From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 14 April 1887

My dear William

I forgot the name of your ship; but I think it must have been the Eider wh. arrived at N. Y. on Monday. We have snow this morning & very cold weather which makes G. grumble at having returned home so soon as he is quite unwell again—

I had a very cheerful Easter week, w. Leonards & Litches. Bee & Hen. had great fun in settling the furniture in the new drawing room—

They have trimmed it up very prettily & it is So m. plesanter than the old one that I can't conceive how we have been so foolish as to waste it these several years.

There are so many comf. places in it & the flowers look to pretty— We had 3 bright days which made the room so hot we must have outside jalousies to one of the windows— Bessy returns today from Caverswall, where she has had a very cold visit, but comfortable. They went to see the site Godfrey has bought for building— It sounds dreadfully high w. a fine view & only Copse wood about it & $\frac{1}{2}$ a mile of approach road to make, which I conclude shews that there is no cottage or house within that distance— wh. is dismal. I send you the Spec. on Gladstone's speech, in wh. I heartily agree— The demonstration in the Park seems to have been a failure according to the Times— about 50,000— though M^r Sexton spoke of a million—

The Land bill of the Lords gives great dissatisfac. to the Landlords, so that it ought to satisfy the Parnellites. G. called on A. Balfour & found him in good spirits & hardened to all the brutality of the Irish. His health has borne it well too. I hear from Lady Hooker that Sir J. has got his pension at last; but minus the naval pension for his services, which sounds shabby, as he earned the latter by good work—

I like my new man & I think all will be peace in the household— Jackson narrowly missed a situation at M^r Rothery's wh. w^d have suited him better than what he has got. viz a smart situation w. a Shropshire Squire & M.P (my thumb is lame, wh. accounts for my writing)—

M^r & M^rs Prothero called yesterday, the 1^st time I have seen her for more than a year— She looks so well & pretty; but she is not really recovered—

Ellen has her father for a long visit— It is very difficult, if not impossible, to make him comfortable. The estab. at Ben Rhydding suited him as he could get Society there; but he has burnt his quarters by constant fault finding, & they declinee having him again— The chief misfortune is that he does not care for any of his children— Frank's baby is quite a pleasant little thing now, chiefly adoring dogs—

Here is Ella's Du Puy's address

32 East 20^th Street | New York & it was neglectful of me not to see that Sara had it in N. Y. but I suppose the post is safe— Ella knows of its despatch— I long for news of you both— I have been very well & this sharp weather suits me

Yours my dear W^m E. Darwin

Do not forget my affec—love to Aunts A. & G. & to Theodora