Autograph letter signed : White Hart Inn, Salisbury, to her mother, 1848 July 23.

Saying she agrees with Uncle Andrews' and her mother's advice about George: whatever he studies will at some time be useful. She and John often talk of him, but can make no plans. They agree that there is no chance of Mr. Ruskin's taking George. With no business of his own, John cannot speak independently to his father. In London there are ten young men to one opening, and it is difficult to become more than a clerk. Mr. Ruskin doubtless could get George into some other merchant's house, but that would cost her father more than he could now give--£80 or £100. When she and John are settled, George should come for a visit so that they can hear his own views if Uncle Andrew cannot get him into an office. She is distressed about all of them and often cried at night as she thinks of their load and her inability to help in the least. It would be much worse if her mother did not tell. The children must be a great help. Mrs. Bolding's "child is so ugly a poor weak thing." She is sorry that Prizie is degenerating into a toady. Miss Ker writes that the Tasker relatives refuse to believe that she and Prizie were not engaged for a year. Today John is much better, though weakened by strong medicine. Much interested just now in Oxford, he is corresponding about the need of giving young clergymen more scientific knowledge through their university education. They need to be able to answer the arguments of scientists, or in a collision, the clergy and heads of houses may be crushed. Because they are totally ignorant, the clergy consider scientists irreligious or atheistical when their conclusions are inconsistent with Scripture.