On Tuesday, the Warden of New College and the other electors were received at Middle Gate by the boys, headed by the Præfect of Hall, who addressed them with a Latin oration (“Ad Portas.”) The Electors were the Warden and two fellows of New College, (called “Posers,”) with the Warden, Sub-warden, and Head Master of Winchester. Each of these had in turn the privilege of nominating a boy for admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of which there were generally about twelve, but always many more “Candidates,” (or “Candlesticks,” as they were often called.) Two fortunate individuals were selected by vote from among such of the candidates as could prove their descent from the Founder, and were placed at the head of the list, and got the first two vacancies. They were called Founders, and had several privileges, the principal of which was, that two of them were always brought up to the head of the roll at every election for the first two vacancies at New College; they were also not obliged to leave (“to be superannuated”) at the age of eighteen, as all the others were. I have known several cases of Founders remaining till they were past twenty, and one in particular, who, year after year, saw other Founders put over his head, till he left in despair at a green old age; and it was reported that, on one occasion when playing against Eton at Lord’s, on his making a fine hit, a small voice from the crowd was heard to call out, “Well hit, Papa, run along.” [Illustration: THE LATIN SPEECH—AD PORTAS.] After Ad Portas, the Electors adjourned to Election Chamber over Middle gate, accompanied by “Semper Testis,” a gentleman in a white hat, who was never seen except on very solemn occasions, and whose functions it would be sacrilegious to attempt to investigate. After a time “The Scrutiny” commenced. This was effected by sending for the seven senior and seven junior boys, and examining them as to the internal economy of the College. I don’t think that much information was often extracted by this operation. On Wednesday morning the Candlesticks were examined, or rather supposed to be, as it was merely a form, their seniority on the Roll being settled by the nomination of the Electors as above mentioned. They had to try to construe a bit of Latin, and were then asked if they could sing, and, whatever their answer, had to repeat the words, “All people who on earth do dwell.”