From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [13 January 1887]

My dear William

Here is Leo's last. I am afraid he has no chance—

I have been downstairs for 2 days which is a pleasant change— my trouble is not being able to keep my room cool enough— I find over 60 v. oppresive— Ida had been at K Sq^r—- & brought us the latest politics from Bry Sq. where Ruth was visiting on her own hook— & also to see a D^r—

The reason Lord Iddesleigh w^d not take office is that he considers himself treated with such disrespect by Lord Salisbury— All the ministers sent him in their resignations to make matters easy, & without any communication w. Lord I. or consulting him in any way as to what office he w^d accept he at once published the resignation— There was a very angry letter from Mr Northcote in the Standard. I have actually read the German debates & I admire wicked old Bismark extremely— It is sad to see that he thinks a war with France inevitable some time or other— I don't think it w^d have been so, if the Germans had not taken Alsace-Lorraine— I hope we shall have Dabba tomorrow— Please to thank Ellen for her pleasant letter— Bessy called on the P. yesterday & found her in the highest spirits w. Sarah—

I am glad Frank has written about the attack on old Sir R Owen— I don't mind the open blow in the face of the QQQQ—

Ida's other bit of politics was that Lord Spencer began his Lord L. strongly for coercion but gradually veered round against it & towards Home Rule— He did not think it the right time to make his opinion public while in office, & meanwhile Gladstone sprung the mine—-so that Lord. S. appears only to have followed in his wake.

They are v. cheerful at Down now & have called at High Elms & seen the Van Zandts— also had the satisfac— of seeing what poor little starvelings the little Miss Ls are in comparison to big Gwenny—

Yours my dear W^m— w. best love to Sara & all of you | E. D