From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 17 September [1878]

My dear William

I was so vexed on Sunday at the sudden storm that reached us about one o'clock & I see it is marked ""ugly"" in the Times chart. It continued blowing hard for 24 hrs & I am afraid your beginning must have been v. horrid & it was so disappting after that beaut. fortnight so calm— The S. of Ireland was marked ""rough"" just where you were at the time. The weather has not tempted At Fanny to sit or drive out—

On Monday came Alice & Major Noel & Mr Durando the Italian botanist, whom George found such an awful bore. I caught Alice privately & asked her to carry him off in a reasonable time. It did v. well tho' F. c^d hardly understand a word he said. He w^d have liked to hear more about the Eucalyptus &c—but he acted very well— Durando is the best of old souls & has ruined himself in setting up some sort of Fourierist estab. at Algiers The Litches come on Thursday having had a delightful Worcester m. meeting in spite of missing Titiens so m—& 3 days at the Cheltenham Hotel to see the Tukes— The old Abomiler was q. amiable & it went off well— R. not v. well w. is disappting. Bernard went to meet Frank on his return home & was made very tipsey by it, which ended in crossness—a rare event with him. George goes on Thursday for a week or so at Strathconan & very cold he will be— He liked his 2 days w. Leo. & went to see Allingham Castle; but the most serious event is that the Teesdales (father & mother, Clergy son & daughter—in law) are going to dine w. us on Saturday. The disagreeable son does not come— I went to hear the Clergy preach on Sunday & he was earnest & refreshing after Mr Ff—

How impatient we shall be for your first letters. I don't know that a tel. w^d do us m. good, as we shall see the arrival of the Bothnia in the Times.

After Post.

It was delightful to receive your prosperous letter from Q. town—but Alas poor innocents I am afraid you wd not know what was before you on Sunday— I suppose a large ship makes an immense difference. How long is the Bothnia.

It was nice of you to write my best love to my dear Sara

Your letters will be most interesting— I hope Sara will feel happy about her Aunt Anne— my best loves to her & my dear Theo.

yours | ED