hundred yards below the earth's present surface, was formerly the regular earth above; the coal, as is well known, having been formed from the masses of decayed trees and leaves of centuries ago. Now we leave the main tunnel and turn along a side passage, to get to the workings, having come perhaps between a quarter and half a mile; after a couple of hundred yards' progression in this new direction we come upon a large sort of swingdoor, which entirely covers the whole approach; we pass through it, and a rush of air follows; ten yards further on we come to another, and, when the first door is shut, pass through it and find that they are placed to keep the necessary amount of air in the different parts of the mine, since were the air to leave one part, the men there would inevitably perish for want of it; a furnace is kept up night and day at the required temperature, which draws the air from above and, by means of these trap-doors, distributes it throughout the different workings of the mine. Having passed through the trap-doors we plunge still further into the depths of the pit; again we meet a pony and truck, or perhaps one passes us on its return empty from the shaft, and we can hear the shouts of the boys feebly echoing along the vaulted passages, and see the dim flicker of the lanterns as we go along, now down a muddy road on a slight incline, now stumbling on the line, now almost tripping over a heap of ash or spent coal, and now coming across a heap of wooden props; again we turn the corner, and the roof gets lower, the passage more difficult, and the lines cease. conductor goes on in front over heaps of coal to see whether there is a path for us, while the boys, waiting for fresh supplies of coal with their corves and ponies, stare at us, evidently thinking we are quite out of our element here; presently he returns to say that we can get on, provided we do not mind having to bend down considerably and twist about a good deal; so once more we proceed, and after twenty yards of disagreeable stooping, we come to one of the workings, where we see a man, lying almost prostrate, divested of all his upper clothing, though his skin is so blackened with the grimy dust, that you would hardly know it, hewing at the coal just beyond him; all around near him the roof is carefully propped up with wooden supports, as a fall of coal from above would kill him; while if it fell behind him, it would The leave him, with all egress cut off, to die even a worse death; he is plying his pickaxe with vigorous blows, which soon bring the coal out. He works at the bottom of the seam and makes perhaps a space of six feet underneath, from which all the coal is cleared away, and then the top, which is supported as the coal is cut away, is deprived of its props, and falls in ; the coal is then collected and put into corves with the numbers of the working chalked on it and taken to the mouth of the pit. This sort of work is of course by far the most dangerous, and only the strongest aud most experienced men are selected for it; they are called "getters" and go in gangs of four: a gang of four can generally get thirty tons of coal a day, and sometimes more, but this is by no means regular, as frequently a long series of days have to be spent in propping up, and in slackness of trade pits only work three or four days a week. We turn back once more, having seen him at his work, and having gained some insight into the dangers to which a collier's life is always exposed putting every day, as he does, his life in his hand; and after having paid a visit to the large furnace, which is remarkable if only for its vast size and heat, reach the bottom of the shaft again. The depth of the pit is over four hundred yards, and it took us about three minutes going up; the cages, as a rule, when there are no men on them, go down much faster, so it may be imagined at what a rate coal can be brought up. Having seen the works, we keep our guide no longer, but depart much pleased with our colliery impressions. PUBLIC SCHOOL NOTES. B.H. The Magdalen College School Journal contains chiefly school news. They seem to have had a very successful cricket season, winning 12 matches out of 20. It closes with an eloquent appeal for a Rifle Corps, saying that every Englishman ought to be able to handle arms. The Blue bewails the decline of St. Matthew's day at Christ's Hospital. It takes a hopeful view of the games of the school, though a correspondent laments the fact that " certain terpsichorean evolutions are substituted for the regular scrummage at Football," The Elizabethan contains an interesting life of a favourite of the celebrated Dr. Busby, which proves that that worthy pedagogue's flogging propensities were not exemplified in the case of all his pupils. The rest of the paper is occupied by internal cricket matches and boat races. The Harrovian contains two clever and amusing articles called "Swagger" and "Sisters and games.” The Glee and Madrigal Society gave a pleasant and popular entertainment there. The Sydneian contains a refutation of the fable that a Wiltshire rustic tried to rake the moon out of a pond, supposing it to be a green cheese, whence the name of Wiltshire moonrakers. Though football has been flourishing there during the past three months, our contemporaries in the antipodes have decided not to make it compulsory because it is too barbarous. The Cheltonian contains an account of our match with them, coupled with anticipations of an exciting rubber match next year. They have at present lost 3 members of their XI. In an amusing article on "Camping out," a volunteer sentry describes his efforts to get a cow out of the camp. Of cricket matches they have won five, lost four, and drawn five. The Meteor contains an account of the match with us. There is an account of a row in the year 1809, when a gentleman unpopular in the school had his plantations torn up. How much more turbulent our fathers were at school! The numbers of the school are at present 432. The Alleynian is full of rejoicings at winning the Cadet's trophy at Wimbledon. The talent of the school is great enough to act Schiller at its speeches. The Rossalian is chiefly filled with school news. The cricket season has been one of moderate success, but is nevertheless an improvement on last year. The Bathonian contains some good articles. account of a viva voce examination in verse," is spirited and amusing. "An The Wykehamist opens by priding itself on its never-flagging Toryism. The school has established a mission in the East of London, an excellent example for others to follow. The Afghan and Zulu wars have given Winchester dead heroes to commemorate as well as other schools. Occasional Notes. WINTER hours have now begun. 'Soup has taken the place vacated by bolly in dinner." WE are sorry to hear that the Bursar is temporarily incapacitated; his place is for the present filled, as usual, by H. D. Drury, Esq. THE article begun in our last issue, and concluded in the present one, on "Marlborough Thirty Years Ago," was written by A. Freeland, Esq. (O.M.) IN football the Sixth have defeated the School by three goals and four tries to nothing. In Housematches Horner's (Cross Arrows) beat Way's (Crescent); Preshute beat Littlefield; Upcott's (Maltese Cross) beat Cotton House; Sharp's (Mitre) beat Gould's (Star); Baker's (Fleur-de-Lys) drew the bye. ON the night of Sunday, Oct. 11th, a burglar broke into the College, and succeeded in abstracting a cap and gown, a leg of mutton, and a missionary box. Unfortunately the rural Constabulary have as yet failed to detect and apprehend the thief. WE are glad to note that the Brass Band seems to have taken a new lease of life; its practices are held in the Pavilion daily, and, if they are properly attended, ought to produce great effects at the next Concert. MR. Tom Hughes is, we believe, intending again to pay Marlborough a visit towards the end of November, and to give us one of his excellent lectures. ON Monday afternoon a large concourse of spectators witnessed, on the Eleven, the sword performance of Professor Thomas. The proceedings were at first rather damped by the rain, but later on the sun shone out, and we could behold in comfort the marvellous feats of the Professor, and in particular admire the coolness with which a prominent member of the Sixth, like Sir Charles Napier, allowed a lemon to be severed on his bare hand at a single blow. There was a large gathering of masters. A new paper has been brought out, called "The Public Schools," which gives a summary of news of all the Public School papers and magazines, besides general articles. The price is 6d., and the paper can be procured at Cane's. THE VIth beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of the following books: Given by H. J. Verrall, Esq. Sophocles (Campbell and Abbott) Vol. i. Mythology of Greece and Rome (Seemann)} WE beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of the following Public School Papers:-Magdalen College School Journal, The Blue, Journal of Education, Elizabethan, Harrovian, Haileyburian, Sydneian, Cheltonian, Meteor, Trumpeter, Eastbourne Cliftonian, Alleynian, Rossallian, Wykehamist, Bathonian, Eton College Chronicle, Undergraduate's Journal. En Memoriam. THE LATE REV. W. JEBB FEW. THOSE of our readers who remember the bright cheery face of the subject of our notice thirty years ago, as he moved about our circle in the full enjoyment of youthful energy and the sprightly spring of carly life, will be in a way startled to read of the premature termination of a course so full of promise. The eldest son of the most respected and loved member of our Council, W. Jebb Few, although he did not obtain high distinction in the School, yet laid the foundation of what proved to be a most enviable career in the profession of his choice. Serving well and earnestly in the curacies to which he was appointed, he was at an unusually early age called to succeed the late Dr. Monsell as Rector of St. Nicholas, Guildford. Our space will not allow of more than one extract from the many testimonies that the scene of his labours furnished, as soon as the sad news of his death (which took place in the Isle of Wight, on the 10th of September) reached Guildford and Reading. "At Reading he worked from 1862 to 1872, and endeared himself to all the parishes. Thence he was nominated to St. Luke's, Southampton, where it was truly said of him that he left the marks of his presence behind him. In May, 1875, he was presented by the Bishop of Winchester to the living of St. Nicholas, Guildford. There, during the four short years of his incumbency, he accomplished an amount of work that led people to realize how amazing were his powers for organization; and no event has cast more gloom over the County Town than the sad and unexpected end of his illness." The funeral was a public one, and showed the depth of feeling that pervaded all classes. Sermons were preached in all the churches in Guildford, and also at Reading. The deepest sympathy will be felt by all, for the sad trial it must be to a loving father to lose such a son, and for his brothers, who are O.M.'s, for their loss of such a brother. Correspondence. To the Editor of the Marlburian. DEAR SIR,-To come to the point at once, could not the rules of the game of football, as we play it here at Marl. borough, be published? In the present state of affairs there are disputes about the taking hands off the ball in mauls, and about having to drop the ball, after it has been touched down by a penned side, and not being able to run with it. The game is played pretty bitterly as it is, and if there is any suspicion of cheating it is still more bitter. Lower games too are often having disputes on matters which would be quite plain if the rules were published. The price of a small book of rules need not be large, could be supported by the treasury of the race committee, and would be very useful to refer to. Hoping you will take this proposal into considera tion, proper support from Old Marlburians is the difficulty of remembering to sen1, and the trouble of sending subscriptions anuually to the Secretary. To meet this I suggested that any one willing to become a subscr ber should give a standing order to his bankers for the payment of the amount of his annual subscriptions, some time before the end of November in every year), to the account entitled " Archibald Hanbury and Others," which has been opened for the Fund with the Bank of England (head office). I have to thank several Old Marlbarians who have acted on this suggestion since last year, and I venture to hope that others will follow their example. Contributions for the present year may be sent to S. H. BUTCHER, Esq., University College, Oxford; C. E. GRAINGER, Esq., Trinity College, Cambridge; or to myself, by cheque or post office order, made payable at the Chancery Lane Post Office. H. W. SIMPKINSON, PAYMENTS. £ s. d. 17 7 0 75 1 6 35 13 0 16 16 8 Invested in purchase of £77 15s. 9d. Reduced £3 per cent. Annuities 0 1 0 1 4 10 Paid to Scholars I Balance in Bank I am, &c, M.S. Examined and found correct, H. W. SIMPKINSON, J. ELLIOTT FOX. "OLD MARLBURIAN" SCHOLARSHIPS. 35, SOUTH EATON PLACE, LONDON, S.W. JUNE, 1879. DEAR SIR,-I beg to forward the statement of Accounts of the "Old Marlburian" Scholarships Fund, and the List of Donors and subscribers for the past year. I regret that the List of contributors is not quite so long as that of the preceding year, but notwithstanding this fact the Trustees have been able to invest £75 in the purchase of additional stock. Owing to the new scheme not having yet come fully into into force only £37 10s. has been expended in payments to scholars, instead of £100, which will henceforth be required annually for that purpose. I ventured last year to express an opinion, that one of the principal causes which prevents the Fund from receiving To the Editor of the Marlburian. DEAR SIR,-In your last number it was stated that the Rifle corps consisted almost entirely of in-boarders, and an appeal was made to out-boarders which at present has had no effect. Amongst a dozen or so of recruits there is not one out-boarder; in the whole corps there are four out-boarders, three of whom never went to a single drill last term. There was a time when the oat-boarders furnished a good half of the corps; is it fair that now in-boarders should alone support an institution which is supposed to represent the whole school? and this because the out-boarders either lack patrio. tism or have not the energy to come to an hour's drill once a week. I hope that out-boarders will see the justice of this 2 3 not out 4 5 13 cChapman,b Hardwick 2 5 Major Battye, c Leach, b Bowden Smith...... Tanner, not out P. Cababè, c Hardwick b Bowden Smith ..... 1 Byes 3, 1-byes 5, wides 4 12 F. W. Stanton H. T. Ravenhill warm, P. S. Cunliffe H. P. King-Salter H. G. Pulling F. W. Nott SIXTH V. SCHOOL. any It is a remarkable fact that last term innumerable cricket matches were put off on account of the wet weather, while this term when everyone was longing to begin football, day after day shone forth so bright and that addition to the heat of Phoebus seemed undesirable. So Sixth v. School, always the first big-game, and the herald of continuous football for the rest of the term, was twice postponed; till at last on Thursday, Oct. 8th, though the sun shone as brightly as ever, the captain of the Sixth,whether thinking there was luck in odd numbers, or despairing of an unequal war with the heavens, we know not-decided to wait no longer. Accordingly, beneath a blazing sun, the Sixth, who were aided by Mr. Baker and Mr. Alford forward, and Mr. Bambridge as usual behind, kicked off from the town end. The School, who were manifestly the weakest team, though having the assistance of Mr. Leaf at half-back, allowed themselves to be penned slightly at the outset, though Duncan made a good run, and took it more into the middle of the |