| Description | "Amended notification of his being placed in the first class of the Select, and further particulars." (Directed, in pencil, to be sent by cross-post.)
Eton. Saturday.
My dear Papa,
I have some still better news to tell you, the 16 has been divided into 2 classes, of 8 each & I am in the first. The list is as follows.
xGoulburn—Scholarship.
Mountain K.S.—Medal.
—————
Birch 2nd Class.
xBoulton xColeridge
xCotton Hobhouse
xFarrer Hardisty K.S.
xHerbert Kirwan K.S.
Mansfield xPocock
xShadwell.
Westmacott
Witts.
I do not know at all how I have managed to get in to the first class, for Hobhouse, Hardisty & Pocock were in the Select last year, & Hobhouse was considered to have a very good chance of the Scholarship, as were Hardisty & Pocock of the medal. The boys in each list are considered equal, since the Examiners have determined not to make known the respective place of any boy below the Medallist, since they think that if a boy knew he was third, it might induce him to stay beyond his time at Eton. This is the first time that a division has ever been made in the Select, & it is said that it will not in future be so large as 16. My tutor is very pleased, at Goulburns having got the Scholarship, & at having half the Select among his pupils, 6 of whom are in the first class. These last lists were made out after the Vivâ-Voce examination, which took place this morning, but unluckily for me, instead of going in to be examined in alphabetical order, we went in in order of school, so that instead of going in second, I went in last of all, & had to wait locked up for 2 hour[s.] I hope that you are recovering fro[m] your influenza, & that all the rest are quite well. Give my love to them & believe me to remain
Your affectionate Son
M. P. W. Boulton.
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