a town of Buckinghamshire, on the left bank of the Thames, 21 miles W. of London. It is connected with Windsor, on the opposite bank of the river, by a neat cast-iron bridge, erected in 1824. Eton is chiefly celebrated for its college, founded by Henry VI. in 1440. This establishment consists of a provost, vice-provost, 6 fellows, a head master, under master, 70 king's scholars, 7 lay clerks, and 10 choristers, besides inferior officers and servants. The scholars must be born in England, of lawfully married parents, and be between eight and sixteen years of age. A number of the head boys are annually nominated to King's College, Cambridge. On their removal to Cambridge they are received on the foundation and maintained out of its endowments, and after three years they succeed to fellowships. There are also two scholarships at Oxford for foundation scholars. Failing an appointment to either university at the age of seventeen, they are superannuated at eighteen or nineteen; and for such there are a few exhibitions in the gift of the college. The scholars are lodged and boarded by the establishment, and by statute their education should be gratis, but a sum of L6 or L7 is now charged for their instruction. The degrading system of "fagging," by which the boys of the lower schools are made servants or fags to those of the upper, is still in force here. Besides the scholars on the foundation, Eton College is attended by about 600 scholars who reside in private houses, and are styled oppidans. Many of these are sons of persons of rank and fortune. The total expenses of a boy educated as an oppidan may average from L150 to L200 a-year. The course of instruction is almost wholly classical; and though there are masters for French, German, arithmetic, writing, &c., these branches are unconnected with the general business of the school, and are attended at extra hours. Among the celebrated men who were educated at Eton, may be mentioned Sir Robert Walpole; Harley, Earl of Oxford; Lord Bolingbroke; Earl Camden; the famous Earl of Chatham; the Hon. Robert Boyle; Lord Lyttelton; Gray; Horace Walpole; West; Waller; Fox; Canning; the Marquis of Wellesley; Hallam the historian; and the Duke of Wellington. The singular custom termed the montem, which was observed here triennially on Whit Tuesday, has now been abolished. The last celebration of it took place in 1844. It consisted of a procession of the boys in a kind of military order, with flags and music, headed by their "captain," to a small mount called Salt Hill, near the Bath road, where they levied contributions, or "salt," from the passers-by and spectators. The sum collected sometimes exceeded L1000; the surplus, after deducting certain expenses, becoming the property of the "captain" of the school. The college buildings consist of two quadrangles, built partly of freestone but chiefly of brick. The outer quadrangle or school-yard is inclosed by the chapel, schools, dormitories, and masters' chambers, and has in its centre a bronze statue of the royal founder. The buildings inclosing the inner or lesser quadrangle contain the residences of the fellows, the library, hall, and various offices. Between these are the provost's lodge, &c.; appertaining to which is an ancient tower and a gateway in the centre, connecting the two courts. The chapel, on the south side of the outer court, is a fine Gothic edifice, containing some interesting monuments, among which is one to Sir Henry Wotton, who was long provost of the college; and at the west end of the ante-chapel is a fine marble statue of the founder in his royal robes, by Bacon. The library contains a curious and valuable collection of books, a collection of Oriental and Egyptian manuscripts, and some beautifully illuminated missals. The parish church having fallen into decay, the college chapel was used as a substitute; but a handsome church, in the early English style, has recently been erected, at a cost of about L8000. Pop. of parish (1851) 3666, besides 130 in Eton College.