Mrs. Leward to Mrs. Herbert.

Dear Mamma, Frank is away at Oxford, staying with his friend Bampton, for the Commemoration. After that they mean to go to Upton for the breaking up, and to play in a cricket match against the boys. I am glad Frank has this opportunity of a change, his life here must be rather dull, though he never complains. I am glad too he can be with his old friend, who is decidedly clever and original, though deeply affected I fear by the Tractarian page 64movement. Francis you know has a great horror of it though for my part, if a young man is good religious and thoughtful, I do not think it matters much what particular form his religious views may take. Dr. Newman is no doubt very attractive to young men, but Francis declares he is purposely remaining in our Church with the design of Romanizing it. I do hope Bampton will be staunch, it would be such a pity to lose him.

Frank and his father get on very fairly well together, though there was much embarrassment at first and Francis thinks he ought to have something settled to do. He has proposed to take a small farm for him, but Frank does not care about it, and he told me the other day if he took to farming at all it would not be in England. You can imagine how I broke down for I knew what he meant and I have ever looming before me the dread lest he should leave me again,

Frank and I hope to come to Claydon at the end of the month. I think sometimes Francis wishes Frank to be away when Arthur comes home, he is so particular about Arthur. I am looking forward so to coming with Frank to see you.