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WW has sent word to William Twopeny that HJR will be preaching on Whit Tuesday. WW thinks HJR 'will agree with me that Bankes [William J. Bankes, MP for the University, 1822-26] is not the best qualified of men to represent us, and I would strongly impress upon you if you do think so the majority of coming here to help us in preventing such a catastrophe. Bankes has been circulating a letter in which he maintains that all who do not wish to emancipate the Catholics must support the opposition & vote for him; but I should hope that he will not this time succeed in such a manoeuvre you will have seen perhaps by this time that the opposition are not all to make out so strong a case against the ministry as your friend looked for - or indeed any can at all...If Bankes be returned the triumph will be for the Chancellor's party & the disgrace for the university wh. of course they care nothing for'.

Piccadilly, sent to his brother care of Rev. D. Brown, Aberdeen. - Came to town about a fortnight ago; meant to have returned but his father wanted him to stay, so he will now be here over the [parliamentary] debate on Friday. Was in the House the other evening, when they 'run the Doctor so very near. Some people think he will be outvoted on Friday', but Robert thinks not.

Has been 'very unwell' and out little; is going to drive with [Thomas or William?] Belsham today. A. [Arthur] Heywood is also 'laid up', The 'old set at Cambridge continue much the same, Gascoigne being the oracle of the bridle & saddle men; & Goulburne & Headly & Thornton of the steadies'. Has 'liv'd very little with the Methodists [?] this last term having only been in Dealtry's room twice. Has seen more of Bankes than anyone else; he 'calls here almost every day. He reads in the morning & is a terrible rake at night'. Has been to Newmarket only once and 'saw [Henry?] Mellish in all his glory'; believes he is 'still above water'.

Hopes that his brother is 'seriously devoted to his books', and is not only spending many hours reading, but has also 'taken up some general & systematic plan of classical & historical literature'; recommends him to 'touch very lightly on the Scotch moral philosophy & of their political as far as it is connected with it, as a very little common sense will teach you infinitely more in the way of conduct (wch is all that metaphysicks can pretend to aim at) than all the abstract Philosophy in the world'. Their father is much better.

Brasted - On the Cambridge election: 'Scarlett I have a strong and invincible personal objection - his politics are all in the way of trade'. He 'is a bad tempered aristocrat who finds it convenient to oppose men who at bottom he very much resembles in all their bad points too not perhaps in their few good ones'. WW says Hervey is a dull boy. Grant is a Saint - 'I hope not a Bigot yet as I conscientiously believe that party are making the people immoral and miserable (without meaning it) as far as their influence reaches. I will not add to that influence even indirectly by any act of mine. I am sorry for this for I should have otherwise preferred him'. RJ would have voted for the speaker if he had stood. Then there is Bankes - 'an independent country gentleman and clever and literary they say but then he is as you observe an anticatholic candidate. I am sorry for this for I am not anticatholic and am disgusted at either timidity or bigotry on the subject's being made a merit of, but in the present state and temper of both countries I do not think that question are of such overwhelming importance practically as to overbalance all other things and of the 4 candidates I think him the least objectionable'.

(Declaimed 6 Dec. 1805. The leaves are bound out of order.)