Ch.Ch. <1> Oxford
Wednesday
My dear Uncle Henry
As my Mother <2> told me some time ago that you had very kindly enquired about how I was getting on up here, I think perhaps it will not bore you to have a line from me about it. I am at the present moment exceedingly idle, having just got through my second examination - called Moderations.
According to the new Statute we have three examination to pass - 1st Littlego - technically called Responsions, 2nd Moderations or "First Public Examination", and finally the "Second Public Examination", for which every body is required to take up two distinct subjects, one of wh must be Classics, & the other either Modern History, Mathematics, or Natural Science; and these subjects need not be taken up at the same time. Moderations are in fact the principal Scholarship examinations as the books required in them are Poets & Orators, whereas the Classical part of the final examination is confined to Historical & philosophical works. This however of course does not hold good in the case of those who go in for honors, (wh can be obtained in both Public examinations) as the extra books which they take in are not restricted. I did not go in for honors in Moderations nor do I intend to do so in the Classical part of my next examination; as I have long been aware that Classics are not my forte, whatever else may be.
But I do intend when I have got over the Classical part, wh I intend to do in October next, <3> to read hard for honors either in Modern history or Mathematics or both, and take them up (as the 2nd subject) either next Easter or October year.
It seems very rash & ambitions of me to think of going in for a class in two things, & perhaps it would be wiser to give up one of them altogether instead of running the chance of slipping between two stools - But the fact is I do not know wh to give up, & it goes against me to give up either - Modern History would of course be much the most useful to me, and even if I have finally to abandon my hopes of a class, yet the time I shall have spent in reading for it will have been anything but wasted - On the other hand I know a good deal more of Mathematics than I do of Modern history, & I think I should be more likely to succeed in them.
So I think that for the present at least I shall proceed in my determination of taking up both.
I am really afraid that all this must have bored you very much though I thought when I began it that it might possibly not do so. Oxford during the next month is very pleasant, & very conducive to laziness; - and I being for the present free from all hand reading, am at liberty to enjoy it thoroughly.
I had to read very hard the last three weeks before going in for Moderations - and the reaction makes me proportionately idle now.
With my best love to Aunt Constance and my Cousins <4>
Believe me your very afft nephew
Valletort
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
Notes:
1. Christ Church College, Oxford.
2. Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808-1881); WHFT's half-sister.
3. See for instance Doc. No: 06863.
4. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811-1880), WHFT's wife; Ela Theresa Talbot (1835-1893), WHFT's 1st daughter; Rosamond Constance 'Monie' Talbot (1837-1906), artist & WHFT's 2nd daughter; Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, 'Tilly', née Talbot (1839-1927), WHFT's 3rd daughter; and Charles Henry Talbot (1842-1916), antiquary & WHFT's only son.