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New Year wishes. Their friendship began in 1779 - list of the senior King's Scholars of that year (Dickens, Markham, Kelly, Greenhill and Lindsay, Wood, Hawkes and Barnard - listed in the order of their election in 1780 to Oxford and Cambridge respectively, so presumably HMC was consulting e.g. Alumni Westmonasterienses).

Christmas wishes.

Celebrated his birthday (16th December) on the 17th - more suited to gaiety than the Sabbath. Cannot stand novels. Has just read the life of the actor John Bannister, who used to join the boys for fencing tuition under Angelo, and afterwards for beefsteak and porter at Mother Dawson's (see 31). The Play (was to have been The Andria) will not happen this year because of the death of the Queen Dowager (Adelaide, widow of William IV).

JB's son moving from Charlemont to foreign service via Woolwich - invites JB to stay if he is going to Woolwich to take his leave. On the death of the Quaker doctor Curtis (William), who had treated him 50 years previously. His grandson is leaving on foreign service, a lieutenant on the new ship HMS Leander. On the execution of Marie Manning and her husband (see 63).

Handbook of London (see 62) quotes Cowper (William OW) reminiscing about his days in the Westminster 6th Form, when he was 'in high favour with the master.' The book refers to a hospital in Chiswick connected with the school, founded in the reign of Elizabeth (a house rather than a hospital - see Lawrence Tanner Westminster School p67). Would be good nowadays - no doctors can agree on the nature and treatment of cholera. On the forthcoming trial for murder of Marie Manning and her husband. On the current cheapness of game and fish. Changes in London. Their old playground Tothill Fields now covered with gardens and villas. A road runs from the school to Vauxhall Bridge (the first one built 1809-16), on the spot where they used to bathe. Vincent, observing all the development, had enclosed Vincent Square (1810). Recalls the Town Boys beating the King's Scholars at cricket (presumably the year HMC left, 1782) - he scored 35. Repeats the story of Dowdeswell (see 62) never sleeping in college.

Has read in The Times of the death of Edward Dowdeswell (see 6) - an excellent and unpretending man, but lazy. Recalls his younger brother John. Details from Visits to Monasteries in the Levant by Robert Curzon (see 57). Cholera still present in London. Death of William Vincent OW (eldest son of the HM) - but much younger than them. Recommends Handbook of London: Past and Present by Peter Cunningham.

Has read in The Times of the death of John Fawcett aka Pultenay (see 14 & 17). He used to strut up the school always on the forepart of his feet, as if to add an inch to his height.

The imminent 3rd reading of the Transportation Bill may mean that Smith O'Brian is finally shipped off (see 51 & 56). Hopes that anarchy all over Europe will not come to England. Complicated tale of getting possession of a property in Halifax Nova Scotia, which he has made over to his grandson. JB has found a new curate (see 58). Changing ways - in their younger days 3 or 4pm was the hour for dinner, but his grandson has just received an invitation for 8.30. The dinner hour at Oxford used to be 3, but now it is 6.

On ways to cure hams (smoking in chimneys, or the Wiltshire Cure). Recommends the 1st two volumes of Macaulay's History of England (the rest not published until 1855). On the fake assassination attempt on Victoria by William Hamilton. If Macaculay does not appeal, recommends a life of Lord Eldon.

Offers to look for a curate for JB - and suggests he writes to any friend at Oxford or Cambridge.