From W. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 17 September [1883]

My dear Mother,

We were very glad to get your pleasant long letter today. It was aggrevating that I wasted my Sunday in London; after writing to you I went to Miss Tollet's to find out where you were, as I thought of going out to see you. I found you had left Miss T's. and guessed you were at Down, but I had to go to Southampton by mail train so there was no time. We are in a very comfortable Hotel in St Andrews Sq^u. but the weather has been very thick, up to yesterday when we had beautiful hazy Autumn weather, and the old town and castle & Arthur's seat look very beautiful thro' it.

I am sorry to say S. has been poorly nearly all the time with continual headache; she was pretty well at York & enjoyed the Cathedral very much, but the journey here and doing a little sight seeing too soon knocked her up; but she has now taken a turn by the help of some quinine and the fine weather. She would go to church yesterday; and it made me wish to use some of the strong expression you have heard in old days when going to church; it did not tire her much & in the afternoon we drove round the Queen's Drive and had some beautiful views. M. is enchanted, and deeply interested in Rizzio's blood stains & Mary's bedroom in Holyrhood; I enjoy aggrevating her, saying that I forgive Mary everything, she was so beautiful.

Today we have been a little expedition to Dalkeith Palace built by the Duke of Monmouth; it is not very striking, but has interesting portraits and many of the poor creature Monmouth. Tomorrow I take M. for the day to Melrose & Abbotsford, & S. stays here, and next day we go to the Marine Hotel, North Berwick, to try of a little North sea air will strengthen Sara.

Edinbro' is very charming in fine weather, and I have never seen it so well before; it would have been amusing if it had been in term time, as we should have seen the Prof: Sellar and his pleasant daughter whom we met at M^r Seblor's at Chilworth.

I am glad to hear that Bernard took F's going easily, he is so calm, it will all come as matter of course to him I should think. You have done a good deed in having the Ludwig's; they do not often get a change of house or food I guess.

We are curious to see Camberley, I had a sort a fear there it would be rather too full of ornaments, tho' I must not talk as I sometimes fancy we have too many "bibelots" at Basset.

I am very glad to hear that old Leo. has done so well, I suppose at the College there is no such thing as coming out first or second, they too much grown up for that.

It will be tiresome work deciding and packing what is to go to Cambridge. I want a complete list of what you take away made, and I daresay you could get it roughly valued, or the people who pack could value it or any upholsterer. I shall have to send to the Sun. Fire office a list so that it may be endorsed on the Policy that so much is removed to Cambridge. By the way is the Grove Isured & sufficiently?

I wish I could come to Down in time to give you a help, but you will be gone. I thought you would have stayed on into October.

We have just decided to build a gardener's Cottage on the slope above the orchard, quite out of sight; it is so far better to have him near, and I can let the other cottage. Judging by the gain we found the Lodge to be we shall not [repeat] it.

Goodbye dear Mother | Sara sends her best love | Your affect son | W. E. Darwin

Hen & Rich^d seem very jolly