The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, Emma. [1858.10.12]. Letter to William Erasmus Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.30. Edited by John van Wyhe (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 went to the luncheon at the Normans with Elizabeth (Lizzy) on 15 October.
George Ward Norman (1793-1882) lived at the Rookery, Bromley.
"Reed, Rev. George Varenne, 1816-86. Anglican clergyman. R was tutor to George (1856), Francis (1858), Leonard (1859) and Horace (1864) before they went to Clapham Grammar School. 1854-86 Rector of Hayes, Kent."
"Jones, Samuel, 1836-? Coachman at Down House from 1858. 25 years old in 1861."
"Ainslie, Robert, 1810-95. Methodist minister and writer. 1845-58 Lived in Tromer Lodge, Down. 1845 CD wrote to Susan, his sister telling her about A altering the road illegally. CCD3:247. 1858 CD was angered by A not paying church rate. CCD7:92." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)
Clement refers to Clement Wedgwood (1840-1889), son of Francis Wedgwood (Emma's brother). The Barlaston girls are his sisters Amy (1835-1910), Cicely Mary (1835-1917), Constance Rose (1846-1903).
William Greive Wilson provided William with lodgings and tuition before his moving to Cambridge.

[1]

Tuesday [12 October 1858]

My dear William

You are just settling yourself & looking about you. you must send us a slight & bold sketch of your room & furniture. Yesterday Miss Norman & Fred called bringing a note of invite to dinner or luncheon which I accepted for the latter & I mean to take Lizzy as little Mary is at home. Papa admires Miss N. very much, which I do not she smiles too constantly & a smile is never a sweet one that is constant

[1v]

Franky has been twice to Mr Reeds & he seems quite bold about it.

Jones has ridden there with him & he has come back alone. Etty goes to L.H.P tomorrow & comes home next week. She says she is taken for 18 so she is dreadfully old. I am going to look over Mr Ainslie's furniture when I can be quite sure he is away it will save us much trouble if we find some of it to suit. His sale is on the 15th. Clement is going with his father to pairs to be settled there for some time. The Barlaston girls

[2]

are very full of their ball on the 21st & are to have no fogies but what are absolutely unavoidable.

The grey mare behaves very well even at the Railway.

Goodbye my dear old man.

I expect you will like Cambridge more after you have been some time than you do at first. yours E.D.

Mr Wilson seems quite sorry to lose you.

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