on which it is in my province to pass an opinion, or even entertain a belief might be amended, is the prevalence of a game, which, from its brutal nature and demoralizing influence, ought to be unanimously hissed from a society of gentlemen. I have long given my attention to the merits and demerits of this savage amusement, and have at length arrived at the conclusion that it might possibly prove beneficial in training young chimney-sweepers intended for following their occupation according to the old system, and there its utility is at an end. In what other seminary of academical pursuits, in what body of individuals, whose position in society is on a par with our own, can we find in almost daily practice, and I fear proportionable repute, an amusement which reduces its votaries to the level, at least in appearance, of navigators and bargemen? A thousand apologies, Mr. Editor, for having, in the heat of my spleen, omitted to mention the title by which this game is known amongst us. Your acute penetration may have discovered that I allude to "football." Football! what ideas must that word convey to all who hear it? Undoubtedly that of feet and balls! by an easy transition, that of feet becomes associated with that of shoes, shoes with legs, and so on till the horrors of that never-to-be-sufficiently execrated pastime are so vividly pictured to the imagination, that a general thrill will I am sure pervade your host of readers, and all will be up in arms against its practice.

I appeal to my fellow-Etonians, whether I am stating the truth or not, when I affirm that I have actually seen boys' toes trodden on by the soles of their antagonists; and (I mention this in confidence,) I have on more occasions than one, known tumours as large as the egg of a small bird, to have arisen in consequence of injuries

received during the prosecution of this most painful of pleasures. Being by nature extremely humane, I have been a spectator of such scenes on several occasions, and indeed have frequently been on the point of requesting the attendance of the Doctor, (M. D. not D. D.) in case of more serious accidents or contusions.

The injuries derivable from this game may be divided into three classes,-two from animate objects, one from inanimate. The first proceeds from mere pressure of one player's foot on that of another, and now and then a graze from a shoe that has missed the ball, or scratches received in the attempt to push down the Wall, (I allude to the games as played there,) for it has struck me that a player in the agony of those distracting moments, as a last resource, endeavours to squeeze himself into the wall, in the hope of either becoming embodied in the bricks, or finding that he soon will be converted into either a mummy or a statue, prefers the latter, and tries, while he can, to pick out his own niche, and be sure of its correct adaptation to his structure. Forgive me this novel, and I think I may say poetical idea, for I too have drunk at the Muses' fount, and may at a future period trouble you with some of my effusions in that style.

But to return. The second class consists in the injurious effects that might accrue from being for a time incorporated one with another; such as strangulation, suffocation, and the like. The third class, which I previously characterised as proceeding from inanimate objects, are the various ways in which the ball impelled against the body, might affect it. N. B.-I once saw a boy, who, being much younger than the rest of the players, had certainly no business to be where he was; such a person, I say, I once saw knocked down violently by the

force of the ball! You may make what use you please of this fact, as I can vouch for its truth.

I will conclude by pointing out a method by which this alarming evil may be remedied. I have carefully examined the merits of the proposals I am about to make, and have therefore no hesitation in pronouncing the advantages which may be reasonably expected to be derived from their adoption to be incalculable and infallible. My proposal is, that instead of football, the games of prisoner's base and rounders should be cultivated, provided that soft balls be used; for I have been assured by those, on whose authority I may with safety rely, that balls, such as are in use amongst us in the practice of the game of fives, striking the body, will cause a smarting sensation to the affected part, as bad, if not worse, than the sting of a nettle.

The objection to hunt the slipper, would be the dampness of the grass at this season of the year, which might in some cases produce a cold in the head. Any suggestion from yourself, would, I am sure, meet with deserved and immediate attention: could you appoint a day, I should be happy to confer with you, on this important subject. A long line of my ancestors' names are carved on the thirteenth panel of the left-hand side of the upper school, three feet nine inches and a barley corn from the second desk. I have taken the exact measurement, that you might not be at a loss to discover your humane correspondent.

A. S. S.

P. S. Can you give me a reason for the almost universal adoption of "Scotch caps," or I should more correctly say "Glengarries," by the players in this game? I can account for it on no other principle, than that

Highlanders being characteristically of a hardy, and enduring nature, an attempt is made to resemble them as much as possible in this particular.

A.

BRUTUS.

What! silent all! throughout that column'd space

A death-like horror broods on ev'ry face;

And all is still as summer's ev'ning rest,

When breezeless ocean calms his rippling breast.

Thron'd in the midst, dark minister of fate,
Lo! where the consul holds his solemn state;
His not the eye 'neath sorrow's pang to quail,
Nor his the hand, nor his the heart to fail ;
Whether in warrior's helm he face the foe,
Or own the sterner pow'r of silent woe.
Yet well might sorrow there assert her reign,
O'ercloud his brow, and rive his heart in twain,
For 'mid yon traitor group that wait their doom,
The fairest sons of liberated Rome,

His own lov'd offspring stand! on them the maze
Of human faces bends its steadfast gaze :
Aye! these were traitor spirits, Romans! these
Had barter'd glory for voluptuous ease,

And sworn to bow before a Tyrant's throne,

Where their bold sire made Rome and Freedom one!

Ill-fated brothers! had they burn'd to wield
Freedom's bright falchion o'er the embattled field,
It had not stain'd their cheeks, as now, to stand
With coward's blush of shame, and traitor's fetter'd hand.

Oh! think not he will spare, who dauntless stood

By pale Lucretia weltering in her blood,

And, on the reeking steel he waved on high,

Swore his immortal oath to Liberty.

Viewless as wind before his fancy glide
The hero phantoms that for Rome had died;
And, oh! sad contrast, 'mid the charnel's gloom
His own fair offspring withered ere their bloom;
Yet nerves his soul to meet the fatal blow
With the calm dignity of manly woe:

Thus in the marble live the father's* pangs,

As writhe his sons beneath the serpent's fangs ;

Himself untamed, till overwhelming fate

Shall crush each youthful form, and leave him desolate.

Thrice, but in vain, the wretched father strove

To quell the yearnings of parental love,

Till the high majesty of pale despair

Gave words their way; and all was Roman there!
Unworthy slaves at Freedom's holiest shrine,
"Go, Tarquin's sons, I dare not call ye mine!
"Survey yon anxious crowds that wait your doom,
"And call for justice to the Gods of Rome;

""Tis Justice cries; the Gods have heard the pray'r ;
"The Lictor waits, th' uplifted axe is bare;
"Life's sun is set-go ! let your tearless eye
"Show how a Roman spirit dares to die!"

As ceased his words, a murmur loud and long
Burst the chill silence of the spell-bound throng;
All on the father gaze; all meet his eye
With the mute eloquence of sympathy;

* Laocoon.