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A series of letters from Henry Mordaunt Clavering to John Benn, written between April 1846 and May 1850; Clavering was by then blind, so the hand is that of an amanuensis. There are many reminiscences about the school in the late 1770s and early 1780s, and many references to Old Westminsters both then and now. HMC is also interested in the current state of the school – the numbers, the curriculum (changing under Liddell), the physical environs and the Latin Play. Each correspondent had clearly kept up his classics, for there are numerous Latin quotations. Medical matters feature prominently, both ailments and their treatment (hardly surprising, according to HMC, given their age). The letters show a keen and wide-ranging interest in other matters – food prices, the impact of the new rail roads, Ireland and the Irish rebellion, religion, literature (but he abominates fiction), and social and political issues (e.g. the make-up of the government, the Chartist Riots, rebellious movements both at home and in Europe, the Repeal of the Corn Laws).

Opens the correspondence. There has been a breakdown of relations between HMC and JB (of unspecified length, but possibly 50 years ago - last meeting ca. 1820) through HMC's misunderstanding of an act of JB's, but HMC is now satisfied that no offence was meaned. Ill health in ca.1820 led him to holiday and then buy a property on Mont St. Michel - compelled to sell this last year because of the 2 cataracts which have blinded him. Also a property in Foret Montier. Quote from Hor.C.2.14, Hor.C.3.6. News of his own family. His epitaph which he has composed. Recalls Vincent's epitaph for Albany Wallis (OW). Used to attend Abbey services, where Howel Holland Edwards (schoolfellow) is a prebend. School much reduced (only 100 pupils, cf. Eton's 800). Refers to the monuments of Edward Smedley, Vincent and Busby. All the old trees have been removed from Dean's Yard. Tothill Fields have been built over (a town with squares and gardens) from Millbank to the Floodgates. Wishes to be remembered to some (university?) friends.

Opens the correspondence. There has been a breakdown of relations between HMC and JB (of unspecified length, but possibly 50 years ago - last meeting ca. 1820) through HMC's misunderstanding of an act of JB's, but HMC is now satisfied that no offence was meaned. Ill health in ca.1820 led him to holiday and then buy a property on Mont St. Michel - compelled to sell this last year because of the 2 cataracts which have blinded him. Also a property in Foret Montier. Quote from Hor.C.2.14, Hor.C.3.6. News of his own family. His epitaph which he has composed. Recalls Vincent's epitaph for Albany Wallis (OW). Used to attend Abbey services, where Howel Holland Edwards (schoolfellow) is a prebend. School much reduced (only 100 pupils, cf. Eton's 800). Refers to the monuments of Edward Smedley, Vincent and Busby. All the old trees have been removed from Dean's Yard. Tothill Fields have been built over (a town with squares and gardens) from Millbank to the Floodgates. Wishes to be remembered to some (university?) friends.

Recommends an oculist, Mr. Alexander, to a cousin of JB with a partial cataract. If JB passes through London HMC cannot promise to receive him in person - he lists his painful maladies. HMC is reminded of JB at every breakfast-time because of a teapot JB gave his 1st wife 60 years before.

Recommends an oculist, Mr. Alexander, to a cousin of JB with a partial cataract. If JB passes through London HMC cannot promise to receive him in person - he lists his painful maladies. HMC is reminded of JB at every breakfast-time because of a teapot JB gave his 1st wife 60 years before.

Gruesome details of the lancing of a carbuncle. Quotes Hor.C.3.14 - is reminded of a translation of Hor.C.3.6 by JB (he asks for a copy), and thus of Westminster. Pupil numbers not above 100 - an inquiry has been held by the visitors the Dean of Christ Church and the Master of Trinity. The HM Dr. Williamson has been dismissed, possibly for overly savage flogging (a boy was unable to sit down for a week). An OW could not be found to replace him, so a Charterhouse-bred man, Dr. Liddell, has been appointed. Westminster's decline partly due to the preference of the aristocracy and royalty for Eton, and partly to the number of much cheaper schools in London. The Corn Laws. The opening of Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea (a rival to Vauxhall) will attract the worst characters in town.

Gruesome details of the lancing of a carbuncle. Quotes Hor.C.3.14 - is reminded of a translation of Hor.C.3.6 by JB (he asks for a copy), and thus of Westminster. Pupil numbers not above 100 - an inquiry has been held by the visitors the Dean of Christ Church and the Master of Trinity. The HM Dr. Williamson has been dismissed, possibly for overly savage flogging (a boy was unable to sit down for a week). An OW could not be found to replace him, so a Charterhouse-bred man, Dr. Liddell, has been appointed. Westminster's decline partly due to the preference of the aristocracy and royalty for Eton, and partly to the number of much cheaper schools in London. The Corn Laws. The opening of Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea (a rival to Vauxhall) will attract the worst characters in town.

Withdraws recommendation of the oculist Alexander (see 2) - he is rough and brutal. On his own cataracts (including a failed operation) and other ailments - all very expensive. Again asks for JB's translation of Horace (see 3). On the sweeping away of tithes in these days of reform, and on the unfair remuneration of senior clerics - their old schoolfriend Hobart (The Hon. Henry Lewis?) as Dean of Windsor received

Withdraws recommendation of the oculist Alexander (see 2) - he is rough and brutal. On his own cataracts (including a failed operation) and other ailments - all very expensive. Again asks for JB's translation of Horace (see 3). On the sweeping away of tithes in these days of reform, and on the unfair remuneration of senior clerics - their old schoolfriend Hobart (The Hon. Henry Lewis?) as Dean of Windsor received

Cataract operations best performed in warm weather, when the patient is less likely to catch cold. Only schoolfriends he is aware of as still living are the Marquis of Anglesey (Henry William Paget) and Sir George Murray (sic - unclear who this is, but possibly, according to Hugh Pagan, Sir William Murray, brother of Sir John Murray - see also 6 ). Death last year of Sir Francis Burdett (actually January 1844) because he had given himself up to the 'cold water system'; he was always a dupe of charlatans. On the current heatwave and railroads.