From Emma Darwin to H.E. Litchfield [4 December 1873]

My dearest body

It will be a long time without seeing u, but u are quite right not to let R. worry his soul out by himself. I want to hear what that troublesome impudent man has been doing. I hope poor Mrs Williams has not any regrets about leaving her children, as if they were not well cared for.

Eliz. & Snow dined yesterday & it is so m. better when we are a v. small party. F. quite enjoyed his talk w. her over Max Müller & the nonsense he talks about language & reason. She has written down her confutation of him so clearly that one wonders how she can be so confused when she prints. I believe he will make use of it, but Snow thinks M. Müller so rubbishy she does not think him worth powder & shot— She has also given him a capital translation of Linneus acct of a sleeping plant, & F is quite pleased w. his own proficiency in Latin that now he has the translation he can quite make out the original. He has never heard from Dr C. so now he is Doctoring himself & has left off all grease for 2 days, with marked benefit to his digestion, as it as was also at first— But it will never do unless he can find some substitute for the sake of warmth & keeping up his flesh— He is absolutely gloating over puddings & will break loose soon if Dr C does not write

I have got my bank cleaned & the shrubs sent for. It will be a great interest to see how they get on—

We have got Mr Nash's support for the Reading Room & today Parslow is gone to Mr C. Harris the only remaining Member of the school Board, & then we shall go to war—

Parslow says he believes Mr Ff. & Mr Allen will lock up the school & keep the keys but I hardly think they will be such geese.

I am rather interested in the book on French manners, though she is so absurdly confident in her opinion & affirms facts about the disposition of the French that I c^d not venture to have an opinion on w. respect even to the inhabitants of Down. Lunch time

So Goodbye—