From Leonard Darwin to Emma Darwin 3 and 4 October [1875]

Dear mother

I have now got into the regular humdrum swing of existence; it is very humdrum, but there is plenty of work to do, and the time passes pleasantly enough. I relieved the monotony of my existence this week by coming a regular cropper with a horse which has made me very stiff for the last three days  We were going out riding, a party of about five of us, with the two Miss Wrays, and intended to have good long canter on the racecourse  My horse was very old but with lots of go in him, and just as we started the owner shouted dont take him too fast, and then set off himself as hard as he could with the rest of them. I could not prevent my little animal going a good pace, and I did not notice that the ground was getting rather slippery till we were all in a heap on the ground together  At the same time the others we going ahead without noticing my little performance, when they were brought to a standstill by Miss Wray coming off her horse, without hurting herself the least. Altogether we had rather an exciting ride. Yesterday I had my first experience on the Sanitary board for Valletta. The board consists of a nice old Colonel of the 71^st. a military surgeon and myself  The colonel ordered us to meet him at his mess yesterday morning and the proceedings commenced by the Colonel asking us if we were in a hurry to get away, and as we said we were not he took us into his room, and spent about an hour and a half in shewing us a collection of swords, Indian, Turkish, and Persian that he had been making for some years. I must say they were very beautiful and were well worth the attention of the Sanitary board. At last the old colonel remarked as a happy thought, ""well perhaps we had better go round some barracks—its a mere matter of form""  When once we had started we got on better than might have been expected, as the surgeon is a good man, and the colonel is a better man than he makes himself out. But there is not much to be done as they have had a first rate board for some time here, and every thing is done that can be done.

The weather has got a good deal cooler here in the last fortnight and is now getting delightful still a little hot in the sun. It is a very curious thing that officers do not as a rule get sunburnt here; not nearly as much as a month in Switzerland would make them; I expect few go out in the middle of the day much and if they do are well shaded with an umbrella or helmet.

I am getting to like my house companions Smith and Whitmore and when Dewey comes back I shall be well off in that respect. Besides these there is only one more unmarried Sapper a Captain Beaumont, who seems to me one of the curiosities of the place, he is conceited but amusing and very well read, plays the piano a little and can play chess with out looking at the board, which always seems to me one of the most wonderful things in the world.

Monday Oct 4^th.

The Marseilles mail has just arrived with letters from you and Frank. I am very sorry to hear of Richard still being bad, it is a great loss not getting a regular outing in the year; it will be terrible trial for him watching lawn tennis without being able to play. My arm is a little stiff yet, and I make that an excuse to myself for writing badly, tomorrow I expect I shall be all right again. How do Bran and Fritz get on together now—, if they ever meet?

Your affec son | Leonard Darwin

NB I enclose a cheque for father; please send off the MSS soon as Palmer wants them back soon I suspect