From Emma Darwin to H. E. Darwin [26 March 1866]

My dearest Body

I am writing not for the post so that I shall feel at leisure to write a decent letter. Your account of the brownness of foreign parts quite agrees with my memory. no turf. but why things don't grow on the rocks & hills I can't make out unless it is the want of moisture. I remember the m^ts near Genoa being perfectly brown. I am afraid you only had Lizzy's letter at Marseilles but that w^d show we were all night. My head has been very well these 2 days & we have enjoyed D^r H. tho' Papa was not at his best & feels a good deal done up today. Yesterday D^r H. walked over to call on the Lubbocks & that stupid George w^d not go with him; however he went a walk with Lizzy which was well bestowed. He found Lady L. & the new M^rs Henry who is very pleasant mannered & lady like but not pretty. Lady L. in a purple velvet gown which is an absurd dress for a quiet m^g in the country. Sir John & all the rest in white flannels (which makes it seem much wickeder) at fives. Lady L. wanted D^r H. to persuade Sir John to stick to science & give up politics which is quite a change. Papa was able ot talk a great deal & it was very pleasant. This m^g. George is gone a hunting on the pony & I am glad he comes in useful. M^rs Norman told me that M^r Rawson had preached against their fives & C. Norman wrote to him to say they w^d give it up as he disapproved so much. Even I think this was a mistake & that it w^d have been better to stick to their own opinion. M^rs N. is very uneasy about M^rs C. Norman whose nerves are in a very bad state after an illness.

A letter from Uncle Frank proposing to come on Thursday so I have hospitably asked him to come Sat. instead & bring Rose. I want all relations to know that 5 days suit better than 7. He really will be a great help on Monday when M^r G. Henslow comes & I am always glad to have him. Hope & Effie have chosen a clock which is an excelent thing but Charley P. has done the same & Mary must see if she can change it which will be difficult in a clock shop. I am afraid Rowly is more of an idiot than John. He was at Barlaston & thought it necessary to come up to the boat race knowing nobody, not knowing where to go, & not being able to see it in the least from his blindness & having no money for the purpose. Lenient Uncle Frank says he is a great bore. G. was rather low about the boat race though Cam made a much better fight than last year. A^t C. wrote to me herself & called herself well. G. saw them all at the play with the faithful Ed. & Uncle Jos. Mary P. is not in agonies of shyness & talks over things comfortably enough. Mary Hills looks worse but has not so much pain. An extraordinary black colour appears over the skin of her legs. We enjoy your letters so much. I must send a resumé to A^t Susan for I am sure she can't read them.

Goodbye my dear.

It is not at all long to us since you went. I must get an elegant lunch for M^rs Chad. may it be fit for croquet ofr Lizzy & Miss C.