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The University election is a worry but after full consideration RJ will vote for Charles Shaw-Lefevre and Henry Goulburn. The latter should receive Lefevre's second votes. RJ thinks the 'Peelites will never form an administration of their own and will only come in as pendants to the Whigs who by force of circumstances have become the substantially conservative party'. Neither does he 'expect ever to see Goulburn in again at all. We have to choose apparently between him and Law [Charles Ewan Law] - now I should see with [Lord?] Stanley[,] Lord George[,] and Ben Disraeli strong enough to govern the country for a year and against Law who I consider one of them I should be ready to help a much worse man than Goulburn - there is much I admit to like in Stanley's character' but he has no 'practical talent for governing'. Everything at the moment 'points towards a Whig administration'. Did WW read an article on 'the primitive political economy of England in the last Edinburgh - I wrote it for Empson [William Empson - editor of the Edinburgh Review] who was begging for want of matter'.

Volume of letters arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with usually no more than one letter per person, each correspondent identified at the top of the page on which the letter is mounted, in the form of an autograph book.

WW's 'doings at Cambridge seem to have gone off well in spite of your rebellion against the 4th estate'. Did WW have anything to do with putting Charles Ewan Law in? RJ has 'nothing to say for Peel's conduct and less for that of those who first testified against it and then without any real change of circumstances adopted it ' and subsequently retained office. They are 'just now to help the Whigs the only practically conservative body and on public grounds I really feel it a duty to give said Whigs all the aid I can to press their ground and so as against Law and Fielding I vote unhesitatingly for Goulburn. Johnny has been throwing too much of his equipment overboard in clearing for electioneering action and has raised a strong feeling about his want of rigor - so much for overdone craft - he is in part as resolute as ever'. There are signs that 'a section of his party falling from him almost all are grumbling and a favourite speculation is that the government will fall to pieces - that Peel will yield to necessity and come in calling the more liberal and some of the venal Whigs round him and exclude the Whig aristocracy. This I think I told you the Duke said would happen as soon as Peel went out - and his liberal friends, that are to be, are quite impatient for the event - I doubt his getting a majority by any such move - but if he lives he is the very man to try it. His clique say he has not the least intention of handing them over to the Whigs and staying out himself which is what I expected and hoped would happen and they wait in patient confidence in their administrative merits and his - good people'. As usual RJ has two bills before Parliament which he thinks are now safe.

Letter dated 23 Mar. 1846 written from Downing Street, letter dated 19 Aug. 1845 written from Betchworth, Surrey, letter dated 15 June 1847 written from London.

Written from London.

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.

Edinburgh - Thanks WW for his letter: 'I feel the position in which you are placed and perhaps you had over rated what I could reasonably have expected or asked you to do' [re: a Royal pension?]. JDF hopes that by the time the cabinet ministers have his application they will be familiar with his name: - 'be predisposed to consider it favourably by knowing that persons in whose judgment they are likely to confide in questions touching scientific merit, entertain a favourable opinion of the qualifications of any person who is proposed to receive a public mark of distinction'. If WW gets a chance of saying so much to Henry Goulburn - referring to JDF's application made via Lord Aberdeen - 'it is as much as I can expect'.

Written from Montagu Square. Concerns the candidatures of Prince Albert and the Earl of Powis for the office of Chancellor of the university.

Written from Downing Street.