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Document number: 8707
Date: Mon 11 May 1863
Postmark: Cambridge 12 May 1863
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: TALBOT Charles Henry
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA63-47
Last updated: 20th November 2012

Trin Coll. <1>
Monday evening. May 11th

My dear Father.

My coach, though he can be hardly called my present coach, for I have left off going to him is undoubtedly a good mathematician, but I think also that he is a very good tutor and such a one as I should like to go to if I could profit by any tutor. certainly a better tutor than my former one. I do not think that I am more likely to fail in the Sophocles Śdipus Coloneus than in any other part of the Poll examination.

There are 1780 lines in the play and I have read 1015 and I can read faster than I have been reading. I could not go out in the October Poll, for that would ruin my chance of reading for the Tripos, <2> at the same time as I said before I dont wish to try the experiment of reading reading as I proposed unless I am sure of my degree. I have given notice to have my name inserted in the list of those who are going in for this Poll, for it was not printed in it at first. I have also been told to go in for a college examination (preparatory) in the Acts & miscellaneous mathematical questions on Saturday next. I must say I dont think my chance of getting through is a bad one for the Poll is confessedly easy to pass. Mr Mathison <3> thinks it the best thing for me to do and and several of my friends also advised me to do it, and if I went in for the Poll at all, to go in for this one and get d it over.

If I did were not to get through, I should be inclined to read the the natural science subjects during the Long <4> and go in for the Natural Science tripos which comes on some time in October for I dont doubt that I could do that. but then that would prevent my going in for the Mathematical Tripos I am afraid – since there wouldnt be time for both. My idea has been to get a place in the Mathematical Tripos in which case I a may go in for the Natural Science Tripos of next year. in fact I should be allowed to degrade and take honours in Natural Science, if I hav take honours in Mathematics. but the converse unfortunately does not hold, viz if I took honours in the Natural Science Tripos of this year I should not be allowed to try for the Mathematical Tripos of next year. Any how I must go in for this Poll, for if I get through, my plans may very likely work very well, & I hope (I think pretty reasonably) to get through. If I do not, I can save my reputation to a certain extent in Natural Sciences. they cannot prevent my going in for a Tripos if I was plucked in the Poll – so I dont think that it will do any harm to try – and as I have made up my mind I dont wish to change it. If I get through I shall be able to ra read with confidence.

Your affect son
Charles.

P.S. In order The <5> chief advantage I hope to gain by going out in the Poll, is not that of skipping the May examination at Trinity, but that of being able to read for the Tripos without any anxiety about passing.

[envelope:]
H fox Talbot Esq
Millburn Tower
nr. Edinburgh

Notes:

1. Trinity College, Cambridge.

2. Cambridge honours examination.

3. William Collings Mathison, tutor at Cambridge.

4. Long Vacation.

5. Written over ‘In’.

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