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- Darwin, Emma Wedgwood, 1808-1896 (x)
- [1880-12-24] (x)
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Show moreLetter brings news from the village of Downe and mentions Darwin's experiments, probably on the movement of plants. Emma writes about some of the small talk in the village and local residents, including the Teesdales and the Nashes and Mr. Thompson, as well as her sons, Leonard and George, and of Charles Darwin. Transcription: "Down Beckenham Dec 24- Dear Mr Innes I have undertaken to answer your kind letter + to give you all the news I can. My husband is much pleased that you were interested in his book. The experiments are so minutely described that he thinks some skipping is very necessary for most of his books. The [Leesdales] have been settled for 2 or 3 months + have furnished Down Hall most comfortably + sumptuously. They seem to be very agreeable people with pretty + cultivated daughters. (In order to show how severe our weather has been I may mention that Mr [Leesdale] went to Orpington for 10 days on a sledge). The great event last week was the opening of a Reading Room, when Mr Nash gave a good supper to whoever chose to come + I was not surprised to hear that he had 90 guests. They have hired George Wood's old house for the purpose + begin the world with 45 members. Of course they will not nearly pay their way; which one would have preferred. We have also a band of Hope under Mrs Nash's superintendence which is of course pros- perous at present, while the children are young + have no temptation; but I have some hopes that the effect may remain with some, especially of the girls, after they are grown up. Both these undertakings are thorns in Mr [Ffinden]'s side + he has not been content with holding aloof from them; but has used all his influence to prevent their succeeding. Mr Darwin is [filter] well + hard at work with his secretary (Frank) Leonard is stationed at Malta with the engineers, + George who has been an invalid for some years in going to join him there in a week's time. Will you give my kind love to Mrs Innes + tell her I hope we shall see you + her when you come south as I am glad to hear you are intending, + with my kind remembrances to your son + with every good wish to your trio, very truly yours Emma Darwin P.S. As a proof that nobody need despair I will tell you that Mr Horsman has a [curacy??] in Kent, + is rash enough to talk of his "friends the Lubbocks". I have omitted poor Mr Thompson, whose fate is very melancholy. He is said to be slowly affected by the creeping palsy, which is quite a hopeless malady. C. desires me to say that both your facts are quite new to him + surprise him much." Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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