From Leonard Darwin to Emma Darwin 11 and 13 September [1875]

Dear mother

So far so good—fine weather and a very comfortable ship, and hardly any sea sickness. We were off from Southampton nearly to time—father was almost too late which would have been a great pity for his sake and mine. I have not found out the names of many people on board yet, but I expect I shall know them all before long as the ship seems very empty and will be more so after leaving Gib. where several get out. I did nothing all yesterday but read a French book on deck, as I was just sea sick enough to make me hate my fellow creatures—although this time I think I have felt it less than any other voyage. You will be glad to hear that Major Harris is a very nice man, and that I have duly pumped him and found out all his affairs. He is the tall dark man that we spotted on deck, and Jim owes Frank 2/6. He is a man rather to be pitied, as he was just at the commencement of his two years furlough, when he heard that he might lose the chance of commanding his native regiment unless he went back directly. The commands of these regiments seem given more like ships are in the navy than regiments at home  Besides which the poor Major's liver is in such bad condition that he is afraid he shall not get further than Malta—which will be much the best thing for him. He has been in India 20 years, and talks in a pleasant way about it. Besides the Major there is a Lieutenant R.E on board but at present both he and his wife are too miserably sea sick to have discovered the existence of another sapper on board; I expect we shall make friends if he ever recovers his equilibrium. Monday 13^th.

Weather still splendid. The Lieut RE has recovered and both he and his wife are very pleasant  My big chair is so wonderfully comfortable that I have been quite ashamed of sitting in it whilst there were a lot of sea sick ladies about, and I have made friends with several people by lending the chair—the Lieut. RE amonst the number. There is also a Captain R.E on board—rather curious that there should be three on board and that we should only have found each other by chance. They both are bound for Gib. where we arrive tonight; a most unlucky time for I shall see nothing of the Rock. This is much the best managed boat that I have yet been on—every thing is done well and there seems to be very good discipline; on Saturday they went through fine drill; all hands on the ship turned out and in about two or three minutes they had six different fire-hose, worked by steam and squirting water over the side of the ship. But it was all done so quietly that one might easily not have found out that anything was going on. After that they all stood by their boats, and the names were called over to see that every man knew his place.

I shall post this at Gib, but I think that it is quite likely that the letter from Malta will get home first. I know that there were a hundred other things that I was to write about but they seem to have all gone out of my head. So goodbye for the present, mother, and love to all at home.

Your affec son | Leonard Darwin