I must, however, in justice, add that, from the present arrangement of having the cricket-match with Eton played on alternate years at Eton and Winchester, the boys themselves (excepting the eleven) certainly must derive far greater amusement than they did heretofore from the knowledge of the fact that the match was being played at London, where, besides the eleven, there probably would not be half-a-dozen present. Now they get two whole holidays; and when the match is played at Winchester, half the Eton boys come over by railway, and are entertained in Hall, so that the game is carried on in the presence of the two schools. Notwithstanding this, I think that the annual contest of the principal schools in the national game is an affair in which the interests of the majority of Wykehamists ought to be consulted, and should take place in the metropolis. What a noble game cricket must be, when one loved it so much, notwithstanding the previous training! What genuine excitement when College and Commoners was played; what frantic shouting when Rapid got well hold of a “Barter,” (see Glossary,) and sent the ball from “Spanish Poplar,” right over Meads wall by “Log pond;” or when Cocky, from the centre of “Turf,” landed one well into the middle of Commoners! They used to hit hard in those days with a bat, as well as with a ground ash. How _blasé_ one gets now-a-days! Oh for a quarter of an hour of genuine boy’s enthusiasm! Meads is always a pleasant spot to me. I played in a match there not long ago against the garrison; but, alas! where was the fire that used to burn within me! I got one run the first innings, and was bowled out first ball by a slow underhand “Lob” (_tice_) the second; and when I attempted to throw up the ball, it went ten yards wide of the wicket, my arm nearly out of its socket, and I felt the pain in it for a week after. But I am glad I got out soon, for I strolled round the old place, and inspected all the well remembered nooks and corners; and the stones in the wall so carefully smoothed and neatly carved with the names of past heroes. Happy he who, on his return in after life, can find his unscarred; a sure sign that he had left a respected name behind him. There was Amen Corner still unchanged; I could even discern faint traces of “S̄alvĕ D̆i|vā P̄o|tens”