From W. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin 10 December [1893]

My dear Mother,

My influenza has gone, but I have not yet got up quite my usual strength, but I pick up each day a little.

Sara wishes to stay here at Christmas, as Lucy will then be in bed, so she would like to make it as cheerful as she can for Arthur & the children. I am not yet certain as to my plans, I do not want to travel till I am quite right, & as I have been away from the Bank for nearly three weeks I have to think of the others: also I think that I shall be here just at Christmas to help Sara, but I shall decide by & by. I had a very cheerful letter from Ida last week, & I shall look forward to seeing Horace when I come up. How sick Leo must be of the 'House'. It will be interesting to see what the Government does with the Lords' amendment to the Employers' liability bill, they will wish to throw it out to please the Trades Unions if they dare. I do not know what Ilbert's phamplet was, or Hope's reply.

As Di's ex-trustee I am interested in her marriage, which I had not heard of. You say he is a nice young man, what is his name, & is he idle & well to-do? I fear he has probably nothing to do.

I am very glad to hear you are so particularly well, & like seeing Caroline & Louisa. I have promised to stay with George when I come up, but I shall try & come on to you for a day or so.

We have had no letter from America as yet, strange to say. Aunt Grace was buried in the Sedgwick buring ground in Stockbridge by her wish, Theodora went up there for the funeral, & I dare say was away three days, & so did not write till she returned, & so missed the steamer. Yes it was Mr Child who used to go & read to her, I think he must have done so for over two years.

I have not yet read Parton, Sara read it last year or so & was much interested   I am going to read it by & by, I have just been reading an essay by Brunetière, who makes out that Voltaire was entirely selfish in all he did even his tremendous struggle for Calas was only got up to bring him before Europe in a safe way. I cannot believe so badly of him as that, I want to get his letters from England, which are said to be very interesting, I see Lord Kelvin at the R. S. said that it was V. who first made known in France Newton's philosophy.

Brunetière is one of the leading French critics, & it is curious he should as far as possible take away from Voltaire the credit of his conduct towards Calas, unless B. is a staunch catholic, & hates V. for his general scoffings at religion. Churton Collins essay on Voltaire in England is interesting, but I dislike C. C. himself, the essay is in a vol: together with one on Bolingbrooke.

It is a horrid blustering day, & Sara & I are taking a fly down to have tea with Lucy, & I shall the chance of calling on Sir C. Wilson.

How sad it is that poor Mrs Tyndall made the mistake with the chloral, Chemists should be compelled to put all poisons in some peculiar kind of bottle, so that even in the dusk one could tell there was danger.

I am glad Bessy has gone off for a few days change, please give her my love & thank her for her letter.

good bye dear Mother, Sara sends you her best love,

your affect: son, | W. E. Darwin