June 1883 by StPetersYork

THE

PETE RITE. Vol . . V.

JUNE, 1883 .

No . 36.

THE PRIESTHOOD IN ANCIENT GREECE.

IIE chief importance of the priesthood in Greece was in connection with the oracles . It would indeed be difficult to exaggerate the

influence of the oracles, and therefore of the priests in whose hands they were, upon early Greek history . Herodotus furnishes us with numerous instances in which their interference or their responses brought about important results . At the request of Delphi the Lacedaemouians "liberated" Athens ; on the warning of Delphi the Cnidians abstained from turning their peninsula into an island, and in consequence fell a prey to the Persians ; at the bidding of one oracle or another, many colonies were founded, Cyrene for instance . And others besides Greeks resorted for advice to those shrines ; the Lydian Croesus sent to Delphi, to Lebedeia, to Dodona, to Abae and to Thebes, and the answers he received " ruined a mighty empire ." Thus the priests who pulled the strings of these oracles must have been very important personages. At the same time they must have used their power warily and not, as a rule, in the interests of any one political party . Had they acted otherwise, Herodotus might have been deceived, but Thucydides would surely have let fall some indication of their conduct, instead of passing them over with a silent contempt . It is natural to suppose that Delphi could not have retained its reputation for omniscience through so man ages withou the aid of agents scattered through the country who insinuated them_ selves into the confidence of the unsuspecting and kept the oracle supplied with the latest information, but there is no evidence for this. On the other hand, we hear much that is to the credit of Delphi. Liberality in religious matters is not usually supposed to be a characteristic `of priestly aristocracies, but the case of Socrates shows that, in his time at least, Delphi was far more liberal than average Athenian sentiment .

TAE PRIESTI3OOD IN ANCIENT GREECE.

Except as regards the oracles, there are not many hints in our authorities to show that the priests had any great importance. There was no priestly caste in Greece as in Egypt, nor were priests as indispensable as, for instance, in the Roman Catholic Church . The head of every family was to a great extent his own priest ; he had his own household god, and he could offer sacrifices to it himself without priestly intervention . Greek religion was, in fact, merely family and tribe worship extended by a fiction . Of course, there were state sacrifices which called for the superintendence of some high sacred dignitary . These offices had usually been, in the days of the kingship, in the hands of the king, and often the kingly title was continued, through the sacrificer, albeit sometimes of royal lineage, had no shadow of royal power left him . Thus at Cyrene Demonax took away the monarchy from Battus, but left him "a piece of land and the office of priest ;" and at Athens there was a King Archon as at Rome there was a Rex Sacrificulus . At Sparta, where the kings were less unimportant, they probably owed the maintenance of their position to their sacerdotal character . Elsewhere, though such officers did not imply any political power, they were doubtless very dignified . The position of priestess at the great temples was also one of evident dignity, as we should judge from Ilerodotus' s story of the mother of Cleobis and Piton, who was IIera's priestess at Argos, and from Thucydides's mention of another Argive priestess, Chrysis, whom he uses for chronological purposes. Besides the regular priests there was a very numerous class of illegitimate soothsayers and prophets. Their influence must have been very widespread, and apparently not alone amongst the poor and uneducated : Plato speaks expressly of "jugglers and soothsayers going to rich men's doors," and he tells us how they granted indulgence " at a small cost" to anyone who wished to do an enemy an ill turn, so that their influence cannot have been so good as that of the Delphic oracle, which told Glaucus (fldt . VI . 86 .) that to tempt the God and to commit the crime were the same thing . In times of trouble and excitement, when superstitious fears could so easily be worked upon, they would be sure to reap a rich harvest ; and accordingly Thucydides tells us that oracle-mongers with their predictions abounded during the Peloponnesian war and especially during the plague. Then, again, there were the priests who managed the mys=teries : the scornful references to Aeschines's mother in Demosthenes ' s Speech " On the Crown " would seem to show that the position of those in whose hands the inferior mysteries

TIIE BRIGHTON VOLUNTEER REVIEW .

were, was anything but a high one, though, doubtless, considerable dignity would be associated with an important priesthood like the Eleusinian . Speaking generally, we may say that in historical Greece the position of the priesthood was very much lower than in other countries, such as Egypt and Persia, and lower than it had been in Greece itself (if we may trust to the evidence of Homer) in the days of Chryses and Calchas.

THE BRIGHTON VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

HE Volunteers, in the Laster Marneuvres of 1883, have done more

to elevate their branch of the service, both in the estimation of military critics and the public generally, than even the most sanguine advocate could have anticipated . The reproach has frequently been levelled at our citizen soldiers that they only ,z played at soldiering," but the Volunteers may now point to this Easter's doings and ask if the toil that has been borne during their route march from Three Bridges to Brighton—the strict military discipline to which they were subjected— is not a complete answer to such a charge . There is but little of real pleasure, in the common acceptation of the term, to be derived from the annual Easter Volunteer outings, and this year the work to be got through was far more arduous than in previous years, in consequence of the regiments marching in columns, and not independently as in former years . When, therefore, we find that, notwithstanding that this new regulation was clearly stated in the papers prior to the Review, the number of men who assembled to take part in the operations greatly exceeded the muster of previous years, we may conclude that the Volunteers are desirous of making themselves as efficient protectors of their fatherland as possible. IIaving participated in the recent Volunteer Campaign, it occurred to me that a short account of my experience might be of interest to my brother Peterites, particularly as I know that although Old Peterites are strongly represented in the force, many have not had the opportunity of taking part in the late manuuvres . I must of necessity devote more attention to the part my own Corps—The London Scottish—took in these manwuvres, than if I had been an observer unattached ; but on the other hand, speaking from actual experience of their doings, my personal account may prove the more interesting .

TEE I3RIGIITON VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

The instructions issued by the Commanding Officer of the London Scottish in their detachment orders for the march were, that " parade in full dress with havresacks and water bottles " would be held at head quarters, " on Friday, 23rd March, 1883, at 7-30 a .m . precisely ." This early start obliged many members who lived some distance out of town to spend the previous night in London . I secured a room for myself and a friend at the Charing Cross Hotel, where we had the advantage of the half-crown table d'hute breakfast at six o'clock next morning, prepared for visitors who are obliged to make a start for the Continent by the South Eastern Midway Company's early trains . The weather previous to Good Friday had been very unsettled, and the weather reports issued in Thursday evening's papers were very disheartening, so that we were not surprised to find a cold east wind blowing the next morning when we left our Hotel, after having fortified ourselves for the coming fatigue of the day by taking good value at the table d'h(te. It required no small amount of patriotic feeling to turn out of our beds at that early hour, and brave the cold east-wind in our kilts ; but " Each answered to his name, when the call of duty came," and we set out for Victoria Station from Head Quarters at Adelphi Terrace, to the cheery strain of the bag-pipes . Arriving there at 8-30 a .m ., we were marched "fours-deep " to the platform, and, without the slightest confusion, the whole Regiment was entrained in a few minutes, bodies of eight men (or two sections of " fours ") being told-off in succession to each carriage. What a saving of trouble it would be to the railway officials if they paid as easily entrain their holiday excursionists ! A small detachment of our corps had left London the previous day with the transport waggons containing our kit-bags . In these we were recommended to take undress uniform, flannel shirt, one pair of hose, one pair shoes or boots, button hook, clothes brush, shoe brush, hair brush, comb, tooth brush, soap, rug, and one towel . Uesides these, a great coat (supplied by Government) was served out to each man. Much to our surprise, we had scarcely left Victoria Station when the sun shone out very brightly, and from that moment until Easter Monday evening he favoured us with his presence almost uninterruptedly . But before proceeding further with my description of our doings I must give my readers the " general idea" by which all our movements after reaching Three Bridges were governed . It was this : " Information having been received on Thursday evening, March 22nd, that an enemy's fleet has been sighted off the Brighton Coast, threatening a

THE

BRIGHTON VOLUNTEER REVIEIV .

disembarkation, an army corps is sent early to Brighton on Friday morning by train to Three Bridges . The orders given to the General Officer commanding the army corps are to push forward to Brighton, making use of the railway and parallel roads ." The marching column, forming the advanced guard, arrived at Three Bridges at 10-15 a .m ., where the following orders were received by our commander : " Advance towards Brighton, covering army corps on both sides of railway . In case of meeting enemy, push him back, or hold your ground till reinforced ." Here the entire body of troops were formed into five columns, being commanded during the march by Colonel Methuen, to whom the credit of the successful march on Brighton is chiefly due . The Scottish were attached to No . 2 column, under Colonel Somers Lewis, and under his command we covered eighteen miles that day, which brought us to St . John ' s, a village of no great importance, where the various regiments were conducted to their respective billets by members of the local corps. This day's operations were chiefly of value in indicating the nature of marching in the vicinity of an enemy, and showing the precautions required to avert disater, namely, advanced pickets thrown out from the column, halts made at appointed places exactly at the time laid down, and when halted the front and flank of the column covered, and communication kept up between our column and the adjacent ones. The billeting accommodation at the Railway Inn, St . John's, where the Landon Scottish were stationed, was not meritorious . Dinner was served in a large tent pitched in a field adjoining the inn . The contract for the food supplied was arranged at the Horse Guards, and this no doubt accounted for the weakness of the tea and coffee supplied and the absence of beer. When the officer on duty asked the usual question, " Any complaints ? " every man stood up and unanimously testified that the tea and coffee were not fit to drink, and asked why there was no beer . The result of this was that stronger tea and coffee were thereupon supplied, but no beer could be had unless specially paid for by the men, as this was not included iii the arrangements made . I was one of forty told off to sleep in a large room in the inn ; we had " a plentiful supply of clean straw," and each had a blanket by way of bed clothing, but after the fatigue of an early start and a dusty day's march, 1 for one passed a comfortable enough night under the circumstances . Stringent orders were given to prevent smoking in the rooms, which were obviously very necessary .

THE BRIGHTON VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

Next morning found us early astir ; it was an amusing sight to see the men trooping out of the inn with nothing on but their kilts and fillibegs to perform their ablutions in the open air . After a hearty breakfast (we had quantity if not quality), we " fell in " in front of our billet at 8-15 a .m . to answer to the roll . The mid-day meal, consisting of a large roll, some cheese, and one hard boiled egg, was then served out to each man, and we were once more on the march by nine o'clock, accompanied for some distance by almost the entire population of St. John's, who seemed loth to part with us. The programme for this day was of a more ambitious kind than Friday's . It was assumed that the invader had effected a landing near Brighton, though the disembarkation of the main force had been delayed by the weather . He had pushed forward his advanced guard to the northern edge of the Downs, with a view of cutting the railways, and was represented by a small force composed of the Brighton Volunteers. Our commander having learned early in the morning of the position and weakness of the enemy, organised his forces in five columns upon a front of about six miles, in order to develop his attack as rapidly as possible when we should meet the enemy . Such of my readers as are familiar with the environs of Brighton will doubtless remember Wolstonbury Ilill, an eminence thrown out in front of the Downs . Now this eminence commanded the enemy's position, and an attack from here would take him in the flank . The first, second, and third columns were consequently concentrated at the foot of this hill, while the fourth and fifth columns were intended to develop a simultaneous attack on his front and cut off his retreat to Brighton . The ascent of Wolstonbury Hill, after a long morning's march, was a feat which tested the "lasting" powers of the respective corps, and I cannot deprive myself of the pleasure of recording the fact that, although the ascent was made at quick" time, not one mall in the Scottish left the ranks from exhaustion ; although I must add that thirty five members of the corps immediately following ns were obliged to do so . The delay which took place through the Honourable Artillery Company not getting their guns up this hill and into position in time, prevented the attacks alluded to above from being simultaneous . However, when once in position, the three columns, under cover of their artillery's fire, descended the hill, crossed the ravine, and pressed up the opposing slope . In the meantime the fourth column made a very impetuous attack on the enemy, and were worsted on their left until column number five came to their aid.

THE BRIGHTON VOLUNTEER REVIEW'.

Being now at close quarters with the enemy, and having him altogether in our power, the order was given to " cease firing," and the entire forces proceeded to Brighton. We marched into Brighton at 5-30 p .m . and were first halted beforo the Grand Hotel, where Colonel ;Methuen gave over the command to Lieut.-General H .S .H . Prince Edward of Saxe-Wieniar, K.C .B . ; afterwards the corps were marched to their respective quarters . The Scottish were quartered at Hamilton's Warehouse, Ship Street, where capital accommodation was provided for them, including spring mattresses to sleep on, owing to the fact of Mr . Hamilton, the proprietor, being a manufacturer of these luxuries . Our meals were served at the Royal Pavilion, a fantastic oriental or chinese structure, with domes, minarets, and pinnacles and moorish stables built for the Prince of Wales in 1784 ; it now serves only as a monument to the had taste of the period . The food given us was excellent, beer being an item on the bill of fare much to the satisfaction of the men . After the heavy day's work many of the men, notwithstanding the numerous attractions of fair Brighthelmstone, retired early to rest, though they were allowed to be out till midnight. On Sunday there was church parade at 10-30 m m ., and we marched from our head quarters, Clarendon Hotel, to the Scotch Kirk headed by our pipers. Here an eloquent sermon was preached by the Pev . Dr. Hamilton, who raised the patriotic feeling of his hearers by reminding them, in the course of his address, of the great battles fought by their ancestors in days of yore " across the border " in the defence of their religion. The remainder of the day we had at our own disposal, to inspect the lounge on the Pier, inspect the farfamed Aquarium, stroll along the three miles of sea front, and in fact recruit our strength for the fatigue of the coming day. Truly Brighton looked its best this Easter; citizens, soldiers of every variety of uniform, and gaily dressed ladies, thronged the principal streets and promenades ; while the streets were decorated with flags and banners . Brighton is a delightful place to spend a couple of days in, but with its 90,000 inhabitants it is far too big and too much like London to benefit Loncloner.s as a health resort. On Easter Monday morning we breakfasted at the Pavilion at 6-30, in order to give time for the preparation of breakfast for those members of the corps who came down from London that morning . We had a muster of over 500 men, when these were added . The corps moved off in succession from the town, with their respective bands leading to the slopes adjoining the Grand Stand, where after a long wait, the march

TIIE BRIG11TON VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

past commenced . This ceremony is always a trying one ; so much depends on the individual attention of the men to their "dressing" and << step," for one man might easily by inattention throw out a whole company! However, the ordeal was over as far as we were concerned by 12 o'clock, and I shall just quote the remark of a sergeant of a Lanarkshire Volunteer Corps, with regard to the London Scottish,who had come all the way from Scotland with another member of his corps simply to attend this review . Ile said " I never saw any regiment march past in better form . There was not one man got out of step or lost his dressing . " I fear I have already trespassed too much on your space, and will therefore forbear giving in detail a description of the Battle of Newmarket Ilill . Suffice it to say that it ended, as every battle in which the Queen's troops are engaged should end, in the complete reverse of her enemies, for when the command " cease firing " was given at 5 o'clock, the defending party under Major-Gen . E . Newdigate had been vanquished by the attacking party, under Major-Gen . G . Higginson . We marched back to Brighton in a snow-storm and proceeded to the Railway station, and arrived in London by train at I1-0 p .m ., the journey which should only have taken about one hour having occupied four ! However the time went quickly enough, for we had an endless supply of Scotch songs, which helped to keep our spirits up under these trying circumstances. In conclusion I would point out a few of the results of the latest Volunteer review . One result was plainly visible in the bearing of the different detachments at Brighton on Easter Monday morning, and even of individual men as they strolled about the town on Sunday . Those who had taken part in the march from Three Bridges could easily be distinguished by their observance of every soldierly detail ; it was quite the exception for a salute not to be given to a passing officer . Again the members of the different detachments behaved as if under the strictest military discipline ; and there was a remarkable improvement in the demeanour and conduct over former years . The new recruits have learned from the late manoeuvres, as they could have learned in no other way, the nature of the duties expected of them in case of active service ; and the volunteers in general have proved that they have the good of their country at heart, when they are ready to give up their holidays to the improvement of their military knowledge . Peterites cannot do better than follow in their footsteps by swelling the ranks of the Service and thus strengthening the bulwarks of their Fatherland . R . W . C.

THE SCHOOL LETTER. V ATIIRALLY, at the beginning of a new term, there is not very ' ... 1 much that can be said in a school letter . The chief interest is, of course, centred in the filling-up of the vacancies of the Eleven, of which there are five ; and it seems probable that the School House will provide the majority of new members, as it has done for the last year or two. It is to be hoped that the fielding of this year will be an improvement on that of last year—and one, at any rate, of the fresh hands promises to be an acquisition in that line . There is a good list of matches arranged, though it is to be feared that the one with Leeds Grammar School will fall through. The school at large have to mourn the loss of two, who have for seven years or more filled the post of masters—the Rev . T. Adams, formerly Senior Mathematical Master, who has been transferred to the headmastership of Gateshead High School, and the Rev . E . NV . Bummer, who has been preferred to the living of S . Martin-cum-Gregory, iii this city . The Rev . H . L . Clarke has taken the Mathematical Mastership, and Mr . Atkinson, M .A ., has taken charge of the Third Form . Before Rev . T . Adams left, lie received testimonials from the other masters, his own house, and the School House. York is at present quite inundated by the military element, as in addition to the regular garrison, the Yeomanry are now up, and undergoing a course of training . Consequently we see individuals, who usually perform the bloodless if not peaceful duties of an avocat, strutting in all the pomp and panoply of war, and looking as if they thought themselves quite capable of rendering a good account of any half-dozen of their country's foes . In these days of Land-leaguism and dynamite, we feel quite assured from any danger we might otherwise fear from the proximity of a considerable Irish element, by the know- . ledge that one of the above gallant gentlemen has his abode close by. A . N.

OXFORD LETTER.

HE principal event of the term has been the visit of the Prince of Wales, who came to lay the foundation stone of the Indian

Institute, which is to serve as a centre for Oxford Indian Civilians . The Marquis of Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote were also present at

OXFORD LETTER;.

the ceremony and at the lunch in Balliol Hall which followed it . The Prince also attended a concert given by local performers in aid of the Royal College of Music. The Eights week, which is just over, has left Exeter where it found it—at the head of the river . New College boat, which contained two 'Varsity Eights-men a-id two who rowed in the trials, might have been expected to do great things, but did not come off . The unattached have distinguished themselves greatly, having gone up seven places in the six nights . Although they have been rude enough to bump my own college boat, I cannot help feeling glad at anything which will raise their status in the University. J . II . Daniel rowed six in Queen's boat, which mounted two places . B . Baskett, I regret to say, was prevented from rowing by an accident he met with last terns. An attempt has been made to establish a weekly paper which shall not be so discreditable as the Undergraduates' Journal.

The new Orford

1-agacine is perhaps a little too " cultchawd," but it is good on the whole . T. C . Snow has been spiritedly defending the Greats School in its columns . He warmly admires the Pisgah view of history and philosophy which that comprehensive school affords, and protests against the cry for more specialisation . " For heaven's sake, " he exclaims, and we may be tempted to agree with him, "let us hear no more of these specialists of twenty! The flow of visitors to Oxford during the Eights' week seems to increase every year . If they want to see Oxford as it really is, they certainly can see it much better then than in Commemoration week, when most men have gone down . On the other hand, lengthened visits from fair friends in the middle of term may be a serious interruption to work. Your last Oxford letter mentioned the death of Professor Henry Smith . This must record the deaths of J . R. Green and Arnold Toynbec . It has been the fashion amongst those clever people who hate keen eyes for small mistakes and no eyes at all for philosophy in history, to run down Green's historical writings, but I do not think I shall ruin the reputation of the Peterite if I prophesy that they will live. Arnold Toynbee, Lecturer on Political I :c only at Balliol, was perhaps little known outside of Oxford ; but he was an ardent social reformer, who might have done great work had he lived longer, and whose memory will be cherished here. The Union, having had two Yorkshire presidents in succession—M. E . Sadler, of Trinity, and W . 11. Shaw, of Balliol—has fallen back this

OXFORD LETTER.

term upon another county . The electric light has not imparted much additional brilliancy to the debates . J . H . Piggin is president of his debating society, the Gryphon Club in Trinity. Professor Ruskin is giving three lectures this term . In the first, on Burne Jones and G . F . Watts, lie kept astonishingly close to the subject, and tried hard not to be discursive and entertaining. The result was that there were fewer flights of oratory than usual . A Vanclyck in the National Gallery was, however, described as painted with the purpose of " getting the brush clean," and we were all interested to hear that " Edward Burne Jones and William Morris had breakfasted together, joying and sorrowing, every Sunday morning for many a year ." The 'Varsity Eleven has not yet played any matches . Kemp of Hertford, is Captain . Leslie's continued absence is unfortunate. A good story is told of an eminent historian who has been in Oxford lately. He was introduced at an " at home " to a Japanese undergraduate . The great man retained a stolid silence, and the youthful foreigner felt it incumbent upon him to make the first remark . So he began bravely . " I ezteem it for a great honour to meet viii you : your books are read in Japan ." The great man (lid not move a muscle of his face in recognition of the compliment . The Japanese got nervous ; perhaps however the great man was deaf or absent-minded : at any rate he would try again .

"I wazz zaying—I ezteem it for a great honour

to meet vid you : your bokes—zay are read in Japan " The answer was a slow and deliberate " Humph ! " The Japanese was feeling very miserable, when his hostess came to the rescue . " Oh ! do you say Mr. ' s books are read .in Japan ? I shouldn't hare thoujht so " This is the historian of whom it was once said that he had done more than any man living to illustrate the manners of our Saxon forefathers. The citizens have been much excited by the sudden collapse of a local building society, which will he known to posterity as " the Bubble Bogus . "

Town and Gown rows, which many fondly believed to have

perished along with other long-lived relies of pre-historic barbarism, re-appeared on the nights of the Prince's visit ; hut my scout, who is an old prize-fighter, assures me that neither side showed its old proficiency in the noble art of self-defence. All the Peterites up here are in the schools . save cue . Need I say that the others go about envying him ? LITTLE ALEXANDER .

60 CAMBRIDGE LETTER.

HE Peterite crieth and will not be satisfied ; our hearts have only just been gladdened by the issue of a number, and now we are

called upon to write a Cambridge Letter, ere the last has died from our memory . We congratulate the Editors on such unwonted vivacity. Cambridge is in glorious condition at present ; " the Backs " are an Elysium, and the bird " Makes its heart song amid a blaze of flowers ." The prospects on the river are not very largely discussed, and I cannot make any very certain selections . Teams are likely to maintain their position at the head of the river, and probably the two or three boats behind them are fixtures . In the second division the Corpus boat, in which G . H . Eyre is rowing stroke, and A . Peters bow, has not been showing such good form lately, and is likely to be overtaken by Christ ' s I ., stroked by Mallinson : Moore has come up to row in the latter boat, and will no doubt be a little more than a " passenger . "

Eyre and Peters

won the Rowlandson Pairs recently in good form, and Peters carried off the Corpus Freshmen's Sculls as he liked. Mallinson and Eyre are in for their tripos this term, which, combined with the races, will no doubt fully occupy them . We wish them success, and feel glad not to be in their shoes just at present. A . E . Chapman, of Christ' s, has just taken his degrees of M .A. and LL .D. The Rev . G . F . Browne, Fellow of St . Catherine ' s Coll ., has recently been presiding at a large dinner of the Carlton Conservative Club, at which Mr . Raikes, M .P ., and other illustrious persons were present and enlightened the meeting by speeches . Mr . Browne has been indefatigable in his support of the Club, and deserves great praise. The prospects of the C.U .C .C . are not very lively at present . M .C .C. and Ground have just discomfited us at small expense . The match against England commences to-morrow. Our great need seems to be a fast bowler . G . B . Studd has gone down now ; C. T . seems not quite to have recovered from his trip, as he is not up to old form ; but we may confidently hope that he will pull himself together soon. E . A . Douglas is discharging the post of Secretary to the Christ ' s Eleven, but is rather sparing of his pray. We are looking for a fresh consignment of Peterites next October. There are rumonrs afloat that L . E . Stevenson is coming up to Christ' s ;

CRICKET FIXTURES .

we hope they may be confirmed . IIe will be a very valuable acquisition ; and may meet an acquaintance, as it is said the renowned Brutton is also coming from Durham, but that is not certain. We are glad to see R . W . Taylor once more up in the scene of his triumphs, for a short time . W . S . Fox has gone down from Ridley Hall this term. The Affirmation Bill has received a vote of approval at the Union Debating Society, by a majority of 36 . No doubt after this, Members of Parliament will re-consider the matter, and henceforth keep an eye on our movements down here, before they take any rash steps. An O . P . of this University created considerable diversion the other day, by being overturned in a boat in the Backs, and swimming clown stream for about twenty minutes, with his boat tucked under one arm, and his sculls in the other. I am told the In idges were packed to see the spectacle . IIe enjoyed it very much ! J . B.

CRICKET FIXTURES. May 24. v. York, York Ground. „ 26 . v. Durham School, St . Peter's School Ground. June 2 . v. Ebor Rovers, St. Peter's School Ground. 7. v. St. John's College, St . Peter 's School Ground. 9 . v . Durham School, Durham School Ground. „ 16, v . North Riding Asylum, North Riding Asylum Ground. 19 . v. Yorkshire Gentlemen, Yorkshire Gentlemen's Ground. „ 21 . e . St. John's College, St. Peter's School Ground. „ 23 . v . llornsea, St . Peter's School Ground. 30 . v . North Riding Asylum, North Riding Asylum Ground. July 7 . v . Ebor Rovers, St . Peter's School Ground. „ 12 . v . York, York Ground. 14 . v . Yorkshire Gentlemen, Yorkshire Gentlemen's Ground .

POEMS BY EMINENT HANDS. I.—A SONNET FOR A PICTURE. BY D. G . ROSSETTI. (Undergraduatvus e cubiculo resurgens de moderationibus reditatur .) Lo you, he starts : he rends his raven hair That falls in clusters on his raiment white, The ghostly shroud of the weird hours of night That still by ancient custom mortals wear. Watch him intently : still he sitteth there, And from his wan cheeks, (ah! unhappy wight,) Like the red sun from skies that shed no light In fogs of winter, how his eyeballs glare ! What loth he ? Dreams he of his ladye's eyne, Or sorrows he for daffodilly's death, Or sunflower or narcissus drooping now ? Ah ! no such ruth bedews his cheeks with brine. Listen—he wakes Otis one that knows who saith) From dreams of ` Gulfs' and nightmares of a ` Plough .'

II .—PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY. MARTIN TUPPER ON EXAMINATIONS. Examinations are a test of learning or of ' cramming' as the case may be. He who is not first in an examination may hope to be second. The prize goes to the first boy—so the masters proclaim it ; When the prizes are given the first boy goes for the prize. Such are the subtle distinctions of schoolmen, and hard to understand. Yet surely Mahomet perceived them, for he spite in memorable words : " If the mountain comes not to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the mountain ." Oh, who shall tell of the dread ordeal of examinations, save the one who bath endured them ? I, too, have gone through them ; my degrees are on the title-page. The papers are given out, and everyone seizeth a quill pen. He who knows not what to write gnaweth awhile at his pen ; For it is a law of nature, and I, being a philosopher, know it well, That he who cannot do something will speedily make something to do. These truths are difficult of comprehension, but, being truths, they are true. When the time is ended (for in this world all things have an end) The examiner collects the papers, and colligates them in a bundle ; Then, having weighed their respective merits on the scales of his comprehension, He sendeth the marks with remarks thereupon to the headmaster ; For he maketh remarks whether the papers be remarkable or not

NOTES AND ITEMS .

This have I frequently observed, and therefore I know it is done. Then a venerable dignitary, coming to the school, delivereth prizes, And he speaks words wise and weighty, quoting proverbs from me and others, Saying that ` A stitch in time's worth two in the bush," and more which I would quote. But my remarks grow elongated . and they were better concluded, Though this be precipitate ;—ye have seen chemists make precipitate. So I will only give in conclusion a description of the acclamations Which greet the successful boy who winneth the most of the prizes. (The lines are taken . from my poem ou " Fame," but a good thing will bear repeating) ' The hum of added voices groweth to the roar of a cataract, And rapidly from wave to wave is tossed that exaggerated story, Until those stunning clamours, gradually diluted in the distance, Sink ashamed, and shrink afraid of noise, and die away ." LITTLE ALEXANDER.

NOTES AND ITEMS. Rev . F . B . Plummer, M .A ., Trin . Coll ., Oxford, has been presented to the living of St . John's, Walton-on-the-Ilill, Liverpool. 0 . C . Williamson has obtained his commission to the R .A . from Woolwich. Lieut . J . P. Montgomery, R .N ., has been appointed to the Superb. Rev . G . F . Browne, B .D ., St . Cath . Coll . Cambridge, was select preacher before the University, on April 15th. Rev . F . Watson, M .A ., St. John's Coll ., Cambridge, has been appointed an examiner for the Tyrwhitt's Hebrew Scholarships. W. R . Rayson, Keble Coll ., Oxford, and C . A . Skelton, St . John's Coll ., Oxford, have taken their ALA . degree recently, and A . E . Chapman his M .A . and LL .11I. Professor A . W. Reinold has been appointed an Examiner in Experimental Philosophy, in the University of London. 1V. Dowson, B . A ., Christ's Coll ., Cambridge, has taken a 2nd class in the third part of the Exam, for M .B . degree .

NOTES AND ITEMS.

Rev . F . Peters has been appointed to the living of Airmyn. T. F . Walker, 11LA ., F .I.. S ., F .G .S ., &c., has been appointed a VicePresident of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and Rev . T . B . B . Ferris and Dr. Tempest Anderson members of the Council of the same. G . F. Chadwick has been appointed House-Surgeon to the Dewsbury Infirmary. The Scribbler ' s Monthly, which we noticed some time ago, seems to be prospering famously . The articles on "Rossetti ' s Place in Art," by " R .R ." are very far above amateur level ; as is also the Poem in the May number by the same writer. We observed with pleasure that at least four of the contributions in the April number were by Peterites. Gateshead High School is apparently beginning well under the Rev. T . Adams's management . The opening ceremonies were fixed for May 10th, when Lord Dalhousie, the Bishop of Newcastle, and the Dean of Durham were expected to take part in the proceedings. We have to thank several correspondents for a prompt response to our appeal for literary help . We trust that their contributions are only the first droppings of a copious shower, for the Peterite needs aid from a much wider circle if it is to go on . An unprecedentedly and ominously small proportion of this number is written by boys in the school ; so that inside, even more than outside the school, the circle requires to be widened . Besides more pretentious contributions, we shall be glad to receive any humble items of news about old Peterites that are likely to interest our readers . We have reason to believe that this part of the Magazine is specially appreciated by our senior subscribers. As only seven numbers were issued last year we propose to make good the deficit by issuing nine this year : the remaining five numbers will probably be published in July, August, October, November and December . Contributions for the July number should be sent in by June 10th.