From S. E. Wedgwood to Fanny Allen 9 June 1870

My dear Fanny

I have been spending all my days up here since the Ls came, not to lose any of them, little or big. I think Edmund is quite as well if not better than when he arrived in England in spite of the wretched weather he ran his head into. Charles seems remarkably well—& the little things both very engaging little creatures— Stephy is making way now with his grand-papa in spite of Milly's overpowering charms. Harry & Jessie came yesterday from Lidwells. Jessie is teazed with a persistent dazzling which makes her unable to read & a sharp head-ache—but behaves as if she was well, which I am sure I could not do if I was in her state— I hope a blue pill may do something to cure her. I have not seen much of Harry at least not talked much with him—we are so many—but he has been pacing & talking with Charles L. He always finds a great deal to talk of with him. I am very glad of his visit to the North— Jessie is hoping she need not ask the old people to the wedding, which Emma & I encourage her to think she need not  They cannot like to take that very long journey for it, and may not think it civil to refuse. All the young ones are gone today, meeting Alice & Eleanor C. to see Ightham, an old house beyond Seven Oaks. and many [win] the pros & cons as to whether they should go, for the day threatened rain—but it always threatens a long time before it comes to anything after such a long draught as this, & it has turned out beautiful. The flowers & the hay are all burning up

On Saturday I had a dreadful ""frappe""—a letter from Mrs Van Hafen dated St James's Parsonage Hempstead Road! where she her husband & two children were arrived the day before, & asking whether she should call on me or I would go & see her—so Emma took the pen for me & said that I was old & it was unfit I should have any agitation, & therefore I declined seeing her—& telling her about her children. I have been rather nervous every post since to see what sort of a letter of remonstrance I lament I might have in return—but today there is come a letter that has put me quite at ease—taking no notice of any thing unpleasant, & telling of their having got Lily for a short time & saying that Mrs Van Hafen was very much pleased with the school, but I am excessively puzzled to think what money they are living on— She takes of taking Bertha home, & the boys for the holydays—& of carrying on an action against the Indian Railway  It is a [mystiry]—& the action must be all bosh.

Charles Darwin has just had a wonderful honour, wonderful as shewing such a surprizing progress at Oxford in Liberalism. He received a letter from Lord Salisbury telling him the University was desirous to confer an honour (I dont know what) on him, & asking him to go down to receive it. This last he was obliged to say he was not able to do—but whither that will prevent the honour being conferred I dont know. I suppose not—A very short time ago such a thing at Oxford would have been utterly [scouted].

now goodbye my dear Fanny—& I will go & put my letters in the post— ever your SEW.