Harrow <1>
Sunday June 19th
My dear Father
having begun with an exceedingly bad pen I have found one which is not much better. When I got to Peterborough yesterday I found that the train for Cambridge started from a station, the other end of the town. I had therefore to go on to Huntington, and there to take a gig <2> in which I eventually got to Cambridge. When there I breakfasted and then went to see Mr Mathison <3> whom I found without much difficulty. He seemed to think Mr H–dlam <4> (how to be spelt?) residing ( in Yorkshire would be the best for me. He was exceedingly kind and showed me the library, hall &c of Trinity. But every body who knows anything about him here says that he is by no means liked by those who have to do with him, and yet they allow that there never was any one pleasanter to speak to. They were taking degrees at Cambridge and Mr Mathison said that I could get in to the senate house if I liked and see what was going on, but I didn’t try. I walked through the courts of St John’s <5> and over their curious covered bridge and in through the garden at the back of Trinity. I came away by the gt Northern to Kingscross but because that is nearer to Euston Sq, but I repented because they made us hitch for a bout an hour at Hitchin junction so that I had no time to dine at Euston Hotel as I had intended.
Your Affect son
Charles H. Talbot
Notes:
1. Harrow School: WHFT attended from 1811–1815 and his son Charles from 1855-1859.
2. A light, high, two wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse or pony.
3. William Collings Mathison, tutor at Cambridge, see Doc. No: 07903.
4. Rev Arthur William Headlam (1826–1909), clergy, soon to be Charles's tutor - see Doc. No: 07903.
5. Cambridge.