RECORD: Darwin, Emma. 1881.06.04. Letter to George Howard Darwin. CUL-DAR210.3.14. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2022. 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.

Emma Darwin, not long after Darwin's death, recalled fondly their journey (CUL-DAR210.8.36-41): "June 2. to Penrith happy journey. C. in gay spirits. Two or 3 small expeds w. him one across the lake — sat about — Hen joined us _ went a drive with Wm also to look for lodgings for Huxleys — The walks sometimes too much for him — I went w. him up the valley & he went on. Also up Grisedale — beaut — light on farm".


[1]

(To GHD)

(1881)

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

Glenridding House Patterdale Penrith

Sat.June 3

 

My dear George

We stay here till Monday July 4th & I hope you will come as soon as you can as the place is delightful. We have not yet seen any mts quite so grand as the Old Man &c; but the Lake & its close surroundings are infinitely prettier than Coniston & our house is most comf ─

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& luxurious & a little rocky shore of our own ─

We came thro' from Bickley in Saloon carriage to Willesden, where Horace & Hen. joined us. Leo. had a v. bad q. of an hr not to say 1 1/2 hrs fromHerne Hill to Willesden; as he overheard the driver saying to the conductor, on being told he was late ─ "well we don't often make the junction at Willesden when we are not late." ─ Leo kept his feelings to himself & we did catch the express. It was all most

[3]

comf ─ except that I am sure a saloon is more noisy than a common carr. Horace F., I & Bernard slept at Penrith, & came on next mg by boat from Pooley Bridge, arriving here at 9.30. Drive to P. Bridge v. pretty & very charming on the Lake ─ I enclose a card as I have no doubt you can get to Penrith in time (if not the Crown is a comf Inn)

Horace was m. done up yesterday; but we went a sweet little Ron in

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evening & I think he will soon pick up ─ He says your dinner party was most pleasant. B. likes the place too & has a delightful spit of shingle & mud to play on ─

There are per contras in the kitchen departmt but Evvy makes the best of them. Poor Ida suffered dreadfully at not coming.

Here is Fr very jolly you may return him.

yours my dear G. E. D

We had blazing & delightful weather for a week at Down & till yesterday when it was not at all to complain of ─


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

File last updated 4 December, 2022