the j)resent 

 sjjort was punishable, and now they 

 bound in frecd<!m. The simple plea- 

 sures of th:it time arc indescribable. 

 From half past one to half past two is 

 the hour of noon study, next to schools 

 again, and mathematics, until half past 

 four, when comes recreation, during 

 which a kind of lunch or draught of 

 beer is at every one's command. A 

 (juarler of an hour's visit to the chapel 

 leads to an hour's evening study, aud 

 half past six is the time for supper, of 

 bread, milk, potatoes, butter, and 

 cheese. An hour's play is enjoyed 

 after it: night prajers aud lesson en- 

 gage half an hour; and every boy is 

 quiet a-bed by half past eight. 



An examination ot each class, rather 



publicly conducted, is made quarterly 

 by the prefect of studies ; to whom the 

 post gives the first literary authority in 

 the household ; and three distinctions 

 during a schi>ol, conferred by his re- 

 port, entitles the emulous student to an 

 honorary reward at the close of tho 

 year. Concurrent with the examina- 

 tions, there is also a rivalry of compo- 

 sition, — the comparative excellence of 

 which, in the aggregate themes of the 

 four languages, gives precedency of 

 seats in school, study, &c. order of 

 j)rocessk)n, first service at table, be- 

 sides a claim to a day's extraordinary 

 recreation and entertainment at the 

 year's end. . A particular day is quar- 

 terly set aside for an account of these 

 trials: the report is preceded by reci- 

 tations, classical explanations of fa- 

 vorite authors, by one of the three 

 highest classes, which support the ho- 

 nours of such days in turn ; and all is 

 enlivened by music. But in August 

 comes the grand academical exhibi- 

 tion, for tlie adjustment of the year's 

 successes, and the distribution of its 

 rewards. Every school contributes to 

 the classical display, and puts in its, 

 claim to consideration for Grecian, 

 Latin, or English, poetry, oration or 

 disquisition ; then the first of each class, 

 receives a large, aud the thrice distin- 

 guished a smaller, silver medal. This 

 looks, indeed, a day of innocent pride 

 and enviable joy. The long vacation 

 commences on the morrow; the year's 

 lal>ours arc w eil closed ; the pareuts of 

 the students, and friends of the esta- 

 blishment, are assembled, with mrtny a 

 reverend gentleman of the established 

 cliurcli, " so hard in examination," 

 sometimes a baronet, and at times a 

 lord, beside the president. Thus is 

 the amphitheatre filled, aud the sceno 

 is a good one. Hope, doubt, and 

 anxiety, Hush many a face; for, until 

 the name is (jronounccd from the pre- 

 iect's long book, no one knows for 

 w hose neck the red ribbon dances from 

 the morocco case that clasps each sil- 

 ver honour. Oh, this happiness! all 

 pardonable, all ingenuous pride. And 

 after that hour some will depart, never 

 again to behold the walls that so long 

 confined them, unrepentingly, for in- 

 struction ; and, ah ! haply never again 

 to hear the voices that for years sound- 

 ed but lor pleasure ; told only truth, 

 and promised, — unconsciously deceit- 

 ful, — what only then they knew, bliss. 

 Oh, youth ! fresh green youth, how 

 lovely art thou to see aud to contem- 

 plate ! 



