From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin [7 November 1881]

My dear George

Hen. told us you were gone to Oxford wh. answered my card— If you had come you w^d have dined at High Elms to meet Mr Childers & John Morley. I managed to shunt the invite to Leo (as Mrs. Mul said are all of them away) & he liked going. He had some talk w. Childers, who does not impress him much.

Young "Jorrocks" Norman is come home from America & looks very odd & not wise.

Leo. was satisfied with what what he did w. Mr Stone at Oxford & thinks he has a good chance of going to the transit. I am glad to find that it is no further than C. of Good Hope Bermuda, or Jamaica which last w^d be delightful in winter.

There are 3 candidates from Chatham for the Staff College & Leo thinks his bad language will be much in his way. What a lovely day yesterday was & quite hot.

The Litches came at lunch time from Bromley & we sat in the verandah & dawdled about.

F. & I are beginning to pity the landlords in Ireland, at least when it seems to be decided that they are not to be benefitted by improvements made before the time of the present tenant.

Bessy started on Wed. evg. by bed carriage & reached Strannaer in time to go on the steamer to Larne—very rough for 1$\frac{1}{2}$ hr but quite smooth for 1^st hr–2$\frac{1}{2}$ hrs. in all so it is far better than the 5 hrs from Holyhead–- She finds Mrs Hancock less tiresome than she remembered. Mr. H. who is the pleasant one of the family is quite worn out with the agency business & is gone to recruit abroad leaving the work to his son, who is also much over worked with the land commission. A Miss Thomson from Glasgow is expected. I had a pleasant letter from Hope. She enjoyed her 24^hrs talk w. Ida & then she had a Ditto with At Caroline as it also rained all the time. At C. gave her a tremendous talking upon her severe treatment of Phy. She was in excellent spirits (At C. I mean) G. c^d not stand James H. who is cantankerous. Hope was leaning to King's for Cecil—

B. is very happy at Aberdovey—-& it is good for Fr to be out so much & catching Salmon & trying to shoot snipes

yours my dear G. | E D

I hope y^r club dinner turned pleasant