Glad to have his letter; supposes she will receive only two or three more from him in her life.
Thinks he should leave the curtains for her.
Discusses Mungo Park and Sir Walter Scott’s Life.
Comments on recent visit to Maer. Explains that his notion of happiness as quietness and solitude derives from Beagle experience. Hopes Emma will humanise him. Comments on marriage planned for Tuesday.
Describes recent visit by Lyell and his wife. Talked geology for half an hour "with poor Mrs Lyell sitting by". "I want practice in ill-treating the female sex."
Preparations for the wedding, various callers, and other bits of news.
Responds warmly to his very nice letter. CD need have no fear that she will not be as happy as he.
Again expresses uneasiness that their opinions on religion do not agree on all points. Hopes they will sympathise in their feelings on the subject.
He has the wedding ring. Agrees to coming straight home after the wedding, if that is what she prefers.
They are impatient for CD’s arrival.
EW is reading F. Head’s "gallop" [Rapid journeys across the Pampas (1826)] "to get up a little knowledge for him".
CD has nearly settled in favour of living in Cambridge.
CD will not get to Maer that week. The Langtons are leaving and will meet him at Shrewsbury.
The Darwin family are anxious for FEEW’s and Hensleigh’s opinions of CD’s journal. EW is convinced that Henry Holland is wrong if he thinks it not worth publishing.
Hopes the Darwins in Shrewsbury will help her convince CD that he must not hurry their marriage too greatly. Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood [II] adds a postscript to the same effect.
Invitation to dine at the Darwins’ with J. S. Henslow.
Tells of the pleasure that CD’s visit gave the family.