From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 17 September 1892

My dear George

I am afraid it is a long time since I wrote— I rec^d your 2^nd letter; & also one from Maud   I have just been writing to Helen to see when they will come here, which is cheerful to look forward to.

I am alone with Caroline W. (& Arthur for a few days) Bessy & M^lle Gonin being gone for a fortnight to Devon & Cornwall. B. means to talk French religiously & M^lle G. is very engaging & nice. M^r Sutherland called yesterday & enquire after you. M^rs S. niece came with him. She is up in Harwarden news, & said she had heard that the celebrated heifer of Harwarden Park is to be stuffed & sent to Chicago— If it had succeeded in killing the G. O. M. there w^d have been some reason for it. Also that the teeth & hoofs have sold well. The Godkins of Boston were in the Normannia & went thro' that horrid experience; but I see that they are now released. I hope those selfish brutes of the Island may be punished—

Sara now finds that her Aunts wish to have her; but the cholera daunts her as yet.

Lily Norton was very confident that they w^d be quite capable of enjoying her visit. She is now at Basset & soon going to sail & I shall not be surprized if Sara goes with her.

The Litches leave Kreuznach tomorrow evg & may be here on Sunday evg— They will both enjoy a sight of the children who however I think will not come before the 26^th

The political world is so flat now that I miss the excitement having only W. E. Gs twaddling & flattering speeches to the Welch—

The Leos have taken a house close to Trent valley station for a month as they have so many functions to attend—among other a Lichfield ball of which Bee is Lady Patroness which she will do well & look well—

They have had a pleasant visit at King's Bromley (a M^rs Lane) & a Primrose meeting in the park, of which Leo. was chief speaker—mixed w. Tea & dancing— Also a g^t meeting of miners sports where they were capitally received—

I had a visit of inspection from D^r Moore on Thursday— They are now gone to Scotland as he is in very full practice (Alice B. C. told me) & in want of rest—

M^rs Moore & the children have been visiting on the banks of the Thames & D^r M. said that Alan could not quite convince his mother that he was to be trusted alone in a canoe w. Ethna—

We had 2 days of Ernest & Mary & their beautifully mannered boy. I found I did get forrarders w. Mary— Mack played at croquet many hours w. Frances & was most good natured   Ellen plays a g^t deal & likes it & to my surprize plays pretty well—

Alice (who was visiting the Shores) met the party on the river in a high wind M^rs M. pale w. fright & thankful to get on shore w. Ethna. Alice threw herself into the breach by getting into the boat in hopes of keeping Alan in order, as he was rowing & quite independent of all control, however they all got out.

Caroline read me an interesting account of the Pembrokeshire earthquake not long ago— Her friend Miss Lloyd was staying in a Hotel on the I. of Caldy & the bed rocked so m. that she jumped up & ran to the window to see if the Lighthouse tower was thrown down— The men in it were up in the lanthorn & the tower swayed so much they gave up all hope but it righted itself. There were 2 shocks & no more.

I am reading Carlyle's ravings & scoldings in Past & present— He never suggests a single remedy but dispises all the efforts of others— His acc^t of the Old monk at Edmunds Bury is v. entertaining

The Russians are the only nation he respects (except in some respects the English). I am always surprized at his being adopted as a teacher or prophet— My best love to Maud— I hope you are keeping pretty well—

yours my dear George | E. Darwin

I am going to invite Lena Merminos to come for a day if she can be spared—while the children are here—