Showing 9 results

Thanks his mother for her letter. His leg is now all right, or 'at least playing football does not make it worse', so he should not feel it for more than a few days. Would like to go and see the Messiah on Tuesday very much, though Charlie does not seem interested 'unless it is the Handel festival' which Robert supposes it is not. Would not be worthwhile sending 'the pictures' as there is so little time.

Has found a boy who has a pair of dumb-bells he never uses, which suit Robert very well. Will bring back the Dante and the other Italian books. Would much like to see Mr Belfield again; might write to him if he had his address, but it 'does not much matter'. Does not mind about his father not coming to their house supper, as he can come another year, and 'it would be very nice for Charlie [if their father goes to his?]. Is sorry Charlie lost the house match, but 'they were quite as good as Welldon's [house]'. Trials began this week, and Robert is 'beginning to swot'. The holidays are now very close.

[On headed notepaper for 8, Grosvenor Crescent]:- Thanks his father for his letter, and the 'imitation of [Sir George's] Horace at Athens' which is 'amusing in its way'. Asks if [the writer's] university is 'one of those who have but ought not to have votes', and thinks he 'must be a liberal from the way he speaks of [Richard?] Pigott'.

Princess Louise is visiting this afternoon, and 'there is therefore much unnecessary fuss': changing 'the time of bill', for which boys are to wear 'tail coats instead of blue coats', and 'even... no cricket'. Says the school is 'evidently becoming like Eton'.

Has a lot of work in the scholarship class, but 'not too much'. Finished the hexameters and sent them last Saturday, though he 'was not satisfied with them' and does not think he will get the scholarship. Is currently studying 'four different Greek plays at once', for various masters; thinks 'there ought to be some result'. Almost wishes he were at Eastbourne, as he was this time last year.

Asks if his father is going to have an 'evening party for liberals soon'. Mr Belfield says he has obtained 'an appointment at the Strait settlements, and is going out directly'; Robert hopes he will like it 'and not find it too hot' - he 'always said he wished to go to the colonies'. Belfield has asked about some books he thinks he left at Wallington, and Robert is writing to his mother to ask Bathgate about them. Asks his father to tell her that he got her parcel.

On headed notepaper for A. G. Watson's [house], Harrow:- Is playing cricket 'with enough success to please [himself] this term, though that is not much'. Little news; all has been quiet since Princess Louise's visit, when 'there was a great deal too much fuss made', though at least they got a holiday. All is well, and 'the new boys seem reasonable people'. [Lawrie?] Oppenheim and another boy have a chance of getting into the [cricket] eleven, though Robert does not think they will. Is not going down to ducker [the outdoor swimming pool] yet.

Hears Mr Belfield is going to the Straits Settlement. Hopes that she and his father are well. Is reading a book for Mr Bowen called Lewis' History of Philosophy: Bowen says he was 'very fond of it when he was a boy', which Robert quite understands. It is 'raining and cool' here today, which makes a good chance after recent heat.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- The 'ladies did not come yesterday', as they did not think the weather would be fine enough, so they are coming next Saturday. Mr Belfield went to Newcastle yesterday: 'if he thought he would escape this invasion, he will be disappointed'. Is 'very sorry to hear about Charlie': is 'very disappointing for him to come just at that time'. Hopes he will 'escape the mumps'. Suggests Charlie could come here 'to the convalescent home'.

Went to Capheaton lake last Friday, and Rothley before that. Booa and Spider are both well. Has just received the prolusiones [book of Cambridge prize poems], but what he was most interested in - Hubert's hexam[eter]s - were not there. Asks if Charlie will 'have his prize sent to him', or whether someone from his house collected it, as sometimes happens. Hopes his grandfather [Robert Needham Philips] is well.

Is getting on well with his work. Willoboy [Henry William Trevelyan? see 45/247] is here now; Robert is going to tea with him next Tuesday.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Mr Belfield arrived last Saturday, and Robert met him at the station. Likes him 'very much so far in every way': finds him 'very interesting' and they get on well. Thinks he teaches 'very well', as far as he can say from the little experience he has had of that so far: they have done some Thucydides, and began Tacitus today.

Yesterday they fished, but caught nothing so will wait until they have had more rain. 'Very windy' last Sunday, but they still went to church in the morning. Hopes his father is keeping well, and 'the good cause is prospering'. Sees that K[ing] Harman is dead, and wonders 'who will be appointed in his stead' [as parliamentary Under-Secretary for Ireland]. There 'is no fear of the Manchester murderer [John Jackson] now', as Robert sees he has been caught.

Thornton [gamekeeper at Wallington] caught a 'large pike yesterday at Capheaton lake'; he had gone there to 'see about a dog'. Thanks his father for his letter and '[Mountstuart?] Grant Duff's about the flower'. Thompson and Keith [John and Edward, gardeners at Wallington?] 'came in to see the books and found out several things they had not known'. Sends his love to his mother, and asks his father to thank her for the books and say that Robert will write to her tomorrow.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Thanks her for her letter and books, two of which he got this morning: has read 'some of the big one' and finds it 'more interesting than he ever expected'; the 'translation itself is not up to scratch' but the story is very good. Today it is raining heavily, but he wants to 'get a walk at all costs'. Went to Harwood yesterday afternoon.

Is getting on very well with his work, 'and also with [his] Sepoys'. They are now busy putting in the flowers in the beds at the front of the house. Keith and Thompson [gardeners?] came in yesterday to 'look at the books, and find out about several doubtful flowers'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] was 'very interested in them'. Is glad to hear that 'Keith's brother has passed', and that his mother likes Mr Belfield. Is sorry that Charlie has 'not got the poem [prize], but it was something to come second'. Booa is very busy, and 'working all day at the butter and baking etc'. Taylor 'does very well for a beginner in his profession', though he makes mistakes sometimes. Hopes his father is well.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Arrived 'yesterday week and found Bob at the station'. They have been 'getting on well together', and Bob is happy as far as Belfield can tell. He is doing four hours work a day, 'has settled down to it all right & works quite steadily'. After a trial of a week of the hours Lady Trevelyan suggested, they have now made a slight alteration, since if Bob 'worked an hour after lunch & was to be in by 5 o'c[lock] for tea' it cut the time for getting out in the afternoon 'so very short'. Now, Bob does two and a half hours in the morning, 'with intervals for dumbells &c', half an hour after lunch, and an hour after dinner. One of the four hours is 'history reading'.

They have been out to walk or fish 'every day except yesterday' when Bob played in a cricket match. Wallington is 'certainly a beautiful place', and they have not had 'a very great deal of rain'; it was rather cold at first, but is 'now warm and jolly [?]', and he hopes this will last.

On embossed headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Thanks her for her letters and 'the Indian books'; found 'the epic... so interesting that [he] finished it directly', but the other one was 'more modern' and he does not care much for it. Hopes the London Library has another as good as the epic. Is 'getting on very well with Mr Belfield' and very much likes him; Belfield hurt his knee last Thursday but is better now, despite his fears that this might bring on once more 'a bad leg which he has had several times'. Robert played in a [cricket] match here yesterday; which was drawn in the home side's favour.

Is very glad Charlie has got the 'second prize', and he will be 'very pleased'; he also seems to be 'doing very well in cricket'. Has 'sent up [Kingsley's] Alton Lock[e]'. Hopes they [the Liberals] will win the Ayr election [by-election on the death of Liberal Unionist Richard F. F. Campbell], though supposes it 'is very doubtful'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] has been 'very busy this week', but Robert thinks she is well. Asks if Mr Brown has 'resigned quietly', as he has 'heard nothing here'. They [he and Mr Belfield?] have been fishing 'several times and caught next to nothing'

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Is 'still getting on very well in every way'. They [he and Mr Belfield?] are going to tea with Mr Gow this evening, and dinner with Mr Sidley next Wednesday. Has 'arranged with Howey [gamekeeper?] about his dog, which he was trying to sell', and which Robert thinks 'will just suit [them]'. Spider was unwell a few days ago, but is all right now, though 'he is very dirty, and is thought a great nuisance'. Robert caught a fish a few days ago, but only one.

They went to Fallowlees lake last Friday; most of the gulls were there, but not as many as last time. Mr B[elfield]'s foot is all right now. They finished the Greek play yesterday, and are beginning Antigone. Liked the last part better than the first. Hopes his father is well. Is glad Georgie 'likes Mr [E. P.?] Arnold so well, and that he wishes to stay for the holidays'; is 'sure that for many reasons it would be best'. Wrote to Charlie last week, who 'seems to be getting on very well'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] is quite well.