268 
with the laudable zeal you have always 
manifefted to convey inftruction, combined 
with amufement, to the many who perufe 
your fheets ; therefore I fend you an ac- 
count of the TrRignniaL MONTEM, 
performed at Eron ; the more particu- 
larly fo, as the next celebration will take 
place on the 14th of the enfuing month : 
and thofe whom it may fuit, will have an 
opportunity of feeing this defcription real- 
ized, fhould they be as much inclined as 
myfelf. 
‘The celebration of the Montem is a 
cuftom, time immemorial, performed by 
the fcholars of Eton School, near Wind- 
for, formerly duennially, but now triennt- 
ally; i. e. upon the Whit Tuefday in every 
third yéar. 
It commences by a number of the fenior 
boys taking poft upon the bridges, or other 
leading places of all the avenues around 
Windifor and Eton, foon after the dawn 
of day. 
Thefe youths fo pofted are chiefly the 
beft figures, and the moft active of the ftu- 
dents ; they are all attired in fancy dreiles, 
of filks, fatins, &c. and fome richly em- 
broidered, principally in the habits or 
fafhion of ranning-footimen, with poles in 
their hands; they are called Salt bearers, 
and demand sALT, i. €. a contribution 
from every paflenger, and will take no 
denial. 
When the contribution is given, which 
-is ad libitum, a printed paper is delivered 
with their motto, and the date of the 
year, which paffes the bearer free through 
all other Salt-bearers for that day ; and is 
as follows, viz. 
«* Pro more et monte, 
1799;* 
Vivant Rex et Regina.’’ 
Thefe youths continue thus collecting 
their saLT at all the entrances for near 
feven miles round Windfor and Eton, 
from the dawn of day until about the clofe 
of the proceffion, which is generally three 
o’clock in the afternoon. 
The proceffion commences about twelve 
o’clock at noon, and confifts of the Queen’s 
and other bands of mufic; feveral ftandards 
borne by different ftudents; all the Eto- 
nian boys two and two, dreffed in officers’ 
uniforms ; thofe of the King’s foundation 
wearing blue, the others fcarlet uniforms, 
f{words, &c. © 
The Grand Standard Bearer. 
The Captain, or Head Boy of Eton School. 
The Lieutenant, or Second Boy. 
._ His Majefty, attended by the Prince of 
Wales, and other male branches of the royal 
family on horfeback, with their fuite. 
~~ ® Orwhatever the year may be, 
i 

— Account of the Eton Montem. 
[May 
The Queen and Princeffes in coaches, at- 
tended by their fuite. 
Band of mufic, followed by a great concourfe 
of the Nobility and Gentry in their carriages, 
and on horfeback, 
The Proceffion commences in the Great 
Square at Eton, and ,proceeds through 
Eton to Slough, and round to Salt Hill, 
where the boys all pafs the King and. 
Queen in review, and afcend the Montem ; 
here an oration is delivered, and the Grand 
Standard is difplayed with much grace 
and activity by the Standard Bearer, who 
is generally feleéted from among the fenior 
boys. 
There are two extraordinary Salt-bear- 
ers appointed to attend the King and 
Queen, who are always attired in fanciful 
habits, in manner of the other Salt-bearers 
already defcribed, but fuperbly embroi- 
dered; thefe Salt-bearers each carry an 
embroidered bag, which not only receives 
the royal falt, but alfo whatever is colleét- 
ed by the out-ftationed Salt-bearers. 
The donation of the King and Queen, 
or, as it is called upon this occafion, the 
royal falt, is always fifty guineas each; 
the Prince of Wales thirty guineas; all 
the other Princes and Princefles twenty 
guineas each, 
As foon as this ceremony is performed, 
the royal family return to Windfor. The 
boys aré all fumptuoufly entertained at 
the Tavern at Salt Hill; and the beauti- 
ful gardens at that place are laid out for 
fuch ladies and gentlemen as chufe to take 
any refrefhments, the different bands of 
of mufic performing all the time in the 
gardens. 
About fix.o’clock in the evening, all 
the boys return in the fame order of pro- 
ceffion as inthe morning, (with the ex- 
ception only of the royal family), and 
marching round the Great Square in Eton 
School, are difmifled. The Captain then 
pays, his refpeéts to the royal family at the 
Queen’s Lodge, Windfor, previous to his 
departure for King’s College, Cambridge ; 
to defray which expence, the produce of 
the Montem» is prefented to him; and 
upon Whit-Tuefday in the year 1796, it 
amounted to more than one thoufaud 
guineas. ms 
The day concludes by a brilliant dif- 
play of beauty, rank, and fafhion, a prome- 
nade on Windfor Terrace, bands of mufie 
performing, &c. ; and the feene highly en- 
livened and enriched by the affable conde- 
f{cenfion of the royal family, who indifcri- 
minately mix with the company, and pa- 
rade the ‘Terrace till nearly dark. ~. 
April zacih, 1799. P. Ay 3 
To 
