SCHOOL LIFE AT RUGBY. 9 



half year, and affected, I have no doubt, his work 

 generally. There was a peculiar inconvenience in 

 this, because as exercise was recommended to him 

 strongly, he took an active part in all the school 

 amusements, so that his health seemed to interfere 

 with nothing but his work ; and though I have not 

 the slightest doubt that the case was really so, — 

 that he could not read or compose, and that it did 

 him good to play at football, — yet the example to 

 the school was very apt to be misunderstood, and I 

 think that you will agree with me that it would 

 be better for him not to return to Rugby till his 

 health is fully re-established. I say this, hoping 

 most sincerely that he may be well enough to return 

 immediately after the holidays ; for what I saw of 

 his conduct last half year in one or two important 

 instances pleased me much, and I think that his 

 character and influence would act more and more 

 beneficially on the school with every half year of 

 added age." 



On the strength of this letter young Hodson's 

 Christmas holidays were extended into the spring 

 of 1840. On his return to Rugby he took up the 

 post which Arnold had already designed for him, in 

 the house of a new master, the Rev. G. E. Cotton, 

 afterwards Bishop of Calcutta. How loyally he dis- 

 charged the duties of his new and somewhat trying 

 office the following letter from Bishop Cotton will 

 show : — 



''May 18, 1858. 



"You are aware that your brother was my pupil 

 at Rugby for a very short time. He was originally 

 at Price's house, but at the beginning of 1840 I 

 succeeded to a house in which there were no pre- 



