On Tuesday 11th: Nov:, Peck (Capt:) told me that there wd: be a Monitors’ meeting in Library on the following day. I therefore informed the other T.B.B. monitors: – I also learnt what was the matter, viz: that Stephenson (up Rigauds) had been seen to come down fields shortway with Janson, (who ‘though in the eleven was not in the VI. or Shell) which was contrary to rule.
On Wed: morning the meeting was held in Library, and it was resolved not to tan Stephenson, but to send for him in order to explain to him the rule, and to caution him :- he was accordingly sent for: but after waiting some time a message was brought from Robson, (head of Rigaud’s) that Stephenson was not to leave the house under any conditions: and that if any explanation were needed, the monitors were to go to Robson for it.
Peck and I, therefore, went to Scott, and explained that the Council had sent for Stephenson, and that he had been forbidden to go by Robson. Scott, therefore, went out to speak to Robson, and found that it was James who had told Robson to forbid Stephenson to go, alleging that a rule had been made by Scott that the Head of a house could prevent a fellow from being tanned (which, of course would have completely nullified the power of the Council of Monitors). Scott went in to speak to James. – The following morning Scott told the monitors to come to his house :- and there told us that his hands were, to a great measure, tied in such matters; for that, if a master would not conform to the rules of the school, he could do nothing but send that master away, which, of course, was a very serious matter:- but that any interference of the sort, which might happen in future, should be immediately brought to the head-master (which had been done) that he had never made a rule that the head of a house could prevent a tanning, and, of course, would not sanction such a thing. He talked a good deal about tanning saying that all such punishment was really attack at common-law; and that tanning for such an offence as that committed could not be defended, and that a boy should not be tanned for breaking such an arbitrary law rule: (which indeed was never contemplated) – and here the matter ended. Had it not been for the unwarrantable interference of James, this disturbance would never have arisen.
C. Ogle
Prin: Opp: