From W. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 15 May [1888]

My dear Mother,

This visit has been a great success altogether; the brisk spring weather is delicious and it quickly drove off the effects of the voyage; and the country is very beautiful and I like it better than the gaudy autumn colours. The bright sunlight every day & all day long is very cheerful, and I think our grey days must be very dismal for Americans.

It was very good luck to receive the invitation to go with the Directors to Virginia, I should have seen very little of the country and nothing of Southeners in any other way   these gentlemen discussed the war & slavery very frankly; I think all feelings of bitterness is gone, except with respect to the north having put the blacks over their heads at once after the war by giving them the suffrage on man— Major [Dengeus] said that the [illeg] 5 years of freedom & teaching since the war had convinced him that negro was incompetent for anything but the lowest class of work, and nothing but starvation makes them work, and they have no idea of saving. He said the slaves still looked up to their Masters families and appealed to them for help. He said that lunatic asylums for the black have been largely built since the war, this shews they have a good deal of anxiety in their conditions. I had no idea how beautiful American scenery was till I went this journey, and I was sorry I could not see more.

I had a pleasant day with M^r Marsh at New Haven, and saw all his wonderful fossils and his beautiful Japan Vases &c, and heard many amusing stories of Buffalo Bill and Marsh's adventures in the West. I have been on the go dining and lunching out since I came back; Sara declines most invitations as she finds the daily talking [with] her aunts on the household rather very tiring.

Theo. is very well and in good spirits and always very busy; I do not see any difference in Aunt Grace, and little in Aunt Anne except increased deafness and loss of walking power.

Margaret is much improved & is quite a civilized young lady, and I fancy is no longer a general nuisance. I have seen but little of Grace Norton— She has grown quite stout; I must try and see a little more of her.

I dined 2 nights ago with a M^r Bancroft son of the historian, with whom Miss Huxley is staying. She seemed in high spirits and is enjoying her life, everyone takes to her, so I fancy her difficulty is to avoid society. I did not learn how her music was going on. I fear she is going to a hot country place in the summer, much nice [illeg]trying!

M^rs Higginson (Miss Agassiz) is dining here today she is very nice and an old friend of Sara's. Next week I go for 3 days Geology to the sea shore with M^r Shaler, and the following week (my last one) I go up with Theo. to see the house she has bought at Ashfield. We were very glad to get your nice long letter of April 29^th and Bessy's pleasant letter a little before. It is pleasant for you to have H. & Ida at home again, I am sorry H. has not been set up.

I am very glad your new man succeeds so well, I was afraid Jackson would not keep a good place, he is so untrained, and does not look the trained footman in any way. It is difficult with the papers 10 days old to keep up with the parliamentary work, I fancy it is thought here that the Parnell letter is a forgery. It seems to me to come all too pat & seems to be a forgery; I think the Times should show how they got it.

Goodbye dear mother— the Aunts Theo. & Sara, send their best love

Your affect. son | W. E. D.