The letter, sent from Burton Pynsent, explains and apologises for not being able to make a journey to Cambridge. Chatham conveys how this is a matter of particular regret, as "it deprives him of being introduced to your personal acquaintances, and that of the gentlemen of your society". He goes on to talk of his son, William, who he writes is "of a tender age" and "too young for the inequalities of a man, I trust, he will not, on the other hand, prove troublesome by the puerile tallies of a boy". He continues, "I am happy to place him at Pembroke". A manuscript copy was made from the original, then in the possession of William Turner, son of Joseph Turner. Manuscript notes on the reverse of the copy in another hand concern the provenance of the original letter.