21 NOVEMBER 1896, Page 13

Memoir of Dr. Hawtrey. By Francis St. John Thackeray. (Bell

and Sons.)—Dr. Hawtrey was head-master of Eton for close upon twenty years, and was a reformer,—one might almost say, for those days, an energetic reformer. There was need for change. In the time of Dr. Keate, Hawtrey's immediate pre- decessor, one master had one hundred and ninety-eight boys

under his charge ! Hawtrey divided this huge mass, increased the number of masters, improved the text-books, began the system of trials, made the teaching of mathematics effective (but the teachers were not allowed to wear gowns), and he abolished the Montem. It must not be forgotten that he compensated the captain who would have profited by the " salt " with a sum of £300 out of his own pocket. In 1853 Hawtrey was appointed Provost, and held the post for nine years, being at the same time vicar of Mapledurham (he had previously held the living of Ewhurst). Mr. Thackeray's volume is full of interest. We have spoken only of the public career of Dr. Hawtrey. His personality had much that was noble about it, while there were certainly some traits that lent themselves to ridicule.