From W. E. Darwin to H. E. Litchfield 21 May 1872

My dear Hen,

I was near you today & so looked in, but found you invisible. Frank & I had had a pleasant breakfast with the American Higginson, who is a somebody, and worth meeting. He is manager or Editor of the ""Index"" so I hope Frank will get him to Down where he wants to go. He said if Abbot had been a little taller & had a little more outward expression of enthusiasm, he would be about the most powerful man in America. I did not quite understand why ""a few inches to his height"" would affect his power. I think he meant both powerful intellectually and influential as an orator. He had just been hearing Bradlaugh & talking to him and was extremely struck with his power as a speaker & the wonderful bursts of eloquences, & on this I quite agree with him.

One of my objects in seeing you was to talk over a serious matter. I mean to have a Portrait of Father by Watts, unless anybody can persuade me that it will be a failure probably either from Watts not taking to the kind of subject, or being ill, &c, &c, &c— The expense will not be more than £500 & if F. jibbs, I am game to pay it.

If no other opening turns out better, the next time I am in Town I shall call on Watts & see what he has to say (as to how many sittings, But I thought perhaps Richard might put me up as to how to get at him better or could get me a good opinion whether Watts would take to the subject. Please keep quite dark

your affect | WED