Oxford Oct 16, 1825 12
is very well. Take care of your health and don't be uneasy about me or my prospects. My health is excellent and I have no doubt but in a few years all will be as well as we wish it. Let me know exactly how you are and believe me, my darling Mother
Your most affectionate and attached Son, B W Newton
Observe your own mind about the 20 pounds. I suppose I can rub on without it, but I should be much more comfortable in my mind if all was paid.
There are lots of freshmen up this term so that I have plenty of understrappers understapper/ paper torn
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The above is on one quarto sheet, crossed, no envelope but folded as usually was done and addressed by the writer Mrs. Newton 18 Gascoigne St., Plymouth. It may be 10 for it is crossed out and rediredted by another hand Treffry and Fox, Catherine Street, Devonport for Mrs Newton.
The letter is franked by some illegible person, not stamped and postmarked Oxford Oc 16 1825
The seal is that of a highbred longnecked horse. Red Wax
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In On Battels. In early times ( e.g. 1539) there were Suggenarii (sojourners) or commoners who shared the usual commons in Hall, either at a table of their own or at the high table in wh. last case they were "Fellow-commoners". A poorer class were the battellars who lived more cheaply and had separate battels or a/c's. The a/c were kept on tallies or notched sticks, specimen of which is in the muniment room. Battel = little bat or stick. Battellars waited then on themselves (1539) buying their food and fetching it, from the kitchen. Below these were the Servitors or poor boys who waited on the Fellows or Sojourners and rec'd their living and education nearly gratis. Whitefield and I think Wesley and Sam, Wesley, were Servitors. F W (Boase Register of Ex Col)
