RECORD: Darwin, Emma. [1861.10.27]. Letter to George and William Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.84. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2023. 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).


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Down Sunday [1861.10.27] 

My dear George,

I am returned with just enough of a head ache to prevent me going to church so I will tell you of my London doings.

Etty went on Monday & I joined her on Tuesday just in time for the Concert. We found Godfrey & Capt John there. (the Capt did not honour the Concert)

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We went late & came away early but we only missed one of Jenny's songs. She sang as beautifully as ever & Sims Reeves. Old Weiss as Elijah we all hated & thought him most tedious. Etty & I found we were not well enough acquainted with the music, to enjoy it fully, however she did enjoy it much & longed to hear it all over again. It was very hot but not close & we returned to a delicate supper of

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cold beef which did us good.

Aunt Eliz was come up from Hastings for it. Uncle Langton has taken a very good house at Hastings for 5 months, & came up one of the days to buy a carriage for Aunt C. as the new waggonet they have does not suit her. On Thursday Miss Thornton & Henrietta Synnot came. H. seems very merry & I asked Miss T. to come & visit us here & bring her nieces which she promised to do. They

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talked about your visit to them & Miss T. said she was glad to find you did not mind it so much as young Macaulay whom she invited once. He never appeared & when she sent to enquire they said he had dressed himself & gone out some where. It appeared afterwards that he ran up to his mothers to tell her of the invitation, & say he cd not endure to do. So I suppose they did not ask him again.

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on Friday I took Etty to Mr Woodhouse & she had a tooth out with chloroform

She felt very smothery & bad before she was quite insensible but she had not near so large a dose as you had so she got over it sooner & staid in bed the next rest of the day & was quite well yesterday when I left her to stay a few days behind me. I want you to send this on to William as I have not time to write

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two notes. (Dear Wm you seem going on very comfortably. Your methodical way of spending your evenings is very comfortable. What a very well arranged family the Forrests must be to do away entirely with their 9 children.

Sir N. James speaks very highly of Mr & Mrs Atherly & seems to think you lucky.

The B. Carters told me she was celebrated for

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being beautifully dressed wherever she was, so you shewed your discrimination.

(Now to G & F Did you hear that Parslow got the 3rd prize in the match the other day & Town the first viz. 1 sovereign)

(Now to Wm Horace is very indignant that you have not answered his letter & means to write again).

Lenny brings words that there is to be railway

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extension to Leves Green.

It seems miserable but wd be very nice. Poor little Louisa Lud. had got a situation

Miss Pugh writes very comf. from hers. She was much pleased to have a little visit from you & F.

(Now to Wm we think 11/a fortnight for meat highly moderate. I am glad you have such a strict Duenna).

Good bye to all of you.

yours E. D.

[From page 1:] (G.) Here are some stamps for you as you have so many letters to forward


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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 15 October, 2023