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Page 14.  CHRIST’S HOSPITAL FIVE AND THIRTY YEARS AGO.

London Magazine, November, 1820.

This essay, which is based upon the “Recollections of Christ’s Hospital” in Vol.  I., is a curious blend of Lamb’s own experiences at school with those of Coleridge.  Both boys entered at the same time—­on July 17, 1782:  Coleridge was then nearly ten, Lamb was seven and a half.  Coleridge was “clothed” on July 18 and went to Hertford for a while; Lamb was clothed on October 9.  Lamb left the school in November, 1789, Coleridge in September, 1791.

The school which Lamb knew is now no more.  The boys are now all in new buildings in the midst of green fields near Horsham, many miles from Lamb’s city and its roar.

Page 14, line 15. The worthy sub-treasurer. Randal Norris (see note to “A Death-Bed").  I have not been able to discover the cause of his influence.

Page 14, lines 18, 19. Crug ... piggins. Crug is still current slang.  In the school museum one of these piggins is preserved.

Page 14, line 25. Three banyan days. Three vegetarian days.  Coleridge complains (in a letter to Poole) that he was never sufficiently fed except on Wednesdays.  He gives the following table of food:—­

Our diet was very scanty.  Every morning a bit of dry bread and some bad small beer.  Every evening a larger piece of bread, and cheese or butter, whichever we liked.  For dinner,—­on Sunday, boiled beef and broth; Monday, bread and butter, and milk and water; Tuesday, roast mutton; Wednesday, bread and butter, and rice milk; Thursday, boiled beef and broth; Friday, boiled mutton and broth; Saturday, bread and butter, and pease-porridge.  Our food was portioned; and, excepting on Wednesdays, I never had a bellyfull.  Our appetites were damped, never satisfied; and we had no vegetables.

Page 14, line 8 from foot. Caro equina. Horseflesh.  Mr. Pearce’s chapter on food at the school in his excellent Annals of Christ’s Hospital is very interesting, and records great changes.  Rotten-roasted or rare, i.e., over-roasted or under-done.

Page 15, line 3. The good old relative. Aunt Hetty, or more properly, Sarah Lamb.  Compare the “Lines written on the Day of my Aunt’s Funeral,” Vol.  IV.:—­

  I have not forgot
  How thou didst love thy Charles, when he was yet
  A prating schoolboy:  I have not forgot
  The busy joy on that important day,
  When, childlike, the poor wanderer was content
  To leave the bosom of parental love,
  His childhood’s play-place, and his early home,
  For the rude fosterings of a stranger’s hand,
  Hard, uncouth tasks, and schoolboys’ scanty fare. 
  How did thine eyes peruse him round and round
  And hardly knew him in his yellow coats,
  Red leathern belt, and gown of russet blue.