Letter from William Bodham Donne, Bury St. Edmunds, to Frederick Walpole Keppel, 1849 June 17 : autograph manuscript signed.

Explaining that he has been too busy researching a piece "on the merits of th Hungarian cause" for the Edinburgh review, but that he looks forward to seeing Keppel next month at Norwich, where he will be attending an exhibition of livestock; adding, "the only animal I exhibit on this occasion is my eldest son. As he is tall and much better looking than his father, perhaps he may find a purchaser"; commenting on current affairs, mentioning (Alexandre Auguste) Ledru-Rollin, the military exploits of the Emperor of Russia, and a local scandal involving a Norwich clergyman by the name of Rev. Attlay; mentioning that he has a letter in the last number of the Mercury regarding the Norwich Grammar School "advising to teach Greek sparingly and modern languages liberally", noting that (John Arthur) Roebuck's book on the colonies is "worth reading", asking if the farmers are "grumbling in Norfolk, and will it be necessary to reduce rents just yet?", and remarking that "The not calling out the yeomanry is a great relief to such martial gents as the member for W. Suffolk, who liked the glory but not the cost."