ETON, or EATON, the name of a large village in the county of Buckingham, consisting of a single street, pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Thames, and connected with Windsor by a bridge.
This village has long been celebrated for its public seminary, in which many of the distinguished characters in the kingdom have received their education. Eton College was founded in 1440, by Henry VI. for a " pro vost, ten priests, six clerks, six choristers, 25 poor grammar scholars, with a master to teach them, and 25 poor old men." It now supports a provost, seven fel lows, two schoolmasters, two cadets, seven clerks, 70 scholars, and 10 choristers, with various other officers and assistants. Twelve of these scholars are annually elected to King's College, Cambridge, to which they are removed, according to their seniority, as soon as any va cancy occurs, the average number of vacancies being about nine in two years. They are entitled to a fellow ship, after having continued there three years. Two scholars are also sent annually to Merton College, Ox ford, where they are named Postmasters. At the age of 19 the scholars are superannuated, and for their benefit there are a few exhibitions of 21 guineas each, which has been increased by a legacy of 80/. per annum, be queathed by a late fellow, Mr Chamberlayne.
Besides the king's scholars, there are generally from 300 to 350 independent scholars, or oppidans, as they are called, educated here. They are the sons of noble men and gentlemen, and reside at lodging houses within the bounds of the College.
Eton College consists of two courts or quadrangles, divided by a handsome tower or gateway. In one of these is the school, the chapel, and lodgings for the masters and scholars. The school is divided into the lower and upper, each of which are subdivided into three classes. The other quadrangle is occupied by the library, the provost's lodgings, which are in the front, and the fellows' apartments. The library, which is on the south side, is one of the best and most elegant in the kingdom, both with respect to its architecture and its collection of books. The books were bequeathed to it
principally by Dr Waddington, bishop of Chichester, Dr Godolphin, provost, Nicolas Mann, Esq. late master of the Charter-house, and Richard Topham, Esq. of Windsor. This last gentleman also left many elegant drawings of Grc;ek and Roman antiquities, collected by himself at Ron0', at great expense: An elegant collec tion of books was likewise bequeathed to the library, by a late fellow of the college, Mr Hetherington, who also erected, at his own expellee, a neat chapel in the middle of the town for the accommodation of the inhabitants.
The college chapel, which is on the south side, is a very handsome building, ornamented with large abut ments, pinnacles, and embrasures, and has sometimes been compared to the chapel of King's College, Cam bridge, to which it is, however, much inferior in internal decoration. It is 175 feet long, including the antichapel, which is 62 feet long. In the antichapel is the statue of the founder, by Bacon, which was erected in 1786; and a monument of the young Earl of Waldegrave, who was drowned in 1794, when at Eton school.
A singular custom, known by the name of MONTEU, takes place every third yl'ar on Whit-Tuesday. All the scholars, Sze. march in procession with music and co lours to a tumulus, which has received the name of Salt hill. The object of this custom is to collect what is called Salt Money, which is done by the salt-bearers and scouts dressed in different coloured silks. The salt money has sometimes amounted to 8001., from the libe rality of the king and the royal family ; and this sum is given to the captain, or senior scholar on the king's foun dation, for the purpose of supporting him at the univer sity of Cambridge. See Gough's Camden's Britannia ; and Beauties of England and Wales, YOI. i. p. 398. (70