Written from Rochester.
Rochester. - Bennett has perhaps mentioned that Whiston is a candidate for Breward Grammar School; asks if Milnes can mention him to Mr Monckton of Somerford, one of the electors; obtained Milnes' Poetry for the People from Moxon; Milnes' reluctance to visit. Postscript: rumoured murder of Milnes' colleague; 'unfortunate cannon-ball [jest?].
Rochester. - Thanks for Mr Monckton's letter about the Brewood election; resigned in defeat and would not have expressed annoyance; local favour prevailed over testimonial evidence; believes Mason's testimonials were fifth-rate; thinks more highly of Whewell, having received his gracious reply to congratulations; asks what Milnes thinks of the Morning Chronicle on himself and Disraeli on the Oxford Poetry question; Milnes should attend to personal matters this winter; 'you have not the obstacle of a College Fellowship to prevent it'.
Rochester. - Congratulation on the birth of Milnes' son.
Rochester. - His son [Robert Wilmot Whiston] is reading for the Bar and seeks pupils or work with Records Commission; would have written to Beresford Hope but he is at Biarritz owing to his wife's serious illness; Spedding's sad end; survived his own cab accident through receiving a copious draught of sherry from 'our "Robert" of the Club'; glad Houghton voted for retention of Candahar [sic: Kandahar, Afghanistan]; enjoying horse riding.