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Thanks her for the books, and tells her that he still has two pots of marmalade. Asks her not to send just yet the 'John Baptist', which he is thinking of having framed. States that if he can find time he shall go down to Rugby 'in the course of the term.' Reports that the Provost of King's [College: Richard Okes] asked him to dine 'to meet the Moul[ ]s. Refers to a conversation he had with 'the Rector', who 'talked about old Cambridge - Macaulay, Praed etc'. Asks her to tell Arthur that 'the book on the bible is Exegetisches Handbuch zum Alten Testament', which is in 'innumerable parts by different authors'. Announces that Cambridge 'is getting lively', and that they are to have a University Gazette 'and become very vocal.'

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Would like to see Robert and Julian in the hay. Their own hay-making was 'deplorable' last year, but the crop has been wonderful this year and was 'practically made in the course of a week'; this makes a difference to the household, as a tea has to be sent out each day to the hay-makers. Strange how children 'like young nations' take verse for their first 'natural channel of literary production'. Is beginning to read Aristophanes in chronological order, with Latin between each play; is currently following up the "Acharnians" with [Cicero's] 'marvellously interesting speech on Sextius'. Judges Cicero to be the best 'orator who reads well': Macaulay reads very well, but 'it is primarily literature'; Gladstone is 'so deficient in matter'; Demosthenes and Bright lack 'the volume of historical and literary, and philosophical matter. Plans to read many of Cicero's best speeches, and Suetonius. Sends a letter from Hilton Young, referring to a 'really beautiful poem of his'; the 'Praed blood' seems to be coming out in him and Geoffrey [a reference to Winthrop Mackworth Praed?] as is 'the old naval blood of the builder and namer of Formosa' [Admiral Sir George Young, of Formosa Place, Cookham, Berkshire]. Has had a letter from Sir George Young about his 'own studies in English prosody, which he is making his old age occupation'; will send it to Robert when he finds it.