Trin Coll. <1>
April 19th Friday.
My dear Father
I will follow your recommendation and try the indiarubber bath. My letter to you was posted yesterday a short time before I received yours, telling me of the accident at Lacock. It is very lucky you found out the fire burning beam at once. I suppose it caught fire merely from having become exceedingly dry from it-s position in the 1st place; no fire could have got at it, but it must have caught fire spontaneously from being so hot. I am really doubtful as to whether reading with a reading party would be much good to me just now. Per I have no doubt of the goodness of itthe plan in general, but my capabilities of reading are still rather uncertain and capricious, and I should be rather disinclined to try the plan unless I was sure of its answering. John Bagwell Esq <2> of Marlfield ( (not Marlhill) Tipperary is Bagwells <3> father. I never heard that Mrs Bagwell <4> was dead. Perhaps it is a mistake.
Your affect son
Charles.
Notes:
1. Trinity College, Cambridge.
2. John Bagwell (b.1811), of Marlfield, Ireland, was a barrister and High Sheriff.
3. Richard Bagwell (1854–1859).
4. Fanny Bagwell, née Pritti.