DR AIN A GE OF WESTMINSTER SCHOOL. 
231 
two seniors, standing on tables, directed their movements. 
When a king was made he was represented by one of the 
bigger boys with a small one on his back.” 1 
The lavatories were in a far worse condition than those 
of Winchester, to which Buckland had been accustomed 
in his youth. A ditch filled with black mud—a creek 
of the Thames it was said to be—came up as far as these 
buildings; but apparently no tide ever succeeded in 
washing back into the river any of its murky contents. 
Such insanitary conditions were intolerable to Buck- 
land, and he set himself with characteristic energy to 
improve both the dormitory and the lavatories. His 
scientific reputation and his determination overpowered 
all resistance. Yet a weaker man would have been power¬ 
less. “ I doubt,” writes the Rev. E. Marshall, one of the 
late masters at Westminster, “if any one with a less com¬ 
manding scientific reputation than Dr. Buckland, even with 
all the power of the Dean, could have overcome the 
prejudice which at that time was entertained against the 
alterations.” 
The cloister under the dormitory in the college garden 
was converted into day-rooms ; a matron’s house and sick¬ 
room were instituted ; and convenient offices were built. 
These thorough reforms may be said to have been carried 
out by his force of will. Mr. Forshall states that “ the 
advantages to the boys of these reforms were almost 
incalculable. Thinking that the Queen’s scholars were 
entitled to free commons, he provided breakfasts in Hall ; 
F. PI. Forshall, “Westminster School Past and Present. 1 
