Senior Sophister, 1838–40 letters 80–107

Summary

80 Alexander Gooden to James Gooden, 29 October 1838

29th October 1838

Trinity College, Cambridge

My dear Father,

I know that it would be preposterous to begin with any excuse for writing so soon, and that I have rather reason to fear your kind anxiety has forestalled my haste. To begin then with what I know will be mother’s especial enquiry, my cold has almost disappeared; I have not discarded the flannel but this with a slight hoarseness is all the memento I have of my disagreeable visitor. My stomach, I judge, is not yet in good order – but this only from the state of my eyes; I must however rather take systematic measures than doses of medicine. The journey hither was as pleasant as could be expected under any circumstances, although my companion was outside – a situation which the warmth of the evening and the clearness of the night made me envy him. We were received upon our arrival by a crowd of gownsmen amongst whom struggled forth Taylor, Mate, Turner and some other friends to shake hands with us. The rest I have seen since mostly but some few are not yet returned. I saw Busk in hall today and exchanged a few words with him. He has been travelling in Switzerland and came over in a hurry to keep his term leaving his mother and sisters at Boulogne afraid of the boisterousness of the weather. He says he has enjoyed himself very much and looks a great deal better. All preparations needful had been made this time for my arrival and the College was quite alive with arrivals from all quarters. I have commenced with Walton a task not to be deferred or treated ϵκ παρϵργov and which promises to be made all the pleasanter by the friendship and kind interest of my tutor. I had a strange visit yesterday; a man i.e. a gownsman – entered my rooms whilst I was dressing and enquired if Mr Gooden was engaged?; not knowing him in the least and suspecting him to be a subscription collector, I answered truly enough that I was and begged he would favor me with a call at another time. He looked awkward enough but after scribbling on a card left it – and the room. To my surprize however I found that it was inscribed with the name ‘Mr T. Cubitt, St. John’s’.