From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [20 January 1885]

My dear William

Here is Leslie Stephen's letter which rather disappoints me, there is so much partizan Spirit in it & rejoicing over those who thought your father agreed with them; also sneers about spirituality or rather a sneer—

I am no nearer a settlement but so far; if it were not for the letters published & the conversation w. Aveling, I should prefer his opinions being only drawn from his works; but that being out of the question I am in favour of either publishing the Religious part with the exception of the beginning, or what I should prefer his opinions being only drawn from his works; but that being out of the question I am in favour of either publishing the Religious part with the exception of the beginning, or what I should prefer, Frank giving a short account of his opinions in his own words, in the way Leslie Stephen mentions in his P. S— without however approving of it—

I enclose a cyclamen flower for Sara

yours my dear William

E. D—

What do you think of shewing the whole part to a liberal believer such as Llewelyn Davies or Jowett— or Stopford Brooke—

I have been thinking very much over the question of publishing the religious part— of the Autobiography & I have been reading a long letter of Leslie Stephen's to Frank— I can't make out what effect it has had on Frank's mind, but I think it has rather deepened my dread of having it given to the world— It is true of contempt as to what the religious people will think & say makes me realise how painful it will be— He gives Frank warning that no one must think it will be passed over, & that there will not be plenty of discussion on it—

I still think that nothing will be gained & much lost by its publication & I shrink much for you for all that it will bring upon you— L. Stephens does not seem to realise that the auto was not written for publication he talks of the "suppression" of the passage. I don't think that word applies. You talk of suppressin a thing that would naturally be published–in this case if none of it had been published, I sh^d never have used the words that it had been suppressed–& just the same the onus of proof is to show why it must be published not why it needn't.

I do not at all wish to have any doubt—left—as to his religious belief see* but any account by Frank will have quite a different effect, & cannot be taken hold of in the way his own words certainly would— by its publication & I shrink much for you for all that it will bring upon you—