Ridgemount, Basset, Southampton.
Feby. 28th.
My dear Mrs Darwin.
The hours sped away at the Grove, & my forth night was gone before I could turn round! Here I am therefore once more & solo, today for the weather is perfect & William has gone a-hunting! Yesterday came your welcome letter, & as I had little hopes myself, I was glad to see that you were half prepapred for a defeat. I do hope that Leonard & E.th are not worn out by fatigue & disappointments & that they may have something [illeg] in store for them by & by. They must be thankful to say 'farewell' to Lichfield. Pray give them my love & sincere sympathy. I had two cold days in town & on Sunday had luncheon with our old friend [illeg] She took me to see her sisters' horses in Draycott Place, but we went to be nearer the Park. This luncheon was very pleasant also the dinner with the Darwins at their Hotel in Albermarle St. He is certainly an able man— I wonder he never was in Parliament; & she is quite a charming person, so simple & so kind.
I did very little shopping but saw the pictures: & at the old Masters there is a fine Portrait of Washington, which I was glad to see among other many interesting things. It spoke well for it that it could bear the neighbourhood of so many ancient master's pieces!
And now I must say Adieu, but not without thanking you again, & with true love for my precious brooch & the equally precious letter which was with it on my table— How amazed I was, & yet why should I ever be surprised at any kindness on yr. part. You have been [ever] like a mother to me—
Always with love to Bessy. | Your loving | Sara Darwin
Status: Draft transcription
This transcript was produced as a side-product of the work of the Darwin Correspondence Project and may not have been proofread to the DCP’s usual standards.
Please cite as “FL-0278,” in Ɛpsilon: The Darwin Family Letters Collection accessed on