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States that he has just seen Henry Sidgwick's letter [101/99, re compulsory Greek] issued that morning. Admits regretting having put his name to the statement, referred to as 'number "Two" ', which, he claims he did 'in haste, without verification....' Declares that it is some time since he read [Welldon's] speech. In relation to 'Dr. Jackson's point', referred to as 'number "One" ', asserts that the question is one of interpretation. Emphasises that he speaks only for himself, having consulted no one.

Thanks his father for his letter. Thinks G[eorge] is happy and 'quite at home' [at Wixenford]. Mr Arnold has told Robert to ask Charlie how much he will have to know when he goes to Harrow; wrote to him a few days ago. Likes the Virgil and Euripides' "Iphigenia" very much. Hears that Welldon has been chosen for Harrow [as headmaster]; hopes he is a 'nice man'. He and George are getting on well in their work. Asks his father to thank his mother for her letter and the umbrella. Tomlin 'took Up[p]er Shell'. [Nugent] Hicks is going to Harrow next term. Has written to Grandpapa T[revelyan]. Sends love to all, 'Spider included'.

54 Bateman Street, Cambridge - Offers congratulations for his 'Pausanias', and mentions two that he may not realise are admirers: [J. E. C.] Welldon of Harrow and [W. G.] Rutherford of Westminster.

One copy containing a note of seating plan; second copy containing comic sketch, 'The piercing of Welldon's Veil by Indian WIsdom'.

Scores for: 'Love of Good'; 'Love of Beauty'; 'Pride of Intellect'; 'Lust of Power'; 'Desire for Independence'; 'Kindness'; 'Sensationalism'; 'Sensuality; and 'Love of Work' given for 'O. B.' [Oscar Browning], Dr Johnson, Montagu Butler; Verrall; Welldon; Plato; and 'Ashley B[ickersteth]'. Plato scores highest with a total of 62 out of 90, and Butler lowest with 43. On a separate sheet, the characteristics are drawn in a spiral from 'Love of God' out to 'Love of Work'.

The Grove, Harrow. - Had a pleasant week at Wallington; spent the night with Aunt Annie [Philips] on Tuesday, and saw Miss Martin before he came back. Found Sophie [Wicksteed?] 'much more cheerful and talkative' than expected. Gives results of a battle between his and Robert's toy soldiers. Lady Frederick Cavendish will be at Wallington by now. Few people have left school this term, though of those several are from Grove House. Clive has failed his Sandhurst exam and returned: a 'pleasant surprise'. The 'finds' [room sharing] have been arranged 'very satisfactorily': he, Tregoning and Farquhar are in Tregoning's room - the library -in the morning, and he and Farquhar in his own room for tea. Has to read prayers now. Complains [in capital letters] about the changes initiated because of Welldon's 'terrible funk of the influenza' until the weather improved: no 'first school', only one half holiday a week, and they all have to wear sweaters to go 'down to footer in'; hopes they 'all get the influenza and die of it to pay Welldon out'. Pencil annotation at top of letter, perhaps by Robert Trevelyan, says that 'Spider and Spot' are alright; took Spider back to Mrs Webster; Webster is recovering slowly after a relapse.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad to hear about Elizabeth; will be glad when she can get home; good of Miss Martin to come. Caroline thanks Robert for getting her the watercolour. Sorry there are delays about Robert's book ["Polyphemus and other poems"] but it will soon be out. Agrees that George seems full of 'just and wise ideas'. Caroline comments that since Miss MacCracken brought back and started reading "The Dutch Republic" ["The Rise of the Dutch Republic", by John Lothrop Motley?], 'we have been suppressing two Dutch republics'. Amused by Robert's account of [James?] Welldon and of the Master [of Trinity, Henry Montagu Butler]; encloses a note which Robert can burn which bears out his comments on the Master's 'vivacity'. Has sent something towards a subscription for Mrs Farmer [widow of John Farmer?]. Has almost finished reading Lucan and is now getting on quite easily with the Latin.

The Grove, Harrow on the Hill. - Will not write to his father or mother today; Robert can tell them anything they want from this letter. Has three photographs from Hills & Saunders, and has given one to Tom [Macaulay Booth?] and one to Moss; Moss has 'already made himself popular in the house' with 'several common-sense reforms which Crooker [J. A. Cruikshank?] was too old to see'. Stow [?] says [Arthur] Bentinck gets along but is 'too retiring'; does not know anything about the new backs yet; Gilmore has grown a beard; has seen Hicks in chapel but nowhere else. Discussion of various reforms; thinks Robert will approve of the replacement of the Greek Test[ament] by Old Test[ament] history from the English Bible. Was surprised to get his remove; there were not many; sits with [Gordon William] Stow at the separate desk for two on Welldon's left and 'swot[s] with [Frank?] Elliott', who has Robert's old room; George may have it next term or soon, as Clive, Booth and Elliott are all leaving, probably also Farquhar, though George does not think 'Mo will let them all go'. The house is much changed this term, he himself is one of the large number of people who 'seem to be much more important', and he thinks he will enjoy the year very much. Sandilands is a 'capital head'; he and Arne [?] are going to join the Corps, but Tom is not. Explains in detail how he comes to be sharing a room with [Arthur Langford] Tregoning; Tregoning does what George likes, and 'does not make himself at all objectionable', but George will 'be most heartily sick of him by the end of the term'. El[liot] is leaving for India in the first week of the holiday; he will 'wander about the country with a tutor' and thinks he will do 'a lot of swot there'; George told him he will not do any at all. Tom [Booth?] is going to try to spend a year or two at Trinity before entering business. A Rothschild [Nathaniel Charles] has joined the house this term, but he 'has to conform, and will be allowed to eat the breakfast cold ham... one of the advantages of Xtianity'. Discusses [rugby] 'footer' and various members of the team; the '"sporting element"' is completely suppressed', with Lefroy 'quite a fish out of water'. Young Sandilands also encountered Haddock at the Balmoral a year or so ago.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Robert's report of the Hunt was very interesting: Basil Williams and [Robin?] Mayor 'must have been notable members of the Old Guard". Told [Austin?] Smyth in his reply that he had been Chairman of the [Apostles'] dinner 'exactly half a century ago', when the Vice-Chairman was 'a lively undergraduate... Welldon by name'. Is looking forward 'with an old man's uneasiness' to the journey North [to Wallington]. Remembers a year when the 'Etonian Trinity men' could not go to the 4th of June [holiday] as it was on the 5th, when the 'Trinity May began'.

Trinity College, Cambridge. - Apologises for not replying sooner to Bob's letter; blames the weather, which 'has brought germs of indolence'; has done no work for a fortnight except reading Euripides' "Medea" and "Electra". Stops writing as his 'hands were dripping with heat'; continues on Monday morning when it is cooler. Has been to breakfast with [Jack?] MacT[aggart], who sold him Dal[housie] Young's "Defence of Oscar Wilde"; this 'makes the mistake of imitating Oscar's style' so readers will 'say that the good sense of it is discounted because it is obvious that the writer was under Oscar's influence'. Says he will not talk about the [General] elections; asks if Charley minds; was very sorry [that Charley was not elected], though he did not want Lord Rosebery to be in again just yet, and expects 'the enormous majority will bring the Tories to grief sooner'. Wonders if Bob is still at Wallington; hopes he was not 'awfully tired' by their trip to Shap. He himself had a 'pleasant journey' reading "Lord Ormont [and his Arminta]"; does not think he has ever read anything 'so exclusively spiritual... nothing of what George Moore calls exteriority, & scarcely any action'; could call it 'the revolt from naturalism' except that [George] Meredith has never been in that movement. Enjoyed their time in the Lakes very much; shame 'we & the weather weren't in better form', but they saw some 'beautiful things'. In London, saw Duse in her 'finest part, Magda' [in Sudermann's "Magda"]. They have been "very frivolous" in Cambridge, and '"Gerald Eversley's Friendship" has been a great delight' and has been read aloud; is afraid their 'brother [in the Cambridge Apostles] Welldon has done for himself.' Is reading "Don Quixote", and finding 'delicious things every now & then, but much dulness [sic]; has a 'wretched old translation', whose only recommendations are that Swift was one of the subscribers, and there are 'some funny old pictures which open out like maps'. Is leaving today; will spend tomorrow night with the Russells and start for Germany on Thursday evening; gives his address for the next month in Hildesheim. Gives a limerick beginning 'There was a young man of Madrid...'

The Grove, Harrow. - Statham thinks the [rugby?] balls will 'travel safest unblown'. There has just been a thaw, after some days 'skating on the much vexed pond'. [Edward?] Bowen lost his case last holidays; however, he had consolation recently when 'the son of Belial who has been his chief enemy throughout' entered the Grove to check on the pond, was turned out by Bowen, appealed to a magistrate but was forbidden by him to go there again. [The Grove] will 'only be average at torpids'; 'old Harré [?] 'coming on tremendously'. Welldon caught [Charles?] Crofton, [George] Wilson and some others having a boxing match last Sunday, and was 'most terrible in his righteous wrath'. There is a rumour that Bowen is to stand for as a candidate for Leeds in the next general election, based on a paragraph in the "Harrow Gazette", but it was around 1855 that he intended to do this. Has been 'shewing Bible reps lately' - they have 'relapsed into epistles again' since Robert left - and Welldon makes him write out sixty-three verses every Sunday. [Sydney] Clive has not been 'redeemed from a carreer [sic] of vice' [by failing his Sandhurst examination], instead his 'military ardour' has been heated; he will return to the attack next June and is meanwhile 'busily employed in mobilization'. He goes to Charter's lectures with George and 'appreciates them more than most of the audience'. Studying the constitution from 1689-1760 this term.

Trinity Cambridge [on college notepaper]:- Hears Charlie is going to London next Saturday; he is well at the moment, as he has been all term; he 'gave [them] a jaw on Temperance and Local Option last Friday at [their] private Liberal club', which Robert thought very good. Sir George's speech at Rothbury 'seems to have been very successful': hopes it will 'do the Cheviot herdsman good'. He and Charlie are going to 'take a lesson in bicycling' this afternoon, though 'whether [they] shall stick to it is another thing'.

Thinks Lendrum [W. T. Lendrum, later Vesey?] a 'very good coach indeed': is doing some composition with him, and thinks he is 'at last improving in that'; did some 'very bad composition' in the examination. Robert's bills left over from last year came to only 2 pounds 7 shillings. Welldon was in Cambridge at the beginning of the week; Robert saw him at breakfast at Charlie's; he is 'complaining of the growth of theosophy at Harrow', since there are 'three theosophists among the scholars'. Has had a letter from Georgie, who is 'rather indignant at Welldon's precautions against the influenza' [TRER/14/5]. Has heard some 'very startling news about Sir John S' which he supposes must be true. Is going to get a 'writing table of some sort'. Hopes his mother is well.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thinks Robert and Elizabeth's decision to send Julian to school is very wise, and 'schools, if well selected, are in these days not places of unhappiness'. Asks Robert to let them know what he himself is doing. Wallington is much changed: the 'great pastures to the North all tuned to arable' and the woods going wild. Is reading Aulus Gellius, who deserves his repute; there is no one like him in Latin prose, though Athenaeus is a little like him in Greek.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for writing so promptly [about his military service tribunal?]; good to 'measure the relief in Elizabeth's mind by [their] own feeling'. Asks Robert to tell Elizabeth he has had a touching letter from Madame Claes; good to think that Caroline's 'pains to comfort them in their first dire trouble' were taken for such good people. Is sure Julian will be 'happy and good' at such a school [Dunhurst, prep school for Bedales]. Amusing to read in the "Manchester Guardian' about the 'odd sort of hot water' that Welldon has got himself out to 'in his blundering, good-natured way'. A separate sheet has a postscript with a long quotation in Greek from the comic poet Apollodorus about the pleasure of entering a friend's house unbidden.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. [old notepaper, since the house was sold in 1916]. - Thought about Robert often last night; he is right to prepare his speech [for the Apostles' dinner?] beforehand as it needs to be 'a literary composition, setting the note to the rest'. Forty two years since he himself presided, the year that his "Life" of Macaulay and [Henry] Sidgwick's "Methods of Ethics" came out; Welldon, who was vice-chairman then, has become Dean of Durham [Cathedral], which Sir George thinks will suit him. Welldon must be pleased at the 'general regret' expressed at his leaving Manchester; the "Guardian"'s account of his 'jolly popular ways' was very funny. Glad to hear that Bessie is properly recovered, and to hear from them both about the plans for Julian [to go to school at Dunhurst, prep for Bedales]. Aunt Annie [Philips] is coming for a fortnight tomorrow, having been very ill; hopes she will take more care of herself in future. Calls themselves 'a crazy company', quoting [Oliver] Cromwell before the battle of Dunbar, but they 'are better at Wallington than anywhere else'. Note written on postscript on a separate sheet: has just finished re-reading [Plato's] Euthryphro; wonders why it is not 'more talked of'.

Trinity:- Has 'had a new bill made out, and paid it': would have been better if they had sent it to him 'at the beginning', as he believes 'they were instructed to do'. His tripos is on the 31st, so he has almost a fortnight more, "each day being invaluable... would willingly give £10 a day for more time'. Only has six papers. Walked with Charlie and G[eorge] to Barrington yesterday and had tea there; the 'country is very delightful now', and the flowers better than he 'ever remember[s] seeing them'. Charlie has been well and 'enjoyed his visit immensely'. George and his friends have 'committed themselves to Skye [for a holiday ?]' and Robert does not think they could back out now, though they are having 'some difficulty in getting some volunteers for so distant an enterprise'.

Is glad to have good news of Welcombe; hopes Fairweather has recovered from his fall - he 'must be used to that sort of thing by now'. Went to dinner at the Myers' house last Sunday and met Dolly [Stanley?] who was 'very pleasant and delightful'. Also there was Sir Alfred Lyall, who 'was subjected to a severe catechism on Mango-trees and chupattis'. Saw Welldon at the Provost of King's', as he was 'preaching the annual university sermon'. The subject was 'the Colonial bishops and missionaries, and he very wisely' made the sermon into a 'historical lecture, quoting also large passages from Seeley's Expansion of England' and making 'a dull subject as interesting as it could be made'.

Trinity:- Is glad that his father's 'Committee has not miscarried', and hopes it 'will not be unproductive and without issue'. Has not had time to 'follow political developments closely', but read Asquith's speech 'with great interest and approval'. Harry [Yates] Thompson and Dolly were at Trinity yesterday to stay with the Master. Thompson 'turned up' in Robert's room at 10 a.m. as he 'was dressing for a late Sunday breakfast', and found him 'covered by just that amount of clothing in which Nelson's sailors fought at the Nile and Trafalgar'.

Robert also saw Thompson at [Henry?] Jackson's after hall. There was discussion of the [Apostle's?] dinner, which will be on 20 June: they are 'for obvious reasons, very anxious to get a good attendance this time' and will try to get infrequent participants to come. Asks his father to 'use [his] powers of persuasion' if he meets anyone in the House of Commons or elsewhere 'who might perhaps come without it'. They are 'anxious to know [C. H.] Tawney's address'; asks his father to send it to him if he knows it, or 'tell [James] Parker Smith, the president'. Welldon has been asked, and Robert hopes he will 'turn up'. Asks whether Lord Carlisle every comes. The 'Chancellor [of the Exchequer] is for various reasons we fear impossible'.

Asks whether all is well at home. Chanced to see 'an energetic counter-attack of C[harles] upon [Edward?] Stanley', but has not 'seen the provocation'; supposes Charles will keep it so Robert will be able to see it in London. Is staying inside all today with 'a cold in the head of the kind that makes one very stupid', but is otherwise well. George is speaking tomorrow 'on Disestablishment'; he 'must speak at least once a term, as he is now on the committee'; he is well, and 'thoroughly engrossed in his work'. Robert sends his love to his mother, whom he proposes to call 'Matuschka' in future. Harry Thompson says the Master 'ate something that did not agree with him at the Saturday dinner, and has to keep to his bed all Sunday from indigestion'.

On headed notepaper for Woodstock Road, Oxford. - Has been examining at Harrow with [Henry] Lee Warner, and thought Trevelyan would like to hear about his two sons there. Charlie is 'no scholar, but differentiates himself from all the other bad scholars' by 'a certain sense and a certain way of putting things' which indicate that he 'has his share of the family literary gift'. He makes numerous mistakes, but not the 'dreary canine bosh which distinguishes the duffer'. Sidgwick sat next to him at dinner at Welldon's, which 'confirmed [the] impression that he is one of the nicest young fellows... if not the nicest' he knows.

Bob is 'a genius', but currently 'suffers from two week points': he 'can't get up the pace requisite for a trying exam' like the Scholarship', and knows much less Greek than Latin. His Greek composition is 'at present somewhat embryonic, at least in verse'. However, he did some 'capital translations', and gave 'far the best answer of the kind sent in' to the question of 'whether Vergil was deficient in originality'; his Latin essay was also the best.

Thinks they would give Bob a scholarship at Balliol 'this year or next', but supposes Trevelyan 'mean[s] him for Trinity'. Sends regards to Lady Trevelyan; hopes this letter will 'catch' Trevelyan before he goes to Brussels. Adds a postscript saying that it was 'so queer' for him and Lee Warner 'to be examining out of 18 boys, two Trevelyans and a Storr [Frank or Charles Lancelot?]- nephew of F[rancis?] S.'

The Grove, Harrow: - The enclosed [school reports? no longer present] will show that Georgie has 'done well so far', but that Bobby 'has fairly broken down again'. He 'made good resolutions, & tried fitfully to carry them out, but never thoroughly'. Hallam has described Bobby as 'at best very variable'; he has been 'rather more regular' with Bowen, mostly because Bowen 'made him almost by main force...' In Welldon's Tuesday lesson, Bobby has 'twice badly [construed?]'.

Finally Owen, who is taking Hallam's lessons while Hallam is ill, discovered two days ago that Bobby 'did not know a word of the lesson, & had made no notes of the last one, & was writing a letter; Owen therefore 'sent him up' [to the Headmaster], and Welldon sent him down to the bottom of his form. This will not affect Bobby's progress, as he would not have 'got his remove this time', but it 'is meant to be a slur and a threat together'.

Bobby is 'not the least of a man yet', having no 'real conscience or desire of self control'. Bobby 'isn't bad in a great many ways', partly because of 'house affection', but 'character & grit have yet to come'. Bowen expects they will, but Bobby is currently 'quite a fourth form boy as regards notions of duty & responsibility'. Thinks they 'must be patient & keep him in steady control'; Bobby has 'a good temper, & can bear being kept in order', and the 'social forces' will gradually start to have an effect.

It is 'hard to keep from overrating' Bobby intellectually, and 'one is always tempted to expect too much'. He is 'not a first rate scholar', Bowen doubts whether he is ability is first rate, but is not sure; however, his 'literary ability is so far above the average (together with a good memory) that it impresses [?] upon everyone.' It is 'extraordinary, & a thing not to be cultivated, perhaps,... but to be looked on at'. Wonders whether it would be good to leave off Bobby's Latin verses for half a year, and 'make him learn history or German or something hard'.

Had hoped that Bobby's 'football development' would be good for him, and it was a little, but the good effect 'did not last'.

On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club, with 'The Grove, Harrow' added in Robert Trevelyan's hand:- Charlie visited on Saturday, and they 'had a very pleasant day'; he saw 'the school do very well [in a cricket match], and Nigel [Bertrand Nigel Bosworth Smith?] nearly making a 100 runs' and get 'into the XI'. The 'Boz family was in as great a state of excitement' as when Robert's father visited. Charlie's hat was 'broken by a cricket ball'.

The school Greek play will be 'fairly good', but he does not think the English one [Poole's Paul Pry] will. Thinks the Don Quixote will suit him 'very well', as 'all [he wants] is to read it, and some of the pictures are amusing'; must not read it now and waste his time. Asks her to tell his father that he has 'met the Old Harrovian with the Majenta [sic] scarf whom he met at York station': Cook, 'an old Welldonite' [Thomas Percy Cooke?], whom Robert believes was 'rather a friend of Charlie's'. Met him yesterday at supper with Welldon, after 'reading for [his] last time' in Chapel.

Hears his father is coming on Thursday; asks if he is also coming on Speechday. 'Ted[d]y Butler is a beak here for a short time while Owen is ill'. Moss also 'is ill of influenza'; Robert is 'very sorry for him'.

On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club, with 'The Grove, Harrow' added in Robert Trevelyan's hand:- Thanks his mother for her letter and 'advice about the paper-knife [belonging to the Harrow Philathletic Club, see 45/217]; will send her the old broken one so that she can see what the replacement should be like; there is a crest on it which he expects could be copied. Thinks the old one could still be 'made into a useful sort of knife', though of course he must still replace it.

The weather has been very fine today, though there has been a wind. He and Georgie are well; Georgie plays [cricket] regularly in his second eleven, and Robert 'can always get a game' when he wants. '[The by-election result in] North Bucks was very good'; wonders if they [the Liberal Party] will also do well at 'this other election [Paisley, or West Derbyshire, both in early June 1891]' though he supposes they 'cannot win it'.

Hopes Charlie's 'club dinner' will go well; asks if he will make a speech at it. The school has 'had a whole holiday stopped for disturbances at bell'; Welldon may have 'had no other course left open'. but Robert tends to think that it was 'due to the folly and weakness of an incompetent master'. No other news. Sends love to his father in a postscript.

On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club, with 'The Grove, Harrow' added in Robert Trevelyan's hand:- Thanks his mother for her letter. Good that she did 'not come down' yesterday, as it 'rained a good deal'; today it is 'quite fine'. There have been two cases of German measles in his house, which has meant he has been able to 'find [? share] with Clive and not with Pope' for a while, since 'one of the invalids used to find with Clive'. Is glad of this, and 'hope[s] the boy may be ill for a long time'.

Georgie is well, and playing fives; Robert is glad of this, as it 'is a very good game'. Thanks his mother for the food: the 'sausages were a great success, and are as good cold as hot'. Asks her to thanks Booa (Mary Prestwich) for the parkin. Luckock is coming for tea this evening; he is in Welldon's house, but Robert knows nothing more about him.

Asks her to give leave for him to see Woodhouse [his dentist] for another hour next Thursday; had forgotten to tell her. Also asks for leave for 'a pair of cricket gloves and one canvass shirt'. The Gregory [prize text] is 'not out yet'; wishes it was. Hopes his father 'will not be tired on Wednesday', and that they [the Liberal Party?] 'do well at Leicester at all events'.

On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club, with 'The Grove' added in Robert Trevelyan's hand:- Thanks his mother for her letter; was 'very sorry to hear about Sophie [Wicksteed?]. The news 'really sounds rather bad'. Hopes Charlie has 'recovered from his Classical accident'; wonders what he hit his head on.

Read in Chapel yesterday and went to supper with Welldon afterwards; met [C. S.?] Roundell there, who 'is awfully dull'. They had a 'good match on Saturday', and will play again next Saturday; got on better in the last, though had his 'nose hit hard by the ball'. Georgie came out fourth yesterday, which was not as high as Robert expected. Seems that things are going 'well enough' in politics: the 'division on the electoral question seems to have been a good one'.

Is well; G[eorgie] has had a 'slight cold' but seems better now; [F.C.?] Searle is 'in a great state of excitement at the recovery of his voice'.

[on mourning notepaper]:- Is very sorry to be late writing to her: has been 'in great difficulties for want of time lately', and has even had to ask to be 'let off some work'. There are rehearsals for acting, both in Greek and English, every day, as well as 'a great deal of extra mathematics for the certificate'; Mr Moss has also been 'doubling his demands' on Robert 'just at this most difficult time'. Robert could not do everything, so had to 'forgo the [Greek?] prose' and finally ask Mr Welldon to let him off some work; Welldon promised to do so, but has not yet. Was 'very sorry to complain, but there is a point beyond which one cannot go'; no other monitor who acts also has extra work for Moss, and still say they 'cannot find time for the acting'.

Has not had time for the last month to go to 'ducker' [the outdoor swimming pool], or practice at cricket, though that 'does not matter much'. His house were 'beaten by Bozzie's' [Bosworth Smith's?] in a close, exciting match. Very good that Georgie 'got the Prose' [the Latin Prose prize?]; Robert 'thought he probably would'. Georgie wants to know if he should get 'a whole edition of Macaulay', or if not 'they have a Ferdinand and Isabella [by W. H. Prescott?]'.

Has written to Sophie [Wicksteed]; Aunt Annie [Philips] says she is better now; asks if they will come to Wallington. Thinks he will need another tailcoat for speech day, as his 'best is rather shabby', but will do as his mother thinks best. Thanks her for the 'white waistcoats and the eatables'; and asks her to thank Booa [Mary Prestwich] for the pasties. Read in Chapel the Sunday before last; still finds it 'a severe ordeal to go through'.

Hears Charlie 'has done very well in Mays', though is not sure what that is. The school is 'doing better at cricket now'. Has not had time recently to continue his reading of Arrian, 'or indeed to read anything extra', but will go on with it when he can. Is sorry he had to drop the prose, but 'it was absolutely impossible to do it, still less to do it well'. Is 'glad the Tories are catching it'; sees they 'had a majority of only 29 last night'. G[eorgie] is 'quite well'.

Trinity:- Will go to Wallington on the 11th [Aug] and be there ready for the 12th [grouse shooting?]; supposes George will go up on Tuesday. Hopes they had a 'successful dinner' last Friday, and that 'Gladstone enjoyed himself, and was in good conversational form for G[eorge] to hear'. George's visit to Cambridge was 'very pleasant'; Robert thinks he will 'take on his predecessor's furniture', which is 'reasonably good'. Asks his mother to thank Booa [Mary Prestwich] for the parkin if she is still in London.

Welldon was in Cambridge yesterday to preach the University sermon: he 'did his very best, and certainly it was a remarkable performance', in which he said 'the lord had kept the good wine of Christianity until now, and that we had only had the bad wine hitherto'. Also implied that 'if he was allowed to run the old business, he would run it on new and original lines, in such a way as would astonish the world', and 'deplored the fact' that 'just when Christianity was ready for a new development', it was usually 'in bad odour with a large part of the world'.

Hopes his father is 'keeping well and strong'; supposes the work is ;just as hard, though the excitement is not as great'.

[On headed notepaper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.:]- Thanks his mother for her letter. It is 'very kind' of Booa [Mary Prestwich] to allow them to have Robert's room; he will write to her to thank her. The army [of toy soldiers?] 'was increased so much and is now so beautiful that Charlie has now been entirely won back to his old interest.

Expects she has heard that Robert did not win either of the prizes; does not much mind, at least about his Greek epigram as 'it was not on the subject and could not possibly have got it'. Welldon spoke to him about his hexameters, and said that if he had finished them and done more he would have won, as 'they were the best'; does not mind, as if Welldon says they were good that is better than winning. Has been working hard at other things and the Greek plays. Hopes Charlie will get the essay prize, though they 'are a long time in getting it out'.

Robert, Sanderson and Mitchell have 'just discovered du Maurier and... some other naughty little boy using a catapult, and have had to administer justice and also to take the catapult'; says they are 'very good house policemen'. Apologises for needing to ask for more money: it is 'against [his] principles to do so', but since his mother saw them he has paid a pound for 'school subscriptions', and another for a [cricket] bat which he bought here; one more pound will be enough. Adds a postscript saying that it rained so hard today that a match had to be put off; thinks Pope will get in but Oppenheim's chances of being picked are 'nearly all gone'; wishes 'it was the other way'.

On headed notepaper for The Grove, Harrow:- Has received the hamper from his grandfather and replied to him; apologises for being late in answering her letter. Still does not think he is 'doing well in the examinations, but it cannot be helped'; will not mind much if he comes out low. Welldon wants Robert to 'go in for a scholarship at Trinity at the end of this year', so he will 'read with an end to that'.

Will be very glad to go home, as now the examinations are nearly over there is nothing interesting going on. Saw [Henry] Irving and Ellen Terry 'driving through Harrow last Sunday', he thinks to see Welldon, 'but they did not stay long. Hopes to 'see them again soon' [at Macbeth].

Is entering his house's competition for the hundred yards, which he would 'like to get very much', but nothing else. Charlie is well. His house were gymnastics champions, and Robert's not far behind in second. After that there was the competition for boxing champion, 'a very good fight, full of black eyes and bloody noses, in which the smaller beat the bigger'.

Hopes his father is well. Is 'very sorry about Bright' [John Bright died on 27 Mar 1889]; 'would like to have seen him once', but does not remember ever having done so.