From Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin 25 March 1893

My dear George

It is so bright & hot (it almost killed me yesterday) that I expect you will venture on Bramscombe. It was 60° & we had no fire— In the ev^g I revived & had a visit from Horace who was dining w. Hen— The children are going on well; but their coughs are so violent that Hen. suspects whooping cough— I wish it might prove so, by way of getting things over—

Horace thinks he shall rush them to Brighton on Tuesday. They adore Brighton & he wants a few more lessons from D^r Roth. Ida has enjoyed her stay w. the W. Farrers at S. Remo, where also she met the J. B. Carters. The drives are lovely; but she suffers some agonies in not being able to stop the carriage & jump out after flowers &c. being in Sir W's carriage w. him. I believe she & Mercy are gone on to Bordighera— She stayed 5 days w. M^rs Jackson who is in quite a different state— It was [com] like Croft Cottage— Every one rushed in & out w. a bang & the schoolroom being next door the 3 girls practising lasted pretty well continuously. She is uneasy about little Horace— He has screaming fits at night for 1 or 2 hrs when he is as if demented   He & Alice sleep out of hearing. I am afraid it must be the brain; They are puzzled where to go for the summer—

Mikey drives about at San Remo v. grand in a carriage & [illeg] & a tall hat.

The debate on Thursday was v. interesting & the Opp. seem bent on a vote of censure— How disgusted Asquith must be at Morley's releasing this last Tipperary man w. explosives. W. E. G. seems to have changed his tactics in consenting to receive Deps from Dublin; but it is rather late—

Albert Dicey & Leo. thought Lord Salisbury going to Belfast now w^d do harm, wh. surprizes me—

I think Hen. must have written to Charley to thank him for his present— It shewed great patience on his part. Gwenny's letter was v. nice & told all they were doing— Her hand is excellent.

Fr. Ellen & Co go to E.bourne today & the Leonards join them for a week I am glad to say— They have given up the Rivièra as there are necessary meetings at Lichfield.

There is such a ferment I can't help having hopes— Horace is going to London to start his new castors. Ida's Uncle W^m has a passion for castors (so have I) & I hope he will patronize. I have been out once & enjoyed it but it tired me— I sit at the open window— Yours my dear G. & M— | E. Darwin

Bessy is at Miss Williams who always makes things jolly & pleasant—

M^rs Sales is here & is to go & see your Elizabeth.

M^r Johnston the writer in the Rad. Lichfield paper gave a flaming acct of Bee's dress & demeanour at Court—

He told Leonard that he could not really see her dress & he had applied to a lady friend to invent one for him, wh. she did quite regardless of expense or possibility— The material being a glacé velvet!— L. thinks he wants to be his agent—but he is a goose evidently—

We hope M^rs G. will do   she makes all simple things nicely— She & M^rs Sales are very thick.