[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Thanks his mother for her letter. His cold is 'nearly quite gone now', though he must still be careful for a while. Is 'so glad Charlie is well again', though he still seems to have a slight cold'. Robert's house was 'beaten by Stoggies [Stogdon's house?] yesterday at torpids 5-1'. does not think anyone cared much about it and they are 'all glad to get it over'. They beat the 'small houses' last week. A boy in his house called Castleman has just become 'school racquet player.'
Is sending his father 'some verses on the moon' which he wrote last week; they are 'not very good'. Mr Kempthorn[e], who teaches him composition, has asked him to do more and 'make the piece more complete', not because he did not do enough, but because Kempthorne knows Robert is interested; his advice is to model the verses on Lucretius.
Thinks he will soon need some more money, but that '1 pound will last till the end of the term'. They have been able to do a 'great deal of skating', and thinks they will be able to do more; has enjoyed himself a great deal, though he 'cannot do anything at all on the ice'.