Dear Sir,
I think you will be glad to hear what Charles is doing in the matter of lessons, altho' I hope that he sometimes informs you himself - I think that he is getting on very satisfactorily, and is working with good will - In Latin he is construing the 1st book of the Odes of Horace, & in Greek, a [illegible deletion] collection of Epigrams, I have lately given him Arnold's Verses, which are translations from Ovid, but requiring to have the sense filled up by epithets &c. and in Latin prose he is using Arnold's Book,<1>
and tho' he is not accurate enough, begins to write Latin more correctly. I also hear a good account of him in his French lessons, and Mrs Talbot will be glad to hear that we are much pleased with our Dancing-master.I find him continue [sic] to improve in the command of his temper amongst his companions, and is consequently on good terms with all of them.
we have had much wet the last few days, but I think Charles has escape [sic] cold at present -
With our united Compts I beg to remain Yours very trulyJames A. Williams
Notes:
1. WHFT's university friend, Thomas Kerchever Arnold, was the author of numerous works on Latin, some going into several editions. His 1851 translation from Ovic, Ecologae Ovidiane, was freshly published; there are several possible candidates for the prose volume, including his 1847 Ellisian exercises, adapted to the first part of the Practical introduction to Latin prose composition.