TALBOT902

Cambridge ¹

29^th December 1820

I think you may expect to see me on Caroline’s ² birthday au plus tard. ³ This has been a dreadfully cold day, if the weather continues like this, I don’t know what we shall do when we are examined all day in the Senate House, where there is no fire.

The examination begins every day at eight o’clock in the morning, it is but just daylight. I have seen many who were to be examined, dress themselves just as if they were going outside the mail all night, with immense worsted stockings overall. That was last year when the Snow was laying <sic> deep on the ground. The university in its wisdom has added corporeal to mental Fatigue – Have you read M^r Holmes’s book yet? I recommend it much. His arguments are always ingenious, & frequently convincing. I had no idea my translation had met with so favourable a reception from the learned, I sent L^d Lansdowne ⁴ a copy, perhaps he never received it. I have got some left however – As to what you say about the Sunday school, I perfectly agree with you. I am very glad M^r Paley ⁵ is that kind of person, is he not son of the author? When we are at Paris I mean to try to learn German, if there are any masters. I have a great wish to know it, there are so many books in that language I should like to read – I think I shall allow mathematics to be dormant for some time, as by that time I shall have had a quantum suff. ⁶

Your Afte Son

W. H. F.Talbot

Lady Elisabeth Feilding
31 Sackville S^t
London