From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [13 November 1862]

My dear William

I am just returned from a very pleasant visit of 4 days at Cumberland P. I went up all by myself leaving Hen. to keep things comfortable. The first day we had only Uncle Ras a pleasant family party. Sunday dinners are abolished & the solid tea at 8 was pleasant & cheerful & the evening short & agreeable instead of being too long & tedious as they used to be. I went in the mg. with At Fanny & Mack. to the Unitarian Chapel & I only wish I lived within reach of one. They cut up the Church service into Ten different services of a moderate length & change every Sunday. James Martineau preached but I only admired him to a moderate degree.

On Monday I bought some of Lizzy's trousseau & lunched with At Cath. & went to the Pop. Concert (seeing the illuminations at the same time down Regent St.

Effie & Hope were so sober they w^d not go & sneered a good deal at us old ladies. I admired Joachim very much all except Sebastian Bach which was so hideous it was a great waste of his Talents, tho' I dare say immensely difficult.

Tuesday we had a brillian semi family dinner at Cath. Ellen Tollet Uncle Ro^bt, Henry Parker &c

Wed. Mack. set out & I am afraid travelling in this sharp frost must be a risk— However he is very much better & I fully expect that a winter in Algiers will set him up. He goes to Marseilles & from thence it is about 48 hours.