Item 7 - Letter from W. K. Clifford to William and Mary F. Clifford

Cambridge.—Comments on the parliamentary news from Exeter. Has met a Swiss student who is a fine gymnast. There are six vacancies for fellowships. Pollock is not back yet and Crotch is going away, so he will have little to do. Will try to get a quieter room. Uncle McLeod and Aunt Annie say that Charlie is better.

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Transcript

Cambridge, Saturday
Sep. 12/68

Dear Papa and Mama

I have never thanked you for the bundle of Exeter papers, which amused me immensely on the journey home. You seem likely to have great fun with the election. I suppose Karslake and Coleridge must get in, and then we shall have two awfully swell members. {1} There is a Swiss here studying Natural Science—a very nice man, and a perfect gymnast, only all the skin is already off my hands because of the rosin which he puts on the bars. There are six vacancies for fellowships it seems. Fred Pollock is not yet come back. Crotch is going down for a fortnight so I shall be very quiet—the gymnasium will be shut up and there will be nothing to do in the afternoons—except go to Grantchester {2}. I shall try to get a room somewhere away from College to avoid being called upon next term—it becomes rather a nuisance to live on the ground floor. I have told you all the news already, and must now go and read Puiseux in the Varsity Library before it shuts up. I casually met Uncle McLeod and Aunt Annie in the Metropolitan railway. They said Charlie was quite well again.

Very best wishes to all the little ones from

Your most affectionate son
+W. K. Clifford.

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Letter-head of the Cambridge Union Society.

{1} Sir John Karslake and J. D. Coleridge were candidates for the parliamentary constituency of Exeter, which elected two members till 1885.

{2} Probably to the Nimmos' house. Cf. CLIF A1/13.