18 Sackville St
Sunday evening. Decr 9th
My dear Father,
I find my present lodgings very fairly comfortable, ha and very convenient being close to my club, <1> so that I can breakfast at the latter which I prefer, As I can get the papers &c.
There was a notice in the Pall Mall Gazette <2> the other day about the Royal Institution, <3> by which it appeared that a payment of 2 guineas will admit one to all the courses of lectures going on till June or later whereas a subscription for a single course is one guinea. I think it probable that I shall take a ticket at 2 guineas. It does not seem that there is anything to take place till January. I think I shall be able to get a prospectus at the Institution. I purpose to go to Edinburgh sometime about Christmas and to return to Town about the 11th of January. When do you lea leave Lacock? I expected to have heard of your departure before now.
We have had rain today. We have not had much foggy weather.
The amount of ornamental building which is taking place in the city is surprising. I saw a very handsome church of Scott’s <4> at Lewisham near Deptford, whither I went with my friend Donald Campbell who is a curate in that neighbourhood. I got an invitation to go to Neston for the Chippenham Ball, but I have declined.
Your affect son
Charles
Notes:
1. New University Club, St James Street, London SW.
2. The Pall Mall Gazette, an evening newspaper, was founded in February, 1865 by Frederick Greenwood and George Smith (1824–1901). George Smith has also the merit of being founder and proprietor of the Dictionary of National Biography, an undertaking he commenced in 1882. The Pall Mall Gazette was incorporated into the Evening Standard in 1923.
3. See Doc. No: 09159.
4. Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811–1878), gothic revival architect.