’You will know that I have been confirmed to-day, and I dare say you all thought of me.  The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Lincoln, and I hope that I have truly considered the great duty and responsibility I have taken upon myself, and have prayed for strength to support me in the execution of all those duties.  I shall of course receive the Sacrament the first time I have an opportunity, and I trust worthily.  I think there must have been 200 confirmed.  The Bishop gave us a very good charge afterwards, recommending us all to take pattern by the self-denial and true devotion of the Bishop of New Zealand, on whom he spoke for a long-while.  The whole ceremony was performed with the greatest decorum, and in the retiring and coming up of the different sets there was very little noise, and not the slightest confusion.  I went up with the first set, and the Bishop came round and put his hands on the heads of the whole set (about forty), and then going into the middle pronounced the prayer.  The responses were all made very audibly, and everyone seemed to be impressed with a proper feeling of the holiness and seriousness of the ceremony.  After all the boys had been confirmed about seven other people were confirmed, of whom two were quite as much as thirty, I should think.’

’June 5.

’I have just returned from receiving the Holy Sacrament in Chapel.  I received it from Hawtrey and Okes, but there were three other ministers besides.  There was a large attendance, seventy or eighty or more Eton boys alone.  I used the little book that mamma sent me, and found the little directions and observations very useful.  I do truly hope and believe that I received it worthily...  It struck me more than ever (although I had often read it before) as being such a particularly impressive and beautiful service.  I never saw anything conducted with greater decorum.  Not a single fellow spoke except at the responses, which were well and audibly made, and really every fellow seemed to be really impressed with the awfulness of the ceremony, and the great wickedness of not piously receiving it, I do not know whether there will be another Sacrament here before the holidays, or whether I shall receive it with you at Feniton next time.’

No doubt the whole family (except the yet unconfirmed younger brother) did so receive it in the summer holidays, the last that were to be spent in the full joy of an unbroken household circle, and, as has been already said, one of unusual warmth and kindliness, binding closely into it all who were connected therewith.  Each governess became a dear friend; the servants were deeply attached, and for the most part fixtures; and one, the nurse already mentioned, says she never recollects a time when Master Coley had to leave Feniton for London without his offering the servants to take charge of their messages or parcels.  All dependents and poor people, in fact whatever came under Judge Patteson’s genial, broad-hearted influence, were treated with the like kindness, and everything alive about the place seemed full of happiness and affection.