[1]

[date added later and apparently wrong:] Spring 66

Dear Geo – It seems quite funny to be writing my weekly again to you. […]

[1v]

[…] On Sunday we had a gt. visitation. One of Papa's most thorough going disciples, a Jena professor came to England on his way to Malaisia & asked to come down & see Papa. We didn't know whether he cd speak German & our spirits was naturally rather low. He came quite early on Sunday & when first he entered he was so agitated

[2]

he forgot all the little English he knew & he & Papa shook hands repeatedly. Papa reiterated remarking that he was very glad to see him & Hackel receiving it in dead silence. However afterwards it turned out that he could stumble on very decently- some of his sentences were very fine. Talking of dining in London – "I like a good bit of flesh at a restoration."

[2v]

of the war in Germany he remarked as an advantage the Russian had from their good education "zat van ze officers are deeded ze commons take ze cheap"- ie. when the officers are killed the privates can take the chief command – He told us that then all more than 200 medaillons of Papa made by a man from Wms photo in circulation amongst the students in Jena.

Papa has just begun his gt Pangenesis chapter – Hope comes [From p. 1:] here for two nights this week. No other fact of importance except that the kitten likes his kennel very much indeed.

Love to F. [Francis] yours dear Geo H.E.D.

[Darwin finished it on 21 November 1866. CUL-DAR158.1-76, Wedgwood, Hope Elizabeth, 1844-1935. 6th child of Hensleigh and Fanny Mackintosh.]

[3]

P.S. I made Papa take the ride through Grinsted Green posted Farm & Home by Maise to Horsted – by drawing him a plan – He is always now out 1 3/4 & often nearly two hours.

P.S. no 2 Hope dreamt that you wrote a book called from Penge to Norway – Not why not have dreamt from Down to Norway.

[3v]

P.S no 3 Who on earth can Mrs Bales or waites be?

It was very funny & one wd think she must be intimate with the Wedgwood cast of face if she can recognise Ed for a Wedg & so claim him as a Darwin

I hope you've not got a red carpet – they wear so badly.