TALBOT7141

London April 25. 1855

My Dear Constance

We arrived at Harrow at 1 oclock <sic> and Took luncheon or rather an early dinner with M^r & M^rs Simpkinson, after which we waited upon D^r Vaughan the Headmaster and Charles’s name was enrolled in the list of the School – Tomorrow D^r Vaughan will examine him and 20 or 30 other Newcomers and place them in the school according to their proficiency – M^r Simpkinson has a particularly kind and agreeable manner<.> I hope Charles will like him as a tutor though he will not be with him long. He told me that the head boy in his house is one of the best lads in the school his name is Digby, and M^r S. thinks he is nephew of Edward Digby of Minterne. Charles will be in a room with only 2 other boys both of them newcomers one is Digby, brother of the abovementioned, the other is Howard, son of Lord Howard of Effingham. I left Harrow at 4 oclock the boys were not yet come except a very few they pour in I am told by the late trains in the evening. The day was remarkably fine & the views pleasant. M^r S’s home is adorned with some good flowers – on his front is a very fine pyrus japonica in flower on one side, and a flesh coloured one to match at the other side, which must be a rarity. We went over the old Schoolhouse now greatly altered but preserved in parts as it was – We turned over a volume of records of the School, in the library and I found what speeches I had spoken at the public speeches – By the time I got back to London I was pretty considerably fatigued with such an eventful day. – Please to give my love to Ela on her birthday, we were sorry to be constrained by the decrees of fate, to set out on our journey today.