After this began the Examination of Sixth book and Senior part, which was a very different affair. They were divided into three parts, called respectively “Senior, Middle, and Junior Fardel.” It was brought to an end on Thursday evening with “a Varying”—_i.e._, a short extemporaneous composition in Latin verse. After the examination was over, there was great excitement till “The Roll”[12] came down, which gave the names of those who were to go to New College and enter Winchester. It was always brought by the Head Porter, Poole, to the window of Sixth, and delivered to Senior Founder, when loud was the cheering if there was no change in the roll, or if some very popular individual was promoted, or held his own contrary to the general expectation. There were generally about four or five vacancies in New College each year. The date of a boy’s birth might be of serious importance to him, as if it occurred just before Election he would be Superannuate, and could only fill any vacancy that occurred before the Election following; but if his birthday was three days later, he would not be Superannuate till the next Election. This was called “gaining a year by Election.” But other things besides examinations were going on in this eventful week. On Tuesday there was the Medal speaking in school, when the rows at the west end of school were filled with an interested audience of old Wykehamists. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday there were grand dinners in hall to which all old Wykehamists and many others were invited; the hospitality was indeed unbounded. The big wigs sat at the high table, and down the centre of hall was laid a row of tables at which all the other strangers sat, with the second master at the top. The Candlesticks sat at Tub mess, presided over by the Bible Clerk for the week; and below them were the Grace singers, Superannuates, and “Children.” These latter were appointed by the Electors, who each named one. Their duties were to pocket a sovereign, and eat a particularly good dinner. The other boys sat on the south side. The dinner given to them was mutton-pies and “Stuckling.” This latter is a production which, I am happy to say, is peculiar to Winchester, and fortunately only to be found there during two days in Election week. In external appearance and in section it is similar to a mince pie, and in taste it is something like one that has been soaked in vinegar, and then kept till it is mouldy. It is made of chopped beef, currants, suet, apples, and carraway seeds. I have seldom seen anybody taste it a second time. These rations were, however, scorned by the boys; and as half the good things from the centre table were handed over to them, they made up for any past deficiencies in the way of dinner, in a manner that must have been surprising to the lookers on. Venison pasty, currant-pies, pea-soup, ham, ducks, cucumber, fish, &c., disappeared as if by magic, washed down by libations of “Huff,” (very