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Harrogate. - Agreeable day with the Stephensons at Serlby: the elder [George] talked not of railways but of Biblical creation, he showed little admiration for Sir Robert Peel and had never heard him express any opinion. Robert Stephenson's opinion of Bawtry railway scheme; his foreign projects; opinion of his former pupil Locke; the York-London line. Threat to the Badsworth Hunt; railway dinner at Serlby; crops; Harrogate business depressed by foreign railways; Mrs Thackray's property.

Harrogate. - Progress hither after parting; an execrable Apollo and Diana on a château entrance near Wetherby; no animals or people to be seen, despite heavy cultivation; contrast with late working hours on the continent. Harrogate a poor place for social gatherings; their guests. Milnes summoned by [George] Hudson to a railway meeting with Mr Stephenson at Bawtry next week. Richard has filled Fryston with visitors for the Philosophical meeting at York. Possible European excursions. Dowager Lady Galway and Horace have been burgled at Coulson's. Comical sight of young men lounging in a vehicle with eight donkeys and scarlet postilions.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad Robert was not 'over burdened' to receive his own books [see 12/250]. Amusing about Julian's 'hero-worship of [George] Stephenson'; agrees that he was a 'hero'. Glad Julian learns what he is interested in by heart, and well; thinks quality more important than quantity; he himself 'ruined' what he supposes was a good memory by having to learn too much, and has tried to improve himself recently by learning a few select pieces. Turned seventy eight years old today, and has finished reading Thucydides, having begun reading it on 28 January; agrees with [Henry] Jackson that the 'account of the scoundrelly plot of Pisander, and the Whig counter Revolution of Theramenes, is equal to most things in history'; does not see how anyone can doubt it is by Thucydides.