From W. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 22 January 1888

My dear Mother,

Thank you for your 2 pleasant letters of the 11^th & 19^th   I have been overwhelmed with work this last fortnight & have not had a minute to myself. I have been particularly busy at the Bank, and besides that I have had a great deal of committee work & letters. We are forming a Branch of the Association for promoting Technical Education here, of which I have been Temporary Chairman; also I have been working at plans & getting information & trying to get subscriptions for building a workshop for a school I am governor of.

Then we are getting up a [illeg] Committee next, of which I am Vice President, also I have had a lot of Correspondence as to altering rules of Provident Dispersion of which I am President. I have also the [illeg] Organisation Soc: and the Hartley Council; so you may guess my hands have been full.

I was thankful my cold & throat was a bona fide reason for not going to the funeral, as I was tired; my throat is nearly well now, otherwise I should have liked to have been there, but I am glad the family were represented. I can quite understand that you will feel much the loss of Aunt Caroline's intense sympathy with all family interest, and the great pleasure your letters gave her. It is very true what you say about men, but I fancy it is partly that they are not able to remember vividly as many women are.

I suppose in a week's time I shall be sent for to L. H. P. to see about Aunt Caroline's will, and to make any immediate arrangements as to money matters; & possibly to divide up the Estate, which will be a great undertaking & I hope may be deferred a little. In the course of a year Sophy will have to decide whether she buys L. H. P., so that it have to be valued.

I cannot help being sorry that F. did not try for Edinburgh, as he might have lived at Cambridge 9 months; & 3 months in Ediburgh would have been very pleasant.

I think this mild spell will tempt Hen. to go South; it is a lovely day here, & Sara has taken the bit between her teeth ands gone to Church with Tammy.