From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 6 March [1887]

My dear George

What a horrid passage, & not without danger too— To have been sea sick also w^d have been the climax, but then you w^d not have had a fog if there had been wind— I have had a visit from Gwen, so very fierce upon her legs that she took all sort of journeys out of one room & into another— she likes the primeval monkey book so much—

I have had a great domestic worry which has knocked me up, but in which Horace has helped me over the worst part. Jackson has shewn the cloven foot again (after 18 months good behaviour) & this time his evil tongue & behaviour cannot be looked over, & he is going at once I hope. Horace has done the talking to him after I had written his dismissal. I am sorry for him; but for myself I am glad, tho' I shall miss him in many helpful & handy ways— I think I shall have a parlour maid after your example— I can give Jackson an excellent character in the two great essentials of honesty & sobriety; but it is disagreeable to part in this way after 11 or 12 years faithful service to us—but it was disagreeable feeling him so difft to his equals.— Horace has been m. worried about the mechanical teaching affair & has issued a leaflet on the matter, & had a friendly talk w. Prof. Stuart, but he means to attend the Syndicate on the subject of the grant for the mechanical tripos & vote against it— Michael F. rather advised him against this step & D^r Jackson was for it— Mr Shaen died suddenly last week angina Pectoris I conclude— It is a terrible loss & now Margaret has not his help in bearing the troubles of life & she was so fond of him & looked up to him so much. Her mother is so constantly ill that this might kill her, but such things never do

P. S. | Leonard & Bee come today. He has been very unwell with sickness, & I am afraid the Darwin constitution is shewing itself in some degree. Next week they go to Brighton where he will have tennis & Bee always likes that horrid place— He has given up all hopes of obtaining the "water Inspectorship"—

Horace found the Telferage at Glynd not going on on well, & was dreading the job of having to part with one of the Managers whom he did not think competent, when he resigned of his own accord—

We are reading Little Lord F. & find it very amusing, but not suited for children— There is no end to the description of his beauty.

Have you heard from Ella lately. Bessy was wanting to write to her—

only think of Bessy's having the honour & glory of shewing M^rs Myers the way about Cambridge— B found her looking for a Trinity man's rooms in Clare, & set her right— "This is Trinity is not it?

The Arthur Crofts & Franks dined w. us yesterday— She is simple mannered & harmless—but no bigger or prettier than M^rs Romanes— Ellen is rather irritated with her brother for not really exerting himself in the right way to get employment—

My best love to Maud

yours dear George | E. D—