From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [10 December 1878]

My dear William

We have had our heads very full of poor Jenny's sad death. She went on quite well for 3 days after her confinemt when she became feverish & after many fluctuation, for more than a week acute bronchitis or something more like asthma set in & she had not strength to resist it. Poor Col. Carr leaves the children at his father's, as a soldier would find them too great an anxiety. It was a perfectly happy marriage & I feel so sorry for Uncle H. at nearly 80 to have the one bright spot in his rather sad surroundings destroyed. People are apt to mention the 4 little children as an additional source of grief but I think it is just the other way—

Frank came home last night pretty well satisfied w. his lecture.— at least, after hearing Dr Moore's favorable opinion of it; for before that he had thot it not so good as his last. An immense audience. We had a pleasant Sat & Sunday w. Huxley's & Tyndall's  All T's friends are deeply attached to him, but to an outsider he is tiresome & self-conscious. Mrs T. is v. nice, cordial & natural & adores her John & liked her visit— The 2 gents went away on Sunday night w. was good for F— Madie & Rachel were pleasant & easy & Leo ""tould himself off"" to do his duty like a man— He did his duty chiefly to Rachel however who is not 17 and not pretty but r. pleasing.

M. is pleasant but a little too undoubting & sure of admiration. Horace did quite the right thing w here. She is to perform in a little play at the Cooksons she the only lady w. 2 strange gents—w. will not be quite good for her. F. has been v. well since London— I have hardly been out of the house as it does not suit me in the severe cold—

I had some political talk w. Sir John, who lunched w. us on Sunday— I was r. surprized to see so cold a man so m impressed w. the want of truth in the ministry. Lord Salisbury very much, but most of all Sir Stafford. He also thought it a most damaging accusation against Lord Cranbrook about garbling the Despatch & that he had not rebutted it— However he seemed to have no hopes of their being shaken. Bernard has been a little poorly w. his breathing bad & a v croaky voice but he is almost right now. It has kept us on a sharp look out. He is almost more charming poorly than well  so quiet & attentive to any amount of twaddle sitting on ones lap—

No news of Leo yet—you shall hear if there is any good news—

Do you & Sara take constitutionals in the dark? My best of loves to her— she will be here the 23^rd & you too I hope—

yours my dear | ED—

There is a letter from Sara for Bessy waiting for her return & following Sara's strict principles I have not opened it— How does the new housemain promise?

The ministry seem to have concealed the unfavourable opinion of the Indian Council (Sir A. Hobhouse, Muir & Norman) on their doings most carefully.