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Clavering, Henry Mordaunt, 1766-1850 Item College Dormitory
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Henry Mordaunt Clavering to John Benn

Has heard that the author of the epilogue was one Randolph OW (according to Lusus Alteri it was T. Littlehales). On Liddell's change of Latin grammar (see 16 1nd 34). 130 pupils in the school - 2 ushers for the Upper School, and none for the Lower (presided over by the Under Master - but there are only 8 boys in it). A rudimentary central heating pipe has been installed Up School. Only one boarding house in Dean's Yard now (Scott's), and two in Little Dean's Yard where Grant's and Morel's used to be. In College stoves have replaced fires - only used for sleeping, the boys being confined during the lock-up hours in a long room beneath the dormitory. Breakfast at 9, dinner at 2 (used to be 12) and supper at 8. In the Abbey the celebrant's reading desk and pulpit has been sited at the corner of Poets' Corner nearest to the cloisters, so that he can view the congregation both in the transept and in the choir (see 49). An idea had been put forward to unite Westminster and Harrow, using the site of the latter; the low-lying site of Westminster is most unhealthy - the slope towards the river is not enough to carry away the filth from the drains. Tothill Street (see 24) being improved to be a handsome road from Buckingham House to the Abbey.

Clavering, Henry Mordaunt, 1766-1850

Henry Mordaunt Clavering to John Benn

Has heard from a Second Election that the Play is to be continued this year, the Adelphi. The Head Master, educated at the Charter House (see 3), has abandoned Busby's Latin grammar, which formed so many eminent men (William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, William Markham, Archbishop of York, and Robert South, and replaced it with Lily, used by many of the minor country schools. Has doubled the number of lessons and introduced Maths, unknown in their day. The scholars' dormitory now only used for sleeping, and the space beneath it has been converted into 3 day rooms - these alone have fires, and there are none in the dormitory. On the possibility of a Papal nuncio in London (see 31) - perhaps Daniel O'Connell's prediction of 2 years ago will happen, the celebration of Mass in Westminster Abbey.

Clavering, Henry Mordaunt, 1766-1850

Henry Mordaunt Clavering to John Benn

Doubts whether his grandson (up at Balliol) would be able to perform the duties of curate (see 15), since he is not yet quite in holy orders. A Westminster boy was with him yesterday; numbers, at present 90, will rise by 30 after Christmas, the old KS dormitory is now used only for sleeping, rooms have been constructed on the ground floor for use during the day, and School is being heated by hot water pipes. More time is being devoted to study, whole play days have been abolished, and Lily's Latin Grammar now being used. All these changes have been brought about by Dr Buckland, the Dean. More musings on John Fawcett (see 13).

Clavering, Henry Mordaunt, 1766-1850