Has been promoted. Has not ridden for some time in order to rest his groin, but hopes to be able to wear tight pantaloons before the London season.
Difficulties of reading folio volumes printed in diamond types. Can PE recommend an edition of Yerburgius' Cicero in quarto? Is there a modern one from the Clarendon Press?
News of death of Wynn's daughter.
Had last night prepared all his riding kit for a visit to PE at Waddon, but is now windbound. PE in boisterous spirits when last seen.
Convoluted explanation of why he has not written.
Letters from H. Hallam of the Stamp Office to PE (much mannered humour, gossip and political trivia)
Henry - glad to hear of PE's return to England. Domestic (servant with uterine cancer) and work problems for both him and his brother (who also appears to have strained something around his groin - 'somewhere, as sailors say, between wind and water') prevent a trip to Dover. Invites PE to stay in 10 days time. PE seems to have asked for help in obtaining a sextant. G.C. - can only ride gently because of his injury (which is not too bad - no danger of needing to carry his aidoia - Greek = genitalia - in a wheelbarrow).
Two letters are at Stafford Row from PE to his brother, who has gone to Godalming (to examine Norman remains). Since one letter follows the other by a day, he wonders if he should forward them. His mother is still at Ealing, and has been for five weeks.
Long letter of introduction of a young man, Parlby, who has recently entered the University - his parents are worried about his settling.
A bill sent from the Admiralty to the Treasury has been delayed, but Henry expects it back shortly. He says this in case PE thinks he has already received the amount of the bill and is squandering it. (All a joke?)