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5 York Gate. - His brother Gifford seeks transfer to the consulate at Tripoli as his health is affected by the cold and damp of Trebizond; can Houghton influence Lord Granville or Odo Russell; has sent poems ('stillborn about a fortnight ago') to Fryston; thanks for suggestions; yesterday Frith likened Leighton's Hercules & Death to 'a man struggling with his lay-figure.

Thanks her for writing. Sends his love to Mary. Reports that he is living up [in Cambridge] 'in much peace and prosperity now the undergraduates are gone down and [his] hayfever is kept at arm's length by a careful regimen.' Asks her when she intends to go abroad, and hopes that she will enjoy the trip. Contemplates staying in England during the long vacation, and intends to 'go North' in August to see everyone who wants to see him.

Reports that a friend of his [Edwin Charles Clark] got married the previous week, and that he wishes to find out something about his wife - Miss Kitson of Leeds - as they are going to be living in Cambridge. Reports that a book of travels by Lady Duff-Gordon has been published, and a friend of his who has had it to review has recommended it. Refers to another 'interesting book': 'Palgrave's journey across Arabia' [W. G. Palgrave's Personal Narrative of a Year's Journey through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862-1863)], and also to Miss Yonge's last novel. Of the latter, he claims that he got bored with it towards the end. Declares that Miss Oliphant's present story in Blackwood['s Magazine] 'sends [him] into fits'.

Asks his mother to tell Edward [Benson] that he was sorry he could not come to examine, and that the man who is going is a friend of his.

Glad to hear such a good account of her, and hopes that she is not thrown back by the frost. Complains about the frost in Cambridge, but states that he has had no cold. Tells her not to believe any reports that he has had an attack of the gout; reports that he has 'slightly disordered [his] system by metaphysics and neglect of exercise', and was 'obliged to lie up with an inflamed ankle in consequence'. Intends to do his six miles 'devoutly' in future. Does not know 'any book of sound information' to recommend to her. Asks if she has tried 'Palgrave's Arabia'[Personal Narrative of a Year's Journey through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862-1863)]. Asks whether she cares for novels; says that Mrs Oliphant's Agnes is worth reading. Says that it would interest him much sometime to read his old letters [as his mother suggests, see 101/170] but at present would dread it as 'there would be too many "ghosts of buried plans and phantom hopes" assembled there.'

Maintains that Ecce homo [recently published, anonymously, by J. R. Seeley] is a great work, but does not find the author's method satisfactory, 'because he passes so lightly over critical questions'. Finds the second part 'surprisingly powerful and absorbing'. The book has 'made a great sensation here. The author keeps his secret'.