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Seatoller, Borrowdale, Keswick. - Thanks his mother for her letter. The weather has not been so good recently, but any rain has been brief. Bessie seems 'very well at Rottingdean [where she is visiting her friend Jeanne Salomonson]' and is coming here on the 5th; wonders if it would suit for them to come to Wallington around the 13th or 14th, but expects Bessie will be writing about this. Does not think he will finish his play here, but will read it to her if she likes; will at least have done more than half of the final act.

The new Slade Professor is 'a certain Walstein [Charles Waldstein, later Walston]; he has held the position before and 'proved his incompetence'. He is 'the most notorious snob in Cambridge, far out-doing the O. B. [Oscar Browning], and a quite odious man as well''. Thinks his father met him recently there, and 'did not get a good impression'. Seems that it was settled that Fry should have the professorship, but 'at the last moment Poynter and Walstein, who is a great intimate with royalty, got it settled their way instead. Everyone is very angry': Sidney Colvin 'is said to be quite furious'.

That is a 'personal matter', and Robert only knows one side, but 'the bigger issue is really important'. Almost 'all the merit and intelligence among both artists and students has for a long time 'been outside and opposed to the [Royal] Academy', and yet the Academy has 'enormous power in many directions'. The 'Chantrey Bequest affair' is of 'secondary importance' in itself, but may 'serve as an occasion to break their power'. Certainly not the case of only a narrow clique '(the New Eng[lish Art Club, for instance) that is hostile to the Academy, but all who care strongly about art'; nor is the hostility 'a personal attack on Poynter, who is more intelligent than most of them', and Robert believes him to be 'a perfectly straight man according to his lights'.

Has a gun at Wallington, though may have 'Bowen's gun [which came to Robert after E E Bowen's death] sent there' from Westcott. Should have said that it is 'now really settled' about their house: the clearing of the site was to start last week, it is due to be finished by February 20 [1905], with the roof being on by 20th November [this year]. They are 'very glad all the bother is over'.

Explains the delay in answering Cowell's letter, claiming that he had mislaid it, and had forgotten where Cowell would be; says that he could only remember that he would be at F[lorence] 'about the beginning of May.' Apologises for his carelessness, and claims that he was further delayed in writing by his having to research some lectures that he had to give on the Acts of the Apostles. Regrets that they could not have met up at Florence. Reports that [Henry Yates?] Thompson's failure in the Tripos took them all by surprise, and that the latter seems to have taken the result 'a good deal too coolly; and to have imitated [George Otto] Trevelyan's dangerous example of reading by himself and doing no composition, without having any of Trevelyan's classical intuition...' Reports that Thompson is now in Auvergne, having perfected his French at Paris, and that Trevelyan has returned from Paris. Expresses some doubts in relation to the latter's account of his and Thompson's sojourn in Paris.

Reports that he himself has been spending his vacation in England, trying to cure his stammering. States that he is an M.A. now, and is getting to see more of the authorities of the College, whom he describes as 'a kind of big children.' Remarks that W.H. Thompson 'improves on acquaintance', and is 'so much more genial than one would have thought.' States that he [Henry] is getting over his old objections against fellow-commoners. Admits that his is a very nice life, and that he actually gets through 'so very little work.' Wishes that he could shake off his laziness and begin to write. Claims that his views on religious and philosophical subjects are 'in a state of change', and wishes that he could talk to Cowell on these matters. Claims to have given up a good deal of his materialism and scepticism, 'and come round to Maurice and Broad Church again...' Claims to be 'deeply impressed by the impotence of modern unbelief in explaining the phenomena which Christians point to as evidences of the Holy Spirit's influence.' Discusses his interpretation of the words 'religious' and 'irreligious' as applied to men.

Hopes that Cowell is 'getting happily and delightfully convalescent' in 'the famous city of Dante' [Florence]. Wonders when he is to return to England, and if his 'distaste for the law and...devotion to philosophy' will continue when his health has improved. Remarks that he always thought that Cowell was made for the practical rather than the speculative life. Reports that the ' [Apostles] Society' flourishes, and that the only new member is [William] Everett, who has considerable interests in Metaphysics. Refers to his 'declamation in chapel', with which the old Dons, especially [William] Whewell, were 'enraptured. Asks for the name of Cowell's guide for [E.E?] Bowen, who plans, with [E.M?] Young, a Swiss tour.

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Quotes the first line of Virgil's "Aeneid" to begin an account of a fight between his house and the 'Vannites', in which he, [Harold?] Sandilands and [Claude] Rome were involved, and the ensuing talk from Bowen who 'dwelt on his own sacrifices for the house', which George knows more of than most, and 'the bitterness of his disappointment'; George was very touched, and this is the only aspect which grieves him. Expects he will lose his monitorship.

Notes on several events during the Franco-Prussian war, with several maps [ff 1-32]; reference to 'Mr [Edward] Bowen' being in Paris at the time suggests that the lectures were delivered by him during Trevelyan's schooldays at Harrow, 1886-1890 [f 31].

Translation, at the other end of the book, by Trevelyan of Lucretius Book III [of "De Rerum Natura"], lines 161-685, written on recto of folia with corrections and annotations, some in red and blue pencil, on facing page [63r-32v]

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Encloses a letter from [William] Everett which is mostly about Robert; asks if his recollection that [Edward] Bowen used "Phaselus" [Catullus 4] 'as a special penalty for some particular sin' is correct.

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Has 'made [his] peace'; Bowen is being very kind; 'no hope of the other's doing so' but his position towards them will be unchanged, and vice versa. Very good of Bob to come; nothing more can be done to mend matters. Still uncertain when he will leave, but he is likely to spend another term or two, certainly not another summer. Good of Bob to ask the Davises' advice

With monogram HPC and motto 'Mens sana in corpore sano'. - Thanks Bob for his letter about the rooms [at Trinity, Cambridge]; intends to choose Whewell's Court. Hopes to see Bob soon; he need not be alarmed about the Grove, as a 'perfectly effectual reconciliation' has taken place; will tell the details of the story when they meet. Bowen is 'keeping on young Sandilands and [?] Becham for another year; George now feels 'quite comfortable about the house next term'. Bowen is being very kind to him, and helping him get his poem 'ready for the prolusiones-press'; the essay is to be printed almost exactly as sent in. Has got the "Seven Lamps [of Architecture]" and "Modern Pictures" with his prize money, which came to over twenty pounds, and has now 'got all the big [underlined] Ruskins' since he got the "Stones of Venice" last year; also bought the sixteen-volume edition of Browning with his prize money. Sandilands should get his [cricket] flannels: he and Rome did very well in the game against the Household Brigade; reminiscent of when Grove House had 'Pope bowling at one end and Rome at the other at Lords'.

Asks if Miss Edg[ ] could call at his rooms on the following Saturday. Reports that the papers have reached him, and remarks that he supposes that the volume of which she speaks is a collection of tracts. States that, until Nora showed him the letters, he had not realised that the motions, brought forward at the College meetings of 1865 to 1869, were in the main devised by Henry alone. States that he has assumed that Henry had been acting in conjunction with others, such as Edward Bowen and George Young. Remarks that his 'vigorous initiative' was instumental in preparing them for the legislative work of 1870 to 1873. Expresses his concern at the news that she had been unwell. Adds that he expects to be in Cambridge until the end of the month, and that he will be glad to call if she would like him to do so.

Grand Hotel Valescure, St Raphael [headed notepaper]:- Postmarked Marseille; sent to Lady Trevelyan at Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Has arrived safely at St Raphael and is staying at the Grand Hotel Velescure [Valescure]. Sandilands [James or John?] arrives today. Sir Charles and Lady Elliott, with their son Frank who was at Harrow and Trinity with Robert, are here. Bowen also recommended this place to them, and it ‘is about as delightful a place as anyone could wish for’. The Elliotts are ‘very good company’; he is on the London School Board, and must return in a week or two. Will write again soon.

Grand Hotel Valescure, St Raphael [headed notepaper]:- Is settled here ‘in the luxury of a ten francs pension’, waiting for the rain to stop. The hotel is ‘full of friends of Mr Bowen, sent here by him’: [J.W.?] Sandilands, the ‘Grahams of Harrow, and Mrs Graham’s parents Colonel and Mrs Stewart’, and the [Charles Alfred?] Elliotts. At a villa nearby is Bowen’s friend [William Henry] Bullock Hall, on whom Robert and Sandilands called yesterday, and who has leant Robert ‘an essay of his on the meeting of Lepidus and Antony at the bridge of Les Arcs’ which he wants him to send on to his father; Hall ‘cannot talk of anything now for half an hour without dropping into the subject of the Romans in the Riviera’, but is an ‘amusing neighbour’, and what Robert saw of the household ‘promise[s] some entertainment’. Will write to the Rendells [Stuart Rendel’s family?] at Cannes to see if they would like him to visit.

Although there has been no fine weather, Robert‘can see this is just the country’ for him, with its ‘indefinite miles of not too mountainous forests, and a network of good paths and no tourists… an infinite variety of trees and shrubs, and.. the sea not too far off’, with almost all the guests at the hotel his friends. Expects he will ‘stay well into February, and not go anywhere else’. Expects she will go up to London before long. Has little news; will have more when the sun comes out, as the current weather ‘is really very like Sirocco weather in Italy, and makes the mind as well as the soil damp and clammy, though not in so unpleasant a way’. Has however done some work, and will get on well this week. Was ‘delighted to see that Earl Russell has at last triumphed over his wicked old mother in law’. Hawkins 'has behaved very well'. Supposes C[harles] and G[eorge] are still at Wallington.

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Was glad to leave the choice [between Edward Bowen's gun and bicycle, see 14/49] to Bob: could not have made up his mind himself. Asks Bob to tell Colbeck to send the bicycle to Grosvenor Crescent, not the first address he gave him.

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Has written the article on "Bowen in his House" which is to appear in the next "Harrovian"; found it very hard to do; hopes Bob will approve of it and that there is 'no impropriety'. No need to let it be 'generally known' that it is by George, though he has no special desire for concealment, since the article expresses what he 'genuinely felt' about Bowen; it was the editors who pressed him to write it. Colbeck wants to know whether they would like Bowen's gun and bicycle, so George tells Bob to choose which he would prefer. Postscript saying that he will be too busy to visit Bob before going north, so will see him at Wallington.

Thanks Sidgwick for sending him the report of a syndicate established to inquire into the issue of the allowing of alternatives to one of the classical languages in the Previous Examination. Agrees with part II, which, he believes, would for some time be only partial and limited in its effects on schools in general'. With regard to 'the Inspection', declares that he thinks that men are not unlikely to judge from the large schools only, and that it is very possible that the large schools 'may hold aloof from inspection, unless, as Bowen says, it is sweetened with a bribe....' States that the leaving examination 'is the fact [the large schools] will appreciate.' Adds, however, that 'the mass of schools...will be [or are] bound to be inspected', and declares that for them to have an organised university system will be a very real gain. Acknowledges that there are difficulties about inspections of schools, but feels that these are exaggerated sometimes. Presumes that an organised system of examiners is feasible. Asks when Sidgwick's report will be discussed.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Very interested to hear of Robert's visitors coming by aeroplane. 'Poor Bowen' died too early, for 'the excitement of the Great War' and also 'the delights of air travel'. Must be very interesting for Robert having his "Oresteia"; expects the young men 'were probably Cantabs, but not actually in residence'. There is a 'striking' new interest in the Classics, 'coincident with the disuse of the universal obligation to study, or play at studying, them'.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea:- Has just returned from Harrow, where he goes to 'get a game [of football] once a week' to keep himself 'very fit in body and mind'. Bowen had got up a 'team of masters and old boys' against the boys of his house, 'which is very good this year'. Robert's team were 'Somehow' beaten 6-0, but Bowen 'covered himself with glory, playing better than he has done for years'; he also told Robert he 'played like a hero'.

Met Charlie in the morning at the B[ritish] M[useum] Library, 'getting up the question of State Railways'; he is 'much interested in a scheme for a progressive periodical [the Progressive Review] which [William] Clarke, late of the Chronicle, and a young Socialist, [Ramsay?] MacDonald, are going to start next year. It is to be to these dregs of times what the Edinburgh Review was to be to those other dark days'. It 'promises to do well', and Robert wishes it 'God-speed', though they say it 'has as yet no Brougham, much less its Sidney Smith'. Bernard Shaw, whom Robert saw recently in a restaurant, told him 'with his usual superb egotism', that if they had wanted the paper to succeed, they ought to have asked him to 'write a series of articles, as he knew the secret of making a splash and drawing the gaze of the public'. However, 'Clarke cant stand G.B.S., calling him an anarchist and a Jacobin', and Shaw is a 'little piqued at being out of it'.

[Roger] Fry has a cold today and has taken to his bed 'as he always does at the slightest alarm'; this is sensible as 'his colds are both more sudden and more formidable than other people's'. He is doing well otherwise, and has 'just finished some theatrical scenery for a friend [a pencil note suggests this is 'Badley - [at] Bedales']' - the wood in Midsummer Night's Dream] - which is as good as anything Robert has seen by him, 'though you can't get very rich colour effects in tempera'. Their next door neighbours, Ricket[t]s and Shannon, have 'just brought out a magazine... a single Christmas number [The Pageant]' for which they have obtained contributions from 'all the great names in the literary and artistic word' such as Swinburne, Bridges, Maeterlinck, Verlaine, Burne Jones and Watts. There is 'some fine work in it, and some very queer'; Robert's friend [Thomas Sturge] Moore has two short poems included, though Robert does not think them his best. Will show his parents the magazine when they return. Shannon and Ricketts are 'taking to publishing poetry'; he believes they 'make a great success', and hopes that knowing them 'might be useful in the future'.

Is putting this letter into an envelope he finds 'on C[harles]'s table' with his parents' name on it but not yet their address. Expects they will soon be in Rome. Is going to see Aunt Annie [Philips] next week' does not plan to go abroad as he is 'very well, and do not feel the cold'. He will go to Welcombe for a few days, but otherwise stay in London unless 'the frost gives [him] colds'. Is glad their travelling is going so well, and that they like Gregorovius: it is 'always pleasant work welcoming a new historical star', though he doubts this one is 'of the first magnitude'.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea [on headed notepaper for the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place S. W.]:- Thanks his parents for their 'joint letter'. The weather here has suddenly turned 'almost absolutely perfect, at least for December', and the 'nights are wonderfully lighted by this full moon'. Florence must be 'gorgeous by moonlight'; wonders if they ever go to 'the portico where the David used to be and think of the poor painter of Henry James' Madonna of the Future, who was found there by night', but expects they go to bed 'quite early'. Dined recently with the [Yates] Thompsons, and Harry 'pretended to be indignant' that the Trevelyans had not gone to a hotel he had recommended; he 'was in a familiar, you-be-damned sort of mood', since there was no-one there but the Wilberforces, Spring Rice and Robert. Dolly 'had to reprove him for swearing at table before his guests'; thinks 'the Canon was rather shocked by his way of going on'.

[Edward Ernest] Bowen has given a 'lecture to the school [Harrow] upon the American Secession & Civil War', speaking 'for nearly two hours without becoming embarrassed or stumbling over a single word'; they say that throughout 'the excitement was so intense that you could have heard a fly's buzz'. At the end 'they got up and cheered him till it was thought they would never stop. They had not realised before what he was'. [Roger] Fry has a commission to paint 'a certain Smith Barry, the brother of the notorious M.P'. He has almost finished his lectures; he set 'certain passages in Browning's Fra Lippo to be annotated', which contain 'several bad blunders as to dates etc': '[m]ost of the young ladies trip up prettily into these pitfalls, taking it for granted that Browning must be right.

Robert 'quite agree[s] about Dante's deliberate purpose of making a great literary success', though thinks this would be 'indignantly repudiated by most of his idolaters'. It is 'very dull' in England at the moment; as far as Robert can tell people talk of 'nothing but Armenians.[a reference to the massacres in the Ottoman Empire]... and the Vailima letters [written by Robert Louis Stevenson to Sidney Colvin between 1890 and 1894, and recently published]'.

On headed notepaper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, but sent from Harrow. - Only has time for a few words. Expects Bojon [E. E. Bowen?] has written; thinks that if he is 'as enraged & apparently believes that Bob has told a lie' as much as it seemed to Bob, it might be a good thing for his father came to the school to 'hear the dispute out'. Is 'absolutely certain that Bob was perfectly in the right', and it will be a 'great misfortune for him if it is not entirely cleared up, for how can he be on good terms with his master, if his master cannot believe him'.

Thinks when Bojon has 'got cooler' he will believe Bob; his father will 'know best what to do'.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Is not going to Egypt, but will come to Bob; will spend from 25-30 January happily at Pisa 'up to the heart in Shelley', then will come on to Ravello; looking forward to seeing Bob there. Will do an 'expedition' to Sicily, especially Syracuse, from there, and hope Bob will come with him; plans to go to Florence when the weather is warmer. Interested to hear how Bob's play progesses; liked "The Mulberry Tree" and 'dear old "phaselus ille" [a translation from Catullus]' very much: Bob should send it to Bowen 'as an alternative for modern side boys [at Harrow] to learn when they are late for dinner'. His own book ["England in the Age of Wycliffe"] will be out in about a month; their father's [the first volume of his "The American Revolution"] has been 'extremely well received'.

[Referring to the report of a Syndicate established to inquire into the issue of the allowing of alternatives to one of the classical languages in the Previous Examination], states the he is 'strongly in favour of the general principle embodied in Parts II and [VII]', and that it is 'highly desirable that a certain number of neither dull nor idle boys at school should be subjected to a literary training not involving both Greek and Latin, and also highly desirable that they should carry on this training afterwards at the University.' Believes that Latin should be a required subject in the Previous Examination. Suggests that where a knowledge of the Gospel in Greek is dispensed with, the alternative could be French or German rather than English, and adds that 'Bowen does a good deal of Scripture in French with his "Modern Side" ' [at Harrow]. States also that if the paper were in French or German or English, the marks given should not be equal to those given for the corresponding paper 'in the far harder Greek.'

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Was glad to hear from his mother yesterday that his father was 'rather better'; hopes he is now beginning to 'be really convalescent, and will be able to get up'. Hears from Bessie that she and Julian are having a 'very pleasant time at Scarborough'; they will be back on Tuesday evening. Till then he is 'quite alone, reading and writing a great deal'.

Has recently finished translating all the Theocritus he wants to: about three quarters of what is printed as his work. Was looking at Macaulay's Theocritus last week, finding he 'agreed in most cases with his estimates of the various Idylls', though he wishes Macaulay had liked Idyll XXI, 'The Fisherman', better. This is not now supposed to be by Theocritus himself, but by Leonidas of Tarentum, but Robert has always liked it a 'great deal' since reading it with Bowen in sixth form pupil-room'.

A note in pencil at the top read 'This is a very nice letter'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for his 'kindness' in paying the fifty pounds into his account. He and Bessie returned together last night, and are glad to be home again; they seem to have arrived 'together with the Spring, or rather just a day after it had come'. Bessie has much enjoyed her month in the Netherlands, and 'seems very well and cheerful'. Robert had an 'interesting three days in Edinburgh': the scene from his and Donald Tovey's opera 'went very well, and people seemed to like it'.

Julian comes home on the tenth, and Robert hopes 'to do some Latin with him again'; he 'seems to get on very well at Bedales'. Robert has been translating some of his 'favourite Theocritus Idylls'; also intends to translate 'XXI, 'The Fisherman', which they say is not by Theocritus', but which he has always liked since doing it 'in sixth form pupil-room [at Harrow] with Bowen'. Might make a book of these with some Latin translations.

The Grove, Harrow. - Statham thinks the [rugby?] balls will 'travel safest unblown'. There has just been a thaw, after some days 'skating on the much vexed pond'. [Edward?] Bowen lost his case last holidays; however, he had consolation recently when 'the son of Belial who has been his chief enemy throughout' entered the Grove to check on the pond, was turned out by Bowen, appealed to a magistrate but was forbidden by him to go there again. [The Grove] will 'only be average at torpids'; 'old Harré [?] 'coming on tremendously'. Welldon caught [Charles?] Crofton, [George] Wilson and some others having a boxing match last Sunday, and was 'most terrible in his righteous wrath'. There is a rumour that Bowen is to stand for as a candidate for Leeds in the next general election, based on a paragraph in the "Harrow Gazette", but it was around 1855 that he intended to do this. Has been 'shewing Bible reps lately' - they have 'relapsed into epistles again' since Robert left - and Welldon makes him write out sixty-three verses every Sunday. [Sydney] Clive has not been 'redeemed from a carreer [sic] of vice' [by failing his Sandhurst examination], instead his 'military ardour' has been heated; he will return to the attack next June and is meanwhile 'busily employed in mobilization'. He goes to Charter's lectures with George and 'appreciates them more than most of the audience'. Studying the constitution from 1689-1760 this term.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury, St. Mary, Dorking. - They are 'all assembled here again', though Julian returns to school on Friday; he 'seems all the better for his time in the North', as does Bessie. Mrs Holroyd-Reece is staying here, 'finishing her holiday", as her husband has gone to the Netherlands 'on Media Society business, in spite of his collar bone', which is better but 'not right yet'.

Robert is going to London today 'to attend the dinner in honour of Basil Williams, of which George takes the chair'; Charles will also be there, as well as 'many of the [Lake] Hunt'. Robert's old friend Edward Hodgkin, 'Thomas Hodgkin's son', has died, the first of Robert's 'contemporary friends (excepting Theodore [Llewelyn Davies]) who has died' with whom he was 'really intimate'. Robert 'cared for him almost more than any one else' when at Cambridge, 'and for some years afterwards, but had rather lost sight of him of late years'.

Is reading Aristophanes' Ploutos again, which he 'read with Bowen in sixth form pupil room', and has liked since then 'almost as much as his more famous plays. The Chorus isn't much; but the incidents and the dialogue and the ideas' always seem to him 'as good as they can be'. Sends love to his mother.

Report is for 'Trevelyan jun.', in the 'Lower Sixth', for the 'Month ending Feb 25 1888'. 'Progress' and 'Place in Form' are reported by 'Classical Masters', as well as the 'Mathematical', 'Natural Science' and 'Modern Languages': the classical masters say that Robert has been 'More careful this term, but still inaccurate often'; the mathematical masters that he 'Began badly' but has been better lately; the natural science and modern language masters call his work 'Poor'. There is also a 'Pupil Room Report' on composition and other work, and a 'House Report'. Signed E. E. Bowen [Robert's housemaster].

The Grove, Harrow: - Believes Bobby has written to her about his 'fresh [?] trouble': he was 'doing a set of iambics for a 5th form boy [G. W. Roffey, see 45/157]' and Bowen is 'afraid it has been very systematic, this term and last'. Says 'our forefathers' used to 'laugh' at this sort of thing, but he thinks the contemporary attitude is better, in which it 'isn't common, & is condemned, now that competition for places is keener' and boys tend not to be punished for being able to finish their exercises.

The 'one satisfactory part' is that Bobby did not try to lie when it was found out. He has been 'put down into the upper fifth', and will start next term there. He has a chance to 'work very hard for the first month & get placed 1st', then get transferred up again; 'there is no reason why it shouldn't be done'.

The Grove, Harrow: - It is necessary to 'take the bitter with the sweet in school things', and this is among the bitter: 'Bobby cannot be depended on for truthfulness', in a matter which is just not bad enough to be 'sent up', but still serious. Wonders if Trevelyan has ever noticed anything of this kind; Bowen has 'once or twice felt not quite easy about it', and gave Bobby 'a very serious caution about it' a month or so ago, when he gave 'an excuse about some trifle which was practically untrue'.

The incident yesterday was 'more grave, as it was more deliberate', and Bobby could 'easily have drawn back & redeemed himself and didn't'. It was about preparing a lesson; after thinking about it for a day, Bowen concluded it 'was not a case for pushing into a scandal', especially since Bobby is 'promising so well', but told Bobby he 'could not conceal' it from Trevelyan. Thinks something like this ought to be 'made a good deal of... if it seems to be at all forming itself in the character'. Knows that 'young boys are tempted to tell lies... and one trains them gradually into resisting it by gradual means'. On the positive side, Bobby is young; on the negative side, Bowen does 'not find him so repentant and unhappy as he ought to be' and tries to persuade himself that the lie is not so great, 'instead of wearing sackcloth & ashes'.

Is sorry to have written all this, but is sure that Trevelyan 'wouldn't have any respect for [him]' if he was 'so afraid of hurting' Trevelyan that he hid 'any weak [?] faults in the poor boy' and only gave him pleasant news. They may find that in two or three years 'the danger is quite over'.

Wonders if it would be good for Bobby to 'stop his exeat at Lords in consequence': not, 'of course', stopping him going [to the Eton-Harrow cricket match], but preventing him from going home; asks Trevelyan what he thinks. Is 'anxious to make much of this rather than little'; on the other hand, it is some time till the Lords match, and Bobby's parents 'haven't committed crimes!'

The Grove, Harrow: - The enclosed [school reports? no longer present] will show that Georgie has 'done well so far', but that Bobby 'has fairly broken down again'. He 'made good resolutions, & tried fitfully to carry them out, but never thoroughly'. Hallam has described Bobby as 'at best very variable'; he has been 'rather more regular' with Bowen, mostly because Bowen 'made him almost by main force...' In Welldon's Tuesday lesson, Bobby has 'twice badly [construed?]'.

Finally Owen, who is taking Hallam's lessons while Hallam is ill, discovered two days ago that Bobby 'did not know a word of the lesson, & had made no notes of the last one, & was writing a letter; Owen therefore 'sent him up' [to the Headmaster], and Welldon sent him down to the bottom of his form. This will not affect Bobby's progress, as he would not have 'got his remove this time', but it 'is meant to be a slur and a threat together'.

Bobby is 'not the least of a man yet', having no 'real conscience or desire of self control'. Bobby 'isn't bad in a great many ways', partly because of 'house affection', but 'character & grit have yet to come'. Bowen expects they will, but Bobby is currently 'quite a fourth form boy as regards notions of duty & responsibility'. Thinks they 'must be patient & keep him in steady control'; Bobby has 'a good temper, & can bear being kept in order', and the 'social forces' will gradually start to have an effect.

It is 'hard to keep from overrating' Bobby intellectually, and 'one is always tempted to expect too much'. He is 'not a first rate scholar', Bowen doubts whether he is ability is first rate, but is not sure; however, his 'literary ability is so far above the average (together with a good memory) that it impresses [?] upon everyone.' It is 'extraordinary, & a thing not to be cultivated, perhaps,... but to be looked on at'. Wonders whether it would be good to leave off Bobby's Latin verses for half a year, and 'make him learn history or German or something hard'.

Had hoped that Bobby's 'football development' would be good for him, and it was a little, but the good effect 'did not last'.