Item 2 - Letter from William Vernon Harcourt to Richard Monckton Milnes

1 folded sheet.

Trinity College. - Was surprised this morning to receive two letters, from Macaulay and [Tom?] Taylor, with the news that the former had offered the 'presidentship' of the [Apostles] dinner to the latter, who had accepted it. Spedding's clear opinion is that honorary member 'were ghosts who could only speak when spoken to, but even supposing the appointment lay with the existing President, it was clear that whatever power Macaulay had must have expired immediately after the appointment of C. Buller'. Notes that 'Historically the London dinner is only the Cambridge dinner transferred, of which the President was regularly appointed on a Saturday night'.

A new member, named [John Daniel?] Williams, was 'evangelised' yesterday, who 'testified his faith by abandoning a literary club in Trinity which goes by the name of the "Roaring Cockatoos". Thompson is recovering well and was out for a while yesterday. Hopes Milnes will not be annoyed by the part Harcourt took about the dinner.