From Leonard Darwin to Emma Darwin 10 October [1875]

Dear Mother.

It is a regular rainy Sunday, the best of all opportunities for letter writing if there was anything to say. I came here with the impression that it was always fine, but this week it has been throwing over all my ideas by a succession of thunder storms with deluges of rain, three inches are said to have fallen one day. The Habour is looking very busy just at present; out of our windows we came see four ironclads, the Serapis, and old three decker hulk, and two or three smaller men of war. Besides these there was one of the regular troop ships in here yesterday, on her way to India; I went on board her to see two or three sappers who were on their way out to India  They are huge big ships and it was a curious sight with every possible uniform on board. In re staff college; if I go up it will be next August year and I shall be home, if I pass, in December two years. I have decided not to think of going up next year for two reasons, firstly that it is better to do a certain amount of foreign service, if only not to have the reputation of a man who wants to shirk it  And secondly I see in the regulations that it is necessary to have five years service exclusive of leave of absence, and I dont think that I shall have that.

Tuesday has arrived with nothing more to say so goodbye

Your affec son | Leonard Darwin