1 St Peter's Street, Bedford April 11th 1866

My dear Cousin Adolphus,

I have not written to you for a long time, & thinking that perhaps you might like to hear from me, as I have some spare time, I am now writing to you. We are home for our Easter Holidays now, which are rather long for Easter, being nearly three weeks. I suppose you heard of Stephen's success in the Mathematical Exam last Christmas, when he came out first in the school. We had our Classical Examination just before we came home this time, I was eighth in the sixth form (and in the school) and Stephen was 12th in the same form; I also got the prize for exercises in Latin & Greek Prose and Verse & in the Lower Sixth. I am going to stop at Highgate (Cholmely) School till next March when I am going for the Indian Civil Service exam.; but am not expected to be able to pass; however, I am going top try and am reading up Shakespeare and Conic Sections hard in preparation for it. Frank and Willie and Georgie are getting on very well I think at school and are second in their respectve forms. We are having a new School and Chapel built at Highgate; our old school looks just like a National School, a small dingy place but the new one looks much better, which will be finished (?). We are to go into after the Midsummer holidays which will be in the middle of September. The Chapel is being built by Mrs and the Misses Crawley in memory of Mr Crawley who was a governor of the school; the foundation stone was laid last St Matthias' Day. How are you getting on with Sanskrit? I shall have to learn it for my second Exam. for the Indian Civil; it's rather a hard language to learn, is it not? Stephen will be in the First Eleven at Cricket this year, as he was in the Second last year and only five boys are at School now, who were in the First or Second Eleven last year. I suppose no Cricketing goes on in India, as it is too hot for it. The weather was almost too hot for Cricket in England last Summer and the one before, and the perspiration ran down our faces in great drops, and our shirts used to be as wet as if they'd been dipped in the river. Mary is going to stop a short time at Mrs Hartley's in Bucks; and we (S & I) are going to London with her next Monday when we return to school. With best love to you and yours, and hoping you are all well, ever, Believe me to remain, your affectionate Cousin Philip Jacob.

PS Has Henry succeeded in getting into the Uncovenanted Service yet? Mother has written to Col Worcester about him this mail at Uncle George's request.