The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, Emma. [1859.11.07?]. Letter to William Erasmus Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.51. (Cite as: John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2023. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR210.6 contains correspondence of William Erasmus Darwin and family correspondence (1851-1896).

Emma Darwin recorded in her diary that they "came to Shrewsbury" on 25 November and left on 6 December.
'Mr P' probably refers to Rev. Charles Pritchard (1808-1893). Astronomer and educationalist. 1834-62 Founder and Headmaster of Clapham Grammar School. 1840 FRS. All CD's [surviving] sons, except William, went to Clapham Grammar School, but only George and Francis were taught by him. (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.) For details on Darwin's ailment see CUL-DAR210.6.50.

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Ilkley Monday [7 November 1859]

My dear William

Here is an eventful letter of George, but I dare say Mr P's bark is worse than his bite.

We are all rather dismal your father keeps so very unwell with boils & can't stir a step without great pain, & Etty has fallen back again. I expect that we shall go in a fortnight

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to Shrewsbury. The other day the children had a charming evening at the Estab. A gent. gave a comic lecture on mummies (2 of the maids dressed up) & did it uncommonly well & afterwards they had a most idiotic game called the wild beast shew in which all the ladies yelled & barked & roared like mad. Yesterday morng

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was bright & fine & I took the children a nice walk to the perpendicular broken side of the hill with oaks & fern growing in the rocks. We came on a set of men snaring rabbits & I did not think they wd approve of our seeing what they were at but they were quite civil.

Goodbye my dear old man. yours E.D

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)