Hodgson of Clopton House: Correspondence and diary notes

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From Eliza Hodgson, Montpellier, Brisbane to Frank Hodgson. Their Ball went off very well, with an army of men to set it up. There were plenty of Beaux but very little beauty. Lilly and Percy came up after the ball as she did not wish Lilly to be there. Corny Hewitt was there. She wishes that Frank would look out for a suitable school for Percy. Papa is inclined to Thorpe Mandeville. What does Frank think. Percy is a fine little fellow but very idle. She would not like him to go to a large school in Australia as it strikes her that the moral tone is very low amongst boys. They are allowed to play marbles and use catapults. Young Barrington is leaving the army. Mr Spencer is doing duty at Rome with a promise of pay. She is sad to think that her father's grandsons are being brought up in Italy without education. She contrasts the sad lot of her sister Susan's children with that of her own. The Colony is very demoralizing. The colonial brought up youths are not nice young men as a rule. Sydney is getting to be an enormous place, especially towards Darling Point and beyond. She speaks of Arthur Dowling, Edward Hallett and Aunt Kate and her children. She hopes to make another trip to the Downs before they leave. continued on DR1238/1/1/45.