ED 165 03

ED 165 03

Richard Gosling to his mother

Item

6 June 1810

1 item als

Describes journey. On the day of the ball, fresh disturbances begun by boys who wished to abolish an absence. Following a disturbance (described) at the house of a jeweller who had stolen from a boy, Keate imposed an absence on 120 boys who were lower in the school than those who were most culpable, of whom he was afraid. The Sixth Form tried to `arrest' some boys but the Fifth released them. The masters took some boys to Keate as rioters but they received no punishment and were not affected by the absence though the other boys, including Gosling who was at home during the riot, were. 87 boys refused to put up with this injustice and did not go to the absence, Gosling among them. `If I had not been I should have been totally neglected and perpetually bullied'. That evening Keate flogged all 87 hard, amidst hissings and eggs thrown by Fourth Form boys. 40 rods were used. `Though the flogging effected no good, `quiet speeches from the assistants have produced tranquillity'. Cannot expect to be sent up again. 6th Form were turned out from all rowing on Fourth and are now hooted for trying to hand over their schoolfellows. PLACE: Eton