The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, Emma. [1861.11.27]. Letter to William Erasmus Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.92. 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).

Darwin in a letter to J. D. Hooker on 8 November 1861 said "I have sent my paper on dimorphism in Primula to Linn. Soc. I shall go up, & read it, whenever it comes on (on 21st Nov.); I hope you may be able to attend, for I do not suppose many will care a penny for the subject.—"
Emma Darwin recorded in her diary that Darwin went to London 20-23 November.
"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."
"Hemmings, Henry, 1810-? Until 1856 Manservant to Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood [I] at Petley's, Down, until her death when he returned to Maer. Listed on 1861 census for Down House as "Emmings" a 51-year-old widowed visitor and retired servant from Maer." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)

[1]

Down Wed

[27 November 1861]

My dear William

It was very pleasant Papa having that little sight of you in London. It seems you cannot wait for the boys holidays but no doubt you will be able to come over after taking your degree.

He came home all the better for his trip & his paper met great honour

[1v]

at the Linnæan all the great Botanists being there & Bentham & Hooker speaking on the subject.

Hooker quoted Wordworth's line which I forgot "To him a yellow primrose was a yellow primrose" That does not sound quite right. I send you G's long account of the row but don't notice it as I send yours generally to G & poor Franky seems sore about his misfortunes

[2]

I have no doubt that he found the hissing to be contagious & did not really mean to hiss.

I can't understand what Mrs P. had to do with it. Hen. is gone to town yesterday by herself in the train. Wiltshire will meet her at Vic.

The wretched Mack is to be made to go with them. She means to stay thill Monday if she can & then she brings home

[2v]

Emily Thorley & Eva with her. The boys went to Bromley the other day

Their chief object was to buy presents for Miss L. Hen & Lizzy. Nice little ducks. Lenny is poorly & Horace headachy & I not much to boast of

You may burn G.

yours my dear old man

E. D

I expect Brodie will have your letter framed & glazed

It was just what she wd like

Some day you had better write to Hemmings.

[from page 1:] He & Martha were married nearly 6 months ago but I only lately heard of it. They were married in London after leaving Hartfield

Martha told me they intended it.

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