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JB's new curate apparently has a sonorous voice - discussion of what goes towards a good sermon, and the views of the fictional Sir Roger de Coverley (in The Spectator). Old schoolfellow Thomas Feilde has died. People fleeing Ireland are bringing disease with them - London has responded by starting to clear slums - Pie Street (Old Pye Street?) has disappeared, and the government is contemplating throwing open Tothill Street to create a wide road form Buckingham Palace to Parliament. He would very much like to possess a very old map of London which used to be in the shop of the one-eyed baker Jackson on the corner of the Bowling Alley (now Tufton Street). Has JB heard anything of Pulteney (see 8, 20 and 21)?

Returns a letter from the Marquis of Anglesey to JB (see 7 and 8) - JB's son has apparently been posted to Spike Island (in Cork harbour). The new curate has used one of his grandfather's sermons (see 22) - HMC amazed that anyone should write new sermons, given the huge number of books of sermons sold 2nd hand every week. Discussion of London book auctions - a Mazarin (Gutenberg) Bible has been purchased for the American government for £500.

More on Eton (see 3) - access to it so much easier with the railroad. Last visited Westminster 3 years ago - nostalgic - heard again the bell at 2.45 (known to them as Smith's bell - after the HM)). Cloisters largely unchanged, apart from some trifling repairs to Smedley's monument in the West Cloister - their former tutor (Edward OW) and Rector of Powderham, which living must have been given to him by the 'unfortunate' Lord Courtenay (9th Earl of Devon, and a notorious homosexual). Hopes that JB and his friends have not suffered from the banking panic of 1847 (though the minor house such as Drummonds and Childs coalesced to support each other) - yet Ireland must be fed (the crisis was caused by government borrowing to relieve the Great Famine). The PM Lord John Russell will be faced by Irish MPs making impossible demands - also the question of admitting a Jew, a further blow for the Protestant religion (Lionel de Rothschild - see 31).

Extraordinary events at home and abroad (presumably revolutionary movements in Europe, Chartism and Ireland). Liddell will very shortly move on to become tutor to the Prince of Wales (this did not happen). Surprised that Liddell was ever appointed - younger son of Lord Ravensworth, a family C knew well- 'remarkable for their inattention to literature.' Anticipates the monster Chartist mutiny scheduled for 10th April (see 40) - like their fellows in Paris they probably want good pay and no work. On the power of the mob in Paris. A riot in Madrid has been suppressed by the military.

Has now heard from JB. On the anniversary of a (dining?) club of the 1780s, based on membership of the Western Hunt. JB's son now posted to Charlemont Fort, a spot much more agreeable (and protestant) than any in the south of Ireland. The curate of 22 has clearly not been wholly satisfactory - repeats many of the details of 22. The only exercise he takes is walking up and down the dining room, supported by a rope on one side and his wife on the other. On the exorbitant price of food (except bread). On a wealthy farmer friend with an income of £5,000pa. For light relief recommends some recollections about Napoleon and an account of the last twenty years of the 18th century in England. Repeats story of Liddell's appointment as tutor to the Prince of Wales (see 41) - he may thus look forward to York or Canterbury, like Markham.

Invites JB to stay - discusses his wine cellar and his lack of faith in wine merchants. Recalls how he and JB visited the aftermath of the Gordon Riots in 1780 - present times are even more dangerous, though outbreaks are repressed by the military and special constables. Ireland in rebellion from north to south. Disturbers of the peace in Paris have sent emissaries to other European cities to stir up trouble.

Visits to Monasteries in the Levant by Robert Curzon - maybe a son or nephew of their old friend David Curzon OW (actually David was 1st cousin once removed to Robert). Has no room for new books, so uses a circulating library. His contempt for novels. On the murders at Stanfield Hall. Examinations at Oxford have become tougher - but the clergy of his young day no less effective than clergy nowadays. Has JB's son stationed at Charlemont written of a proposal to drain Lough Neagh, the finest lake in the British dominion ? (Part of a proposal to make the River Hind navigable from Roscommon to the Shannon.) If it happens they may find old arms which HMC removed from rebels and threw in there during the rebellion of 1798. On the excavation of Ninevah.

On the rising price of potatoes in London, and the unjustness of the response to the Irish Famine. Public indifference to important questions - so, no disapprobation has been expressed at the House of Commons voting to remove some disabilities experienced by Catholics. HMC says that some (not all) Catholics can buy absolution at confession and then return to their criminality.

No need for JB to send the pamphlet on tithes (see 11), since HMC has discovered the principle behind the bill. On the deficiencies of Daniel O'Connell's policies in Ireland, and the difficulties of waging war on Irish rebels. Quotes a line of Horace - he remembers so much not because of lessons, but rather the practice of the 6th Form at Westminster at passing their many hours of idleness (see 11) by quoting and then capping verses. On parts of Horace worth remembering in their own right, and the vain search (e.g. by Sir John Hobhouse) for places he mentions (e.g. his villa, the spring of Bandusium). On a recent assertion that the earth is no less than 47,000 years old - some discussion of the views of Dr William Buckland, Dean of Westminster.

Recent bad weather has caused many deaths, including his old friend the Duke of Argyll. Remarks on the crisis in Portugal, and civil unrest/disobedience in England.