Matthew Arnold discusses literature and expresses happiness at his brother knowin about Merope. He praises Maffei’s version of Merope before commenting on Voltaire’s, comparing both versions with Alfieri’s and concluding that Maffei’s was ‘poetically the best tragedy of the three’. He then goes on to discuss Wordsworth, Shelley, and Coleridge and their popularity within England, remarking that the contemporary period is intellectually richer than Pope’s time but that modern poetry is inadequate. He moves on to discuss Ancient Greek literature, comparing it to Shakespeare, and offering his opinions on the works of Voltaire and Goethe. He adds that these thoughts will form the basis of his inaugural lecture.

Charles Testut tells Léona Queyrouze that he will not be able to attend her lecture because he does not have the proper attire. He quotes Voltaire, noting that ‘Poverty is worse than vice’, before concluding by saying that he feels his destiny will change. Testut encloses a poem titled ‘Récit d’un rêve’.