From Leonard Darwin to Emma Darwin [April 1875]

Dear mother

We landed all right without any measle-interference last Sunday. I am making rather a longer stay here than I had expected, because I found two of the Sandwich island Transit party here, and as they talked of going on the Yosemite, I thought it worth while waiting  But they now seem afraid of snow—and possibly I shall be left in the lurch. I forgot whether I told you that a D^r. Harkness came over here from the Sandwich islands in the steamer with us. It was a peice of luck for me for he has been very civil to me. M^r Hague, whom I met at Queen Anne Street has also been showing me the place. I went round the mint here the other day, and saw the whole of it, which is very seldom shewn to visitors. They were coining trade dollars, a coin which is made for use in China only, and the governor of the mint, a General somebody, gave us each one to keep as a curiosity. That is the sort of way they are treating me here. It is no use trying to refuse as it insults them, and does no good. I went into the potographers tody to buy a few photos, and was introduced to the man who took them by a M^r. Ashburner, who also has been very civil to me. I asked the price of the photos and was told after I had taken two, he would charge so much for any more that I should wish for. Last night I went all over China town with a detective, but he was not a good man and we did not see the place well. I believe that it would be quite safe going about these places alone, only they are difficult to find. In the afternoon I went into one of the Chinese temples with the Japanese consul who made it very interesting by explaining all the customs.

Monthly mails are a great advantage, it makes it so easy to write a good long letter, now when I have a mail evey day my letters will get very scratly like this  I got a bundle of your letters here, which I was surprised at as I thought I had foolishly put down Boston as the only place  I shall go on to Washington after this and then work north to Boston. Goodbye for the present, will write again soon | Your affec son | Leonard Darwin