From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [September 1866]

My dear W^m

I will handsomely copy Aunt F. Hensleigh's account of Nottingham as I don't believe you c^d read it & I am sure the boys c^d not.

"D^r Hooker took just 1$\frac{1}{2}$ hour & perhaps it was as well you shortened him & also he read capitally & was listened to with profound attention— There was a crammed theatre the house being quite full for an hour before. When the Sachem began, for a minute or two we were all mystified & then there came such bursts of applause from the audience first & going on— It was so thoroughly enjoyd amid roars of laughter & noise making a most brilliant conclusion.

(Now I must explain a little what the Sachem was. D^r Hooker said that in his travels he had come upon a tribe of Indians who were firmly of opinion that the moon was a fresh creation every month & they thought him very impious for telling them it was the same moon "as if God could not create a fresh moon every month." However seven years afterwards on meeting the same tribe he found that many of the medicine men & Sachems had begun to see the truth & the opinion was gradually making way with them & then he added that he need not tell them that his first visit to the tribe was at Oxford 7 years ago & that his second was at Notts. now)

"I though M^r Grove's address as good as it c^d be— now I longed for you to hear the noise they made when Charles' name was mentioned" Our illustrious country man— it made us feel so grand— though we were sitting in the Mayoress box in her splendour— QQQQ

I hope to get to Sevenoaks tomorrow for a few hours. They have got Hope with them now. They found Amanda very pleasant but she went on Saturday. We have been very happy these 4 days & it is wonderful how soon one gets used to hopes instead of fears & drives away the old horrid thoughts. Lenny is not weak at all & sits up to all his meals. He has not a notion that he has been very ill

I conclude you will not think of Sevenoaks now the boys come to you so soon. Do you think you c^d stand Brodie with them for 2 days it w^d so please her to visit you, but don't say any thing to her yet because it must be the end of their stay with you & then she w^d join us at the sea wherever we are

We feel very childless & dull