TALBOT995

Trinity College.
12 July. 1822.

My dear Talbot.

As two fellows are bellowing Auld Lang Syne in my ears, the louder because I will not be their second (that is their third), I must content myself with a very few lines, contented if those shall have a proper regard to Syntax or sentiment. I thank you for thinking of my business; I ought to have done so some days since, but, (to be honest while I may,) I forgot it. As I see no very great harm in the worst that can happen, inasmuch as a "repulse" cannot be esteemed very "Sordid" where it must necessarily be the fate of so many, I flatter myself I am acting prudently in accepting your friendly offer of proposing me at "the Travellers",-¹ I have heard that some qualifications as to distance of journey are requisite; lest that sh^d be the case, I put you in mind that I have been [illegible deletion] as far as Sicily, (being induced thereto by the laudable ambition of a Travelling Bachelor),² and even to reaching the scene of Empedocles' fate. ³ Pray shall I ever hear anything of the result? - N'importe. ⁴ -

I envy you not only your projected journey, but also the chance you have of meeting our friend Worsley ⁵ in the winter. How happy should I be if he shall then add Coll. Trin. Soc.⁶ to his name. Coddington ⁷ has been completely discomfited by the dread of a fever which has made some ravages at S^t John's, & went away this morning to Ireland. Some others had previously set him the example of alarm: which has however been lost upon Worsley & myself, not to say Peacock,⁸ Whewell, ⁹ &c. - I am sorry to say that copies of the Prize Exercises were very scarce this year;¹⁰ I c^d not procure one of the English Poems: however I have persuaded Worsley to entrust his "Palmyra",¹¹ to accompany my copy of the Greek ode & Epigrams,¹² & Porson ¹³ to be sent by the Coach tomorrow morning, as you go so soon & there is no London Post tomorrow: but we expect that you are to keep them to be restored to us at a convenient season, as the ode & E Greek & Latin are worth having for their own sake, and the English for its excessive badness, if I may venture to say so. An additional present of books are [sic] to be given to a M^r Wimberley of S^t John's¹⁴ for his Roma Shakespeare Iambics. -

I wish you good luck with your new method of measuring heights, tho' I fancy you, peripateted [sic] as you are, will be tired before you sum the Sines from bottom to summit of M^t Rosa.¹⁵

Farewell and believe me, dear Talbot -Ever faithfully Yours
Thomas Thorp.