[Sent from Lucerne]:- Expresses his appreciation at receiving her letter. Is sorry to hear that she has still all her troubles [with moving house?] before her. Announces that he shall not be going home until the end of September due to health reasons. Does not want to shorten his German visit, as he shall be in the company of some old schoolfriends from Rugby. He, Graham Dakyns, Green and Rutson set off the following day on their tour. They intend to spend twelve days in the Bernese Oberland, and then Henry goes off to Dresden. Reports that he and Dakyns enjoyed their stay in Paris, despite the fact that Bury Dakyns, who joined them there to improve his French, 'was the most awful bore.' Reports that he fell ill and had to stay some days at Lucerne, and that Dakyns is pretty well. Remarks on the heat on the continent, which is more dead and stifling than than in England. Relates that they met the [William?] Boyds in Paris. Tells her mother to write to him during the next week. Sends his love to his aunt and cousins.
[Sent from Dresden]:- Comments on the length of time it has been since he had a letter from her. Reports that the Swiss tour made him very ill, but that he has now recovered. Recounts that since he came to Dresden he has made a start in Arabic, read and spoken German, gone to concerts and the theatre, and spent time with his three friends [Dakyns, Green, and Rutson]. Refers also to his visits to the gallery. Had originally intended to leave Dresden on the 25th [September] and be in Rugby about the 29th [September] but has decided that he may stay a week longer and be in Rugby about 5 October. This, he calculates, will give him a fortnight at home. Has decided that he shall not go abroad again for a year or so. Announces that he has got his plan of reading 'tolerably settled', and it will absorb all his vacations. Hopes that his mother has got 'tolerably comfortable by this time', and refers Minnie's report of their mother's account of the house Remarks that Dresden is so colonised by English that 'one hardly feels in a foreign country'. States that the little church is well filled, and that the previous Sunday Dr Hook preached the worst sermon Henry has had the pleasure of hearing for a long time. Announces that he is going to join Edward and Minnie at the gallery.
Announces that he shall be home by Thursday of the following week, or Friday at the latest, and will spend two weeks with her. Refers to his study of Arabic. Hopes that he will receive the letter from Lucerne before he goes. Asks her to forward the enclosure [not included] to Cambridge. Hopes to find Arthur at home, and regrets that he is gone to Wellington. Intends not to go up to Cambridge until the last moment. Declares that he has been very happy in Dresden, and that his friends [Dakyns, Green, and Rutson], who have been with him the whole summer, are all going off now. Hopes that Graham Dakyns will like his work. Expresses his satisfaction with the boarding-house in which he is staying, and states that the only 'bitter drop in the cup is an Englishman to whom [he has] an unreasonable but unconquerable antipathy'. Comments on the news from America, and the 'an interesting crisis going on in Prussia'. Declares that it is 'great fun reading the Arabian Nights in the original even though it be only at the rate of 5 lines an hour'.
San Francisco. - Has only just heard of the death of Lady Houghton; offers his sympathy. Is delaying his return to England a short while to spend some time in the mountains of Colorado.
Am Hof, Davos Platz, Switzerland.