Wednesday December 2nd

I am sorry to hear this morning that the Archbishop [of Canterbury] is unable to come [to the Latin Play] this year owning to illness. I am beginning to realise how arduous the Captain’s business is this time of year, Wood was answering and opening some of the letters up Library this morning. This sort of thing ‘Mr So-and-So presents his compliments to the Captain and King’s Scholars of Westminster School and would like two gentlemen’s and two ladies’ tickets for the third night’. People don’t seem to realize how difficult it is to get ladies tickets and are annoyed in consequence if they don’t get them. What are you to do to this sort of thing ‘Dear Sir, thirty-four years ago I acted Pamphilus in the Play, I have never asked you for a ladies’ ticket from that day until now when I should be so much obliged if you would send me one etc.’ It seems so brutal to refuse.