Trin Coll <1>
Sunday
My dear Father.
I have got through the 2 days as I expected, so now I if I like I may go in for Natural Science next year. I dont suppose I shall be able to do much in the 5 days, which begin tomorrow but I may perhaps do a little. possibly some br problems may come within my capacity; I hove have payed [sic] the BA fee to the university of 7£. Only one man a Caius man was plucked out of the candidates, who are something like 105 I think in number. The men are obliged to be up on the Monday I believe after we take our degrees, and we take our degrees on the Saturday so as we cannot be supposed to go down on the same day, it the event will I suppose prove that I shall leave my rooms & go down on the Monday morning, w and another man having taken them will have to come up on Monday which is a very near shave, owing to the Mathematical Tripos <2> having fallen late this year. I must pack my things &c directly after the end of the 5 days, there will be a week which ought to be time enough. I shall have to send some things to Lacock in which case I suppose I should write to Wilkins <3> & tell him that they would be sent to Chippenham, unless you are meditating a journey to Lacock which I suppose you are not as you do not mention it. It is a desirable thing to show show in chapel with ones hood one [sic] Sunday after taking ones degree. I do not suppose there is any chance at all of my getting a Senior Optime, so if I am not a very low Junior Optime <4> I must be content. According to the students guide it is proved to be no small honour to be even “wooden spoon”, and Sir Cresswell Cresswell <5> was “wooden spoon”.
Your affect son
Charles.
[envelope:]
H Fox Talbot Esq
Athenæum Club
London. S W
Notes:
1. Trinity College, Cambridge.
2. Cambridge honours examination.
3. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.
4. The lowest of the three classes in the first part of the mathematical tripos (Wranglers being the top of the class).
5. Sir Cresswell Cresswell (1794–1863), judge; he achieved his ‘wooden spoon’ at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, taking his BA degree in 1814 and his MA in 1818. A successful career as an MP (1837–1841), Barrister and a Queen’s Counsel ensued, until his untimely demise brought on by a riding accident.