From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin 10 December [1895]

My dear William

By my pocket book it is ages since I have written to you or Sara— I have been v. well & going out except on a few cold days— I am so glad Sara has had a visit from M^rs Seymour—

We had a pleasant surprize (when Leo. was here) in receiving the Lich paper on Sunday mg—- so as to talk over the 1^st opening day at Lich. One can't imagine anything more damaging to M^r Fulford, but I suppose people often feel that before one has heard the other side— I am glad you are rid of M^r Chamberlayne; but as I suppose painted donkeys & processions are not illegal it seemed hard on the payment of the 2/- only Leo. thinks it is quite certain that M^r F. will be unseated, he & B. will be terribly flat if it fails. I read M^r Morley w. great satisfac I have always thought that people put Carlyle too high as a moral teacher. His letters to his father are more powerful in that line than any thing addressed to the public, which has so much consisted of railine & contempt for the attempts of others to do good—

Well now I must go to L. my dict paper, which you have also got, I hope, Louisa Kempson & Jessie are with us for a few days— She has much to tell of her visit to Cresselly— The Squire is said to be a solitary melancholy man— He was a v. kind & cordial [post] & ev. thing in high order & comfortable He told her some of his experiences as a child when they really had not food enough. The French governess left them on that account as her health gave way—

I suppose Sara's Bathchair is v. different from mine as you talk so airily of wheeling her so far—

yours my dear W. & S. | E. Darwin