The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, Emma. [1859.05.06]. Letter to William Erasmus Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.44. 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 Darwin's diary recorded "Amy went" on 5 May.
"Wedgwood, Amy, 1835-1910. 2d child of Francis and Frances Mosley."
"Langton, Edmund, 1841-75. Only surviving child of Charles L and Charlotte Wedgwood. CD's second cousin."
"Wedgwood, Hope Elizabeth, 1844-1935. 6th child of Hensleigh and Fanny Mackintosh. 1876 Married Godfrey Wedgwood as 2d wife."
"Brodie, Jannet (Jessie), c.1790-1873. 1842-51 Scottish nurse at Down House aged 49 in 1842. Came from previous service with the Thackerays and Anne Thackeray (Mrs Richmond Ritchie). 1851 Left after death of Anne Elizabeth Darwin and returned to family home at Portsoy, Scotland." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)

[1]

Friday [6 May 1859]

My dear Wm.

We heard of your dissipation thro' Louisa & so I suppose you saw the charming Amy, which made yr giving up the Opera not quite such a sacrifice

We have been very quiet, Amy going yesterday & we have nice weather

[1v]

now all our visitors are gone. Edmund is to come up to the ball which I am glad of.

Papa is going to vote at Bromley today.

Hope is not so constant at the billiard table as Amy. We find Pickwick most popular in the evenings only Lizzy

[2]

is too anxious to know whether Mr Winkle is nice or nasty, & the constant drinking is a great blemish in my eyes as well as Lizzy's. A nightingale has come into the garden.

Brodie goes to visit the Thackerays next week & returns to us afterwards.

Miss Legge is confined & has a daughter the image of herself. It is to be Eva's.

[2v]

It was very nice of you going to Church on Sunday in the midst of your bustle, because you saw I wished it, but I should be very sorry if you got to consider going to Church on Sunday as only a decent form (which may be put aside for a small reason) & not a real duty. I think the daily Chapel is very injurious in almost inevitably

[3]

making you so weary of the service & taking away the solemnity of the prayer &c. I hope you will try to consider the Sunday service as a different & much more real duty. Goodbye my dear old man.

The carpet is quite surprised at its repose.

[3v]

We will send your dress things.

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