Trin Coll. <1>
Thursday. April 18.
My dear Father.
I think I am getting on very well with my Trigonometry. The lectures. (Hudson’s) are not very difficult, being the 2nd Class lectures. and intended for men who do not know much about the subject. He follows Todhunter <2> apparently in the general plan, so I read Todhunter as hard as I can to keep up with him writing out whatever I dont see clearly, or want to & whatever I want to learn by heart. I have added a few more results from Todhunters work, to those you wrote in the little book you gave me and mean to get them all up. Todhunter is very clear I think. The lecturer has Burn the classical lecturer has not begun the construing of Livy yet, (book 1.) but has been giving us an elaborate view of all the sources from which Livy drew could have drawn his history, and criticism on his credibility which he says will certainly be asked in the May examination. I take a great deal of this down in writing but it would be a waste of time to attempt copying it out clearly. So I number my papers (that I may know the order in which they come) and so that if I have time I may look them over. but I should think the mere act of writing them it make helps you to remember something! I do the same with the notes I take at the Mathematical Lectures. I have read Livy book 1 which is what we have to read, through (in the English) once. So I think I am pretty well started. The book is not long. We are enjoying some fine weather and I have been able to get some cricket. I hope you go on well with your engraving.
Your affect Son
Charles.
Notes:
1. Trinity College, Cambridge
2. Isaac Todhunter (1820–1884), mathematician.