From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 14 October [1878]

My dear William

You have been most good about writing & we are deeply interested in every word you can tell us. What a sign of happiness in a country being dotted all over small well-to-do houses; but I c^d wish they were not wooden.

It was most unlucky y^r catching a bad cold to begin with. F. of course will not believe a word of its being caused so suddenly by that chill— I hope to learn more about Miss Ashburner's caps; but I am afraid copying a cap answered no better than copying a pudding does with M^rs Evans (unless one c^d copy the head it suits)—

We feel the house rather desolate without Aunt F. who went on Saturday in the invalid carriage w. India rubber tires & I have had a card from Hensleigh saying that she v. enjoyed her drive & was not tired. She was always so sympathetic about ones affairs & so cheerful that I always enjoyed my sits in her room, which made a very pleasant sitting room—without the bed.

George is gone to Cambridge along with Fr Balfour who stayed here 2 days, & I found him more of a human creature & less of a physiologist, & made him talk second hand politics from his brother (Sec. to Lord Salisbury) He was struck w. Bismarck's coarseness & did not think m. of Andrassy— We have had 3 lovely bright days & yesterday Horace bicycled to the Spottiswoodes & found an immense party of notables there, Herbert Spencer Tyndall &c. M^rs S. was intensely civil & asked him to stay to dinner but he had to get home before dark— He met 8 fellow bi— & there has been a very sudden increase of them— He made it 22^m. Fr & Leo. went to call at Holwood & found Miss Drummond looking better than they expected— They are thinking of Matta—not a good choice except for balls— w I am afraid she ought to avoid—

Poor old Galumpus is made an end of & Leo (under guidance) is looking out for a horse for us—

I am very sorry you find Theo. looking thin. Give my best love to her. We did get her pleasant letter. I am so glad you have got to know M^r Olmstead I suppose you will have some dealings with the Grays & T. Appleton. The other day a M^r Ch. Hoare of Southampton sent in his card saying he w^d not detain F. It seems he had sent him a poem before & now he is writing another & asked to dedicate it to him (w. F. rather too goodnaturedly agreed to, trusting no one w^d ever read it) He said the notes were philosophical & the chief part— He banked w. you. He was v. modest & w^d not stay more than 5^m Do you know him

Horace is gone this mg professionally to L. H. P. about water pipes & he is also adviser to Alice B. C on the same subject. About the 20 he goes to Whittinghame He has been twice to talk business w. M^r Pryce Williams. Poor Dickie was married on Tuesday & is gone to Cork—

M^rs Ruck & S. Mary gave Bessy a delightful reception & she will be v. happy w. them. Bernard's last accomp. is sitting on the music-stool with his song book open & singing w. nonsense words in the most solemn manner, & calling to Babba if he thinks he is not listening attentively. He talks dreadfull well & will not be $\frac{1}{2}$ so entertaining.

I hope your presents were all the right things for the young people. F. is pretty well & not so frantic about his plants. The R. Es (viz Leo's sergeant) have got the gold medal for the best photo landscape in the exhib. which is just open—

The Times gives a "gratifying" word. Ho— is going to dine on Wed w. Fr Galton to talk axles—

My best love to my dear Sara. I hope somebody e.g. Theo. keeps a tight hand over her—

Yours E. D—