Reform Club, S. W. (on embossed notepaper for the Cobden Club). - The Committee have directed him to send Houghton a copy of a letter from Goldwin Smith, for consideration at the next meeting to be held in Feb. 1868. With enclosure: copy of letter, 10 Jul. 1867, from Goldwin Smith to [Thomas Bayley] Potter. Address given as Mortimer House, Reading. Potter asks 'how the Cobden Club can be made most useful'; thinks that 'Political men are the best guides', but will give his thoughts. Seems 'impossible, if it were desirable, now to restrict the Club to the circle of Cobden's personal friends and disciple, or even to the special propagation of his economical & international doctrines', though believes this was the 'original conception'.
Suggests that there might be one principal meeting in the year, at which a paper 'on some economical or international subject' might be read before dinner and afterwards printed by the Club; that dinner should be 'good but plain and short, if possible not much exceeding an hour', and that afterwards the 'leaders' should be given the opportunity of speaking to their 'assembled followers Parliamentary and non-Parliamentary about the political subjects of the day'. There could also be evening parties two or three times each session of Parliament, to which they might 'admit ladies, and invite foreigners'. Cobden Club business might be 'got up' by 'any member you liked'. The party 'needs a social board'; the Committee should select those chosen to give the annual paper; discussion of whether Parliamentarians would be able to make the paper and dinner.