| Description | He feels ashamed at writing after such a long silence. He has had a letter from Laurence, complaining of his neglect, and has written to Brakespear for the first time since Clapham. He saw a notice in 'The Times' concerning his friend [Henry Montagu] Villiers, whose father [also Henry Montagu Villiers] is now Bishop of Durham. The younger Villiers is engaged to the daughter of Lord John Russell [Victoria Russell]. Charley Steward managed only a third class degree at Oxford. Airy comments on the winter, skating, and his own work in the iron trade at Ransomes. Herbert [Airy] has just taken his degree at Cambridge. Wilfrid has not seen Alick [Alexander Stewart Herschel] for a year, but they keep up a correspondence. Wilfrid went to Spain with the Himalaya Exedition to see the 1860 eclipse and had a good view of it from no more than one hundred miles inland, returning immediately it was over. |