The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, Henrietta Emma. [1864.01-02]. Letter to William Erasmus Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.115. 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 recorded in his personal journal "Ill all Jan. Feb. March. Last sickness April 13th." In Emma Darwin's diary, her record for 26 January says "Twice at hot house" and the hothouse visits were made on several occasions in February. Darwin's health condition was daily recorded.
"Gully, James Manby, 1808-83. Physician. In charge of cold water cure at Malvern. 1825 Medical student at Edinburgh, contemporary with CD. …When CD first went to Malvern, G made him give up snuff."
"Jenner, Sir William, Bart, 1815-98. Physician. 1837 Member Royal College of Surgeons. 1854-79 Physician at University College London. 1861 Physician to Queen Victoria. 1863 CD consulted, van Wyhe ed., 'Journal', (DAR158)."
"Engleheart, Stephen Paul, 1831?-85. 1859 Fellow Royal College of Surgeons, London. 1861-70 Village surgeon/physician at Down, known to Darwin family as "Spengle". Drowned in Old Calabar, Nigeria, Africa, trying to visit a patient."
"Brunton, Sir Thomas Lauder, 1st Bart, 1844-1916. Physician. Consultant at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London."
"Kempson, William John (John), 1835-77. 1864 Married Louisa Frances Wedgwood and had 4 children: 1 Jessie 1867-1939; 2 Hester Louisa 1869-1930; 3 John Wedgwood 1870-1958 and 4 Lucy C 1874-1958." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)

[1]

Tuesday [2 January 1864]

My dear William

Poor Mama is bad today so I takes up my pen to give a more detailed account of the world. It is 5 nights since Papa has had sickness now & his days have been much better too.

He has walked as far as the hothouse twice.

[1v]

He also reads more to himself, & I think he is getting to be able to sit up more. They are rather in a pack of troubles about which Dr to have. Dr Gully has sent to Dr Jenner, but Spengle strongly recommends a Dr Brunton, ~~hav~~ they don't well know what so do. Skimp [Horace] is not very well, but of course he gets on much better at home with

[2]

his beloved Tome to go to.

By the way we aren't out of stable troubles — Billy has taken to lie down when put in the carriage, & so we shall have to get another horse & ten to one we shan't get a ridable beast. George was greatly pleased at yr communication of his letters. The poor bye has been horridly stinted in his billiards— Lenny

[2v]

& self being his only resource. Frank is in an awfully toothy state. I am sorry for the school for he tooths for an hour every night after they go to bed wh. must be pleasant. aunt Eliz & Co will be at home in a few days — I wonder if they will go down & pay their respects to the happy couple or leave them to the enjoyment of their own society.

[3]

[from page 1:] Major Kempson is coming home so I suppose there will be another marriage in the family.

Ever yours H. E. D.

[illeg] has got a cold we think.

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