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Trinity College - WW is surprised that he has not heard from RJ: 'I hope someday to have an opportunity of convincing you that I have ten times as much reason to be angry and weary and dissatisfied with my life as you have '. WW gives an account of the progress of Attree [William W. Atree - RJ's nephew] at Trinity. WW is sorry that RJ has 'promised not to come and vote for Lord Palmerston. I shall think the worst of the University if he is turned out upon that eternal no Popery cry which I do not think impossible. I cannot however persuade myself to care very much about the matter and am almost sick of hearing of that or any other subject of politics. Principally I believe because I can find no general principles at all to my liking and therefore cannot have the pleasure of applying them. If I could get rid of my tiresome occupations here and find time for some glimpses into your world of moral speculations I should at least have the pleasure of theorizing'.

Trinity College - WW will be glad to propose RJ's queries to Sir John Malcolm. He wishes RJ would let WW give Lord Palmerston's Committee 'at least one of your works. I do not think it will be a disagreeable business for the university to turn him out upon that senseless obstinacy of feeling against the Catholics; and to turn him out for a man like Copley [John S. Copley - Lord Lyndhurst] whose talents are too much entangled with a character of doubtful honesty to make him a respectable member'.

Library of the H[ouse] of C[ommons]'. - Need not tell his uncle how much he felt on hearing about his illness, and how 'heartily glad' he was to see his handwriting again. This morning was declared to be 'duly elected for Calne' by an Election Committee chaired by Charles Wynne [sic: Charles Williams-Wynn]; the petition of Colonel Cheyney [sic: Edward Cheney, defeated candidate] 'narrowly escaped being voted frivolous & vexatious'.

Brougham's 'elevation [to the House of Lords] - or rather descent, for such it really is - leaves the empire of the H of C to be scrambled for, and I shall certainly take part in the scramble'. Gave 'that impudent Croker a dressing some days ago which the house received very well'. Differs a little from his uncle on Lord Althorp's qualifications for the post of leader: Althorp has 'improved within my own memory as a speaker' and is therefore probably much better than in his uncle's time, and 'A mind more perfectly sound and just - stronger principles and greater clearness in explaining a point - are not to be found in the House of Commons'. Further praise of Althorp. Would 'never have done for us to act under Palmerston, coming in as we do, on the question of reform, to which he is a very recent, and as yet very suspected convert'

Vicarage, Isle-Brewers near Langport in Staffordshire. - When Wolff was imprisoned at Bokhara Lord Aberdeen promised a clerkship in the Foreign Office for his son; asks if Milnes will intercede on his behalf with Aberdeen's successor Lord Palmerston. On his own behalf, seeks subscribers to the third edition of his work; heavy losses on first two editions; current parish expenses.

Baden. - Has applied for Francis Molyneux's vacant post at Frankfurt; it is not a promotion but ideally suited to writer's talents; would Milnes put in a good word with Lord P[almerston]; saw 'the Vicar of the Empire make his public entry' at Frankfurt; 'your friends the G-s [Germans?] are shewing "scant well" in general. I still have great misgivings as to their Unity, but shall be perfectly satisfied if the split does not turn out to be too favorable to their Western neighbours'; liberals are inclined to be illiberal to others.

C[arlton] G[ardens]. - Will nominate Frederic Lloyd as Home Messenger, but does not have the power to appoint him.

20 Inverness Road, Bayswater. - Is a friend of George Mathew; seeks Foreign Office appointment equivalent to abolished post; Palmerston may be too preoccupied to remember his claims; six years' toil in foreign postings; now has a family and is in indifferent health.

Kensington. - Saxe Bannister believes present moment to be perfect for mentioning his name; he refers to a project which will be beneficial to Palmerston; 'how good and troubled a man he is'.

London. - Thanks Milnes for assistance in unsuccessful application; Palmerston might not have favoured Bathurst as his only connections are opposition ones; hopes he may be more kindly disposed in triumph.

Berlin. - Seeks recommendation to Palmerston for a paid attachéship; has served unpaid for six years.

Letters to RIchard Monckton Milnes from: Lord Palmerston, 22 Jan. 1850 and 28 Feb. 1850; Sir Henry Bulwer, 1850.

21 Grande Rue, Boulogne Sur Mer. - Remorse after sending letter last summer; encloses pamphlet [no longer present] on Hayti [sic]; would Milnes draw Palmerston's attention to his own copy? Bathurst's father Robert was the eldest nephew of Henry Bathurst, bishop of Norwich [in fact he seems to have been a younger brother]; he made a fortune in India and bought Bream Lodge, near Lydney Park; died there in 1822 [actually 1821] when Edward Bathurst was four. Describes disposal of estate. Bathurst's uncle Charles ran the Indian business but ruined the family and 'died of a champagne surfeit in 1832' [1831?]. Bathurst himself went to India in 1835 but was unable to recover anything; accuses James Weir Hogg and Elliott Macnaghten of profiting from Indian crash.

Travelled in India; sailed to St Helena and witnessed the exhumation of Napoleon: 'the massy chest unclosed, and behold - such was the skill of the embalmer - the features of the Emperor in all their well-remembered beauty; features over which corruption seemed to have no power'. Returned to England and entered Lincoln's Inn before obtaining Vice-Consulship at Copenhagen through Lord Bathurst; his labours there; accepted posting to Cape Haytien on Sir Henry Wynn's advice but was unable to obtain any details; criticises 'esoteric mysteries of the Foreign Office; problems in Jamaica and Haiti; expense of building and other privations; abolition of post without recompense; creditors include Copeland, who unfairly supplied an expensive crockery service; has snubbed Haytians but otherwise gained approval; has not asked for promotion but for reinstatement; pleads case rhetorically.

Enclosure: 'Copy from a manuscript of the Character of the late Robert Bathurst [Junior?] Esq. originally taken from the Cawnpore Advertiser' [c May 1822], copy dated 23 Dec. 1833.

Is in prison for £50 debt resulting from nine months' living expenses; begs for assistance; has requested a gratuity from the Government, can Milnes obtain Palmerston's favour?

Empty envelopes only.

On the subject of revising the College statutes.

Knottingley. - Encloses letter from Dr. Hood.
Enclosure: letter, 8 Dec. 1853, from William Charles Hood to Bywater. Bethlehem Hospital, London. - Benjamin Heald has been pronounced sane and his case referred to Lord Palmerston.

Whitehall - A copy of a letter from 3rd Viscount Palmerston to Prince Albert (Vice-Chancellor) concerning the Commissioners Report on University reform.

Declining the offer of a peerage.

6 Victoria Terrace, Bridlington. - Likes this place, 'Scarbro' being a little London - There are 1, 000 visitors, mainly from Hull & Sheffield'.

Wonders whether Richard meant what he said in the debate [on length of speeches in Parliament] 'to apply to Palmerston - he, whom Gladstone poetically described as having spoken from the setting, to the rising, of the sun, & to his own endless fame'. The Speaker [of the House of Commons, Charles Shaw-Lefevre] sent [David?] Waddington to Robert at Boodles to be introduced,; he asked Robert's opinion of those speaking. Robert replied that none of the 'leading men' had met his expectations, and that 'it was visible they were not men of the substance we were - half the House, in top boots'. Remembers Pitt 'always in nankins & blue silk stockings'. Found [William Johnson] Fox the 'most remarkable-looking' man today; the Speaker commented that he was 'as remarkable as he looks, & I always like hearing him'. Robert was also taken with Frederick Peel; 'he has a conceited look', but 'spoke admirably'. Has Richard's letter saying that Evelyn Denison is to be Education Minister; Denison asked Marmaduke Wyvill if he could be introduced to Robert, and they talked for some time. 'Duke said he is so dislik'd in the House, Ld P[almerston] could not take him, but that it was agreed he was far before Vernon Smith in ability'.

Discussion of the case of the murderer William Dove; article from the Leeds Mercury originally enclosed which is 'powerfully written, & may decide Sir G. Grey. Still I should be for hanging'. Dove's family were from Pontefract; his father, or perhaps grandfather, was one of Robert's 'steadiest supporters' [in elections]. Would be glad to hear Jane's opinion on the Mercury article, 'knowing your intelligence in that branch of law'. Asks if she is aware that 'the most atrocious monster ever sent to Botany Bay was also from Pontefract': he was a 'particular friend' of Robert's, and often came to Fryston; he was 'one of the smallest men, not 5 feet, & lived in the Horse Fair'. Howe was transported for stealing, and 'betook himself in the Bush near Sydney, & way-laid & murder'd above thirty travellers...' There was a 'history of his adventures in the Edinburgh Review a while ago.

Jane should tell Richard that 'his well-compos'd articles are thrown away in that periodical - It has scarce one literary reader', or at least for every one there are 'fifty illiterate - who never heard of Heine'. Richard should certainly bring a party to Fryston, Louisa will agree 'it is an abuse of our bestowment, if advantage is not taken of Fryston's vicinage to the St. Leger'; Robert may have some guests, but this should not interfere with Annabel.