PE thinking of priesthood - advises against Canterbury because of the danger of invasion and the plague of troops - Oxford or Cambridge the only provincial situations which would thoroughly suit PE.
Follow-up from last - because of the recent publicity given to the affair, it is too soon for PE to be paying addresses to another woman.
Mr Collins has remarked upon PE's age - HH advises against retaliation. Violent love is neither reasonable nor desirable at PE's time of life - and a calculated marriage is a risk, since the necessary sacrifices are not always compensated for.
PE should 'kiss and be friends,' according to the ancient method of making up quarrels. PE should not have shown HH's letter to X (name unclear - HH does not know which letter) - she might not like to have her name taken in vain by a stranger. HH will never allude to the other business, that of Miss B.
London
London
Caricature sketch of Henry Manning Ingram (1824-1911) OW & Under Master, 1861-1880
Vanity fair print of Rev. Henry Montagu Butler, by Spy 1903.
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.
Clavering, Henry Mordaunt, 1766-1850Cataract 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.
Clavering, Henry Mordaunt, 1766-1850