From Leonard Darwin to G. H. Darwin 12–13 February [1881]

Dear George

I am back at work again feeling rather pulling down, but fairly fit for work. I had to take a class on directly I came back again which was rather hard luck; however it was not so bad as I expected, and now I dont mind a bit. We had a horrid thing happen in Barracks last night. An officer called Roper was found shot just below the heart on the stair leading up to his Barrack Room. On the stair was found some clothes made up into a bundle, a revolver, a purse, and poker. He died without being able to speak a word; and the extraordinary thing about it is that the shot was fired at Barracks at 8.35p.m; that no one paid any attention to it for some little time, and that the sentries say that no left Barracks at that time. The police make out consequently that it was suicide, but I feel certain that it was not, as I believe it was only 10 minutes before it happened that I was sitting opposite him at Mess and talking nonsense with him. It is an unplesant idea that a man can be murdered in Barracks quite openly, with plenty of people about, and that there should not be the least chance of catching the murderer. At least I dont see any. Of course we have been thinking of nothing else, and I feel as if it was all I was capable of thinking about.

At home the Butler controversy was much under discussion. Romanes states in his review that the book itself is not worth reviewing, and proceeds to attack it in 5 columns. I think it clumsily and heavily done, and much too abusive; however any abuse of him is plesant to read. Romanes' letter in todays Nature is very weak to my mind. Last Sunday Gladstone was at High Elms, and we all made up our minds (except father) that he would come over and call. But he did not, and we felt a Sunday afternoon without a prime minster was very flat.

Ubba Dubba sends his love to you and wants you to draw a picture of Portuguese soldiers

We hear that Butler is going to summon Romanes for libel— Romanes wrote to Richard to say so. Father has got the idea in his head that he should have to pay Romanes' Expenses. I dont the least mind his doing that if the world does not know it. but I should be very sorry for any to be able to say with a shadow of truth that father countenance these vulgar instults of Butler. However I dont really expect that Butler will do it.

Frank went up yesterday to play for the first time in his new orchestra; it does not seem to be much of an affair as the fiddles play awfully out of tune. But it is quite a new offering, and it is is possible that they may get some good new fiddle to drown the others.

The Fred. Lubbocks have bough the Rooker for £5000 I think; it cost the Nashes £10000 I have heard, but that sounds very heavy.

Your affec brot | L Darwin