Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Very good to hear that Julian is 'so much at home in his school'; watching [his grandsons] George and Humphry and remembering his time at school in Hertfordshire makes him see 'a well ordered school is for good inn a way that nothing else supplies'. They expect George and family next week. Very interested in Robert's account of the 'Munitions fire'. The young men from the front must be shown 'very real consideration', such as that in the matter of leave shown towards the two Henderson [possibly Herdsman ?] brothers, one of whom used to work in the Wallington gardens but has now emigrated to Canada, who are serving on different sectors of the front. Is reading in the fourth book of Livy about the first military pay for the Romans. Thanks Robert for his translation from Lucretius, a 'noble looking "brochure"'; expects he has chosen the 'right verse' form. Must read the original again.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Perhaps the strongest proof of the strangeness of the times is the 'oversetting of very familiar British institutions': it should be the first day of the black game shooting season, yet they have been eating both grouse and black game for a fortnight, 'at a lunch which begins at 12.30!'. Very interested by Robert's list of Macaulay's 'naturalisations of words', which show 'the sure touch of a man who knows what was wanted' and supports Bryce's claim that in two thousand years people would debate whether Macaulay had more influence on English prose, or Cicero on Latin. Asks if Robert has found out about the country members' payment for the National Liberal Club; would pay the town subscription for him if it is more convenient, but time times call for 'any practicable economy'. Looks forward to seeing Robert's treatment of Lucretius; is reading 'the first decade of Livy', strangely for the first time, and quite sympathises with '[Barthold] Niebuhr's manly and uncompromising love of it'.
Asks her to thank his father for his letter, and tell him that Robert is studying 'the siege of Saguntium, just before Hannibal declared war with Rome' as Alcorus tells the Saguntines they should submit [see Livy]. Will tell Mr Arnold that he [Robert] 'may have the jersey' [see 45/26]. Mr Bent the clergyman is leaving; he showed the boys a 'magic lantern about Sweden and several English cathedrals'. Sends love to all; has written to Charlie.
Sketches in cartoon strip form on third and fourth pages, each with numbers corresponding to a list on fourth page: '1. The Shot; 2. The fall; 3. The flight; 4. The arrest; 5. The transportation to gaol; 6. Kilmanum [ie Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, where those convicted of the Phoenix Park Murders were imprisoned and executed]; 7. The execution.
Has 'begun Livy, about the Han[n]ibalian war', and finds it 'very amusing'. Thinks he is 'in the eleven'; they are 'going to play the Camerons'. The new master, Mr Midleton, 'knows a lot about phonology [phrenology?] and has told [Robert his] character'; likes him very much. Law has not yet come.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Robert is wise to start Julian on the Bible stories: they are 'absolutely unequalled as narratives for the young, and the million'. Is just finishing 'the 4th Decade of Livy. What a narrator!'. He and Caroline are reading "Middlemarch" aloud; he admires it more and objects to the faults less than ever before. They are getting along quite well, and really like the regiment stationed at Stratford; they expect George and Janet on Saturday. Is 'deeply thankful' to have George back safe [from Serbia].
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Fears that Robert and Bessy must have the 'awfully depressing weather' filling the London newspapers; theirs is a little better. A battalion of regular infantry have been quartered in town; they are 'fresh from India' and are acclimatising. They are using [Welcombe] park to drill, so they see a good deal of the officers; the army has 'greatly changed' from that of his youth, as the men are 'most respectable and good fellows', the officers 'hardworking and homely' with no 'side or pretension', while the wives who 'show the tone unconsciously are very nice, quiet, cheerful and contented women'. Has sent for copies of the next volumes of Livy, whom he praises highly. Caroline is finishing [Virgil's] fourth "Georgic": 'What an exquisite piece of poetry that is!'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sends wishes for 'a very much quieter, and not unhappy, year', though they can hardly hope for it; whatever comes they will 'all bear together'. Glad to hear the children [Julian and the Abercrombies' boys?] are doing well; if Julian is reading a few words now he will soon get on; remembers reading everything he could find in Walter Scott and elsewhere 'about eating and fighting'; 'has had [his] fill of both since'. Must try to read [Dickens's] "Our Mutual Friend". Has reached Livy's account of Scipio in Africa, so is very near the end; comments on the 'grand general picture' given, as well as the 'glimmerings of "research"' in the history.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Robert's poem certainly 'comes home': there is quite an alternation between 'detestable, and... depressing' weather and 'exhilarating days between'. Is going shooting for the last time this year, possibly his 'last in life'. Sorry Robert has had 'so much illness about'. Asks to be remembered to Mr and Mrs [Lascelles] Abercrombie. George's 'errand' [to Serbia] will bring anxiety to those at home, but the family 'never grudged going on service'. Has read the twenty-seventh book of Livy; discusses the article by [William?] Smith on Livy in the 'great three volume edition' of his biographies.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Not quite well enough to answer Robert's letter properly; envies him his first read of [Aristophanes's] "Lysistrata": 'whatever may be said about it, the plot has a meaning in it'. Is reading about the siege of Syracuse by Marcellus [in Livy]; taken as part of the Second Punic War, it has 'the same sort of interest as Admiral Studdy's victory [sic: Admiral Doveton Sturdee had just defeated a German squadron at the Falkland Islands]' or the capture of the Chesapeake by the Shannon; 'these events depend on their surroundings'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie and Julian are both well; Julian was 'a delightful inmate' and his 'little recitations' very clever; thinks this is a very important part of learning, like the Greek 'μουσική'. Interested by what Robert learns by heart; he himself 'is cultivating a memory which is a generation older' and has learned [two odes of Horace] by heart; he is also reading Livy, which he praises highly. Hears there are a hundred thousand troops in the Tyne, Wear and Blyth District: 'a grim way of spending Christmas, but it is better than being as Belgium'.
Passages from Livy and Petronius, with their translation into English.