From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 5 April [1891]

My dear George

I was very glad to have your letter & I hope you have got things warm & comfortable about you— We call it much warmer here the therm. having reached 50^o yesterday. I have been out twice & felt it v. pleasant. Sara said that Gwenny was delighted at the thoughts of going to Down—

We enjoyed the sight of Leo & B. v. m— They had a g^t deal fresh to tell— They thought that horrible Canton was the most interesting sight they had seen— I don't think Bee ever felt safe in the crowds, & once she was much frightened at being trotted off by her chairman out of sight of Leo–-

The English residents keep as m. as possible to their little island & never feel quite safe from insult in the town— Leonard took 10 days to consider the appointment & he thinks whether he gets any other or not that he will have decided rightly. His friend M^r Marindin who has the same sort of app^t has sometimes had only 4 or 5 days at home in the fortnight & M^rs M finds it v. uncomf—

They both are v. thin & brown & Leo does not look well–-

He is going to consider whether he can make any use of his exact & minute journal, such as an article in one of the Mags—but there is not enough go in it. He says that B's account of Canton is m. better than his own, & I am to see it. Hen. is still with us & as feeble & subject to headache

Here is a pleasant letter from Horace— Price & Bernard are at this moment on their way to Dover— Ellen is m. better since her move to Ragatz. I wish they c^d find some half way place for next winter— The lazy boy never wrote to tell us about Abinger; but I fancy it was all pleasant. Latterly they overflowed w. children. There being 2 Websters (Ernests) & Mary (Bim)   Little Ada is I hope recovering. W^m went to the Unionist meeting at Portsmouth & Kitty Max &c (whose husband spoke) sat by him— Chamberlains speech was excellent—

I saw the Daily News yesterday It is quite pathetic about the wickedness of th Unionists not taking measures to stop the lamentable state of discord in Ireland— I fancy they leave out all these excellent speeches Sir James &c— Also that the tories & Parnellites are working together. esp. in voting for the Parnellite at Sligo—which I dare say they did out of hatred of the priests, & also our cue is that the 2 parties sh^d be nearly equal— Ida is v. comf. at the thoughts of having Emily back as cook—

yours my dear G— my best love to Maud—

Have you got one of the engravings of Josiah W.? If not I will give you one.

yours my dear G. | E. Darwin

I expected to hear that the poor dear [illeg] were dead. I think I shall cut down the branches you mention

you need not return Horace.

Are the Sutherlands at home.