From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [14] September [1887]

My dear William

I suppose this last division w. the great majority is a triumph for Go^vt— & I suppose the murder of the poor constable coming so immediately after the Parnellite teachings is very à propos— I admired Balfour's speech & he was wise in quoting the very words of the nationalist paper, to shew the danger the police were in—-

How strange it was Gladstone blaming him for prejudging the case & then doing exactly the same thing himself in the opposite direction I think the Irish Go^vt ^ were very remiss in not proclaiming any sort of gathering at Michelstown on the day of O'Brians's trial. It is very nice to think we shall have Sara next week. It will be very delightful if she continued to profit by the Baths & drinking. I don't wonder Lily finds it dull—

We have heard 2 stories of M^rs Gladstone's folly—some cousins of M^rs Whitmore's were calling at Harwarden & she asked if they w^d like to see the G. O. M. They declined on the plea of not filling up his time; but were not let off, & she led them thro' the library where he was writing only asking them not to speak.

The other was told to Miss Clough by M^rs G. heself— how when she was staying at Sandringham the Princess w^d force her to play at bowls, & on a Sunday afternoon too— It was very ill bred of the Princess. I hope you will look in here on y^r way to or from Lincolnshire. It is a dismal & perplexing errand. I asked M^r Tegetmeier (who called here w. M^r Sutherland) why the English could not grow fowls profitably & he said that fowls never throve if you had many in one place, & that therefore they required small proprietors or farms— Of course a large farmer might have separate establishments for his fowls— M^r Wilson of Hayes never kept his in one place but placed them (w. the hen in the coop) all over his grounds (I have got Prof. Newtons address wh. he sent me, & a nice letter) no doubt you have seen it in Nature— Today Lily Shaen comes for a rest & change, after her arduous life w. her mother; & as Margaret is away it is on her hands & now her Aunt takes her place— Your letter just come in. It is a very good division of plunder— I am glad that it is not so certain that the coral theory is overset–- I am reading Kingsley's Life again, w. much more pleasure— tho' his religion does not suit me, but I am much attached to the man himself—

yours | my | dear | E D.