From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin [1860s]

Down

Wed

My dear Lenny

I am surprized at the audacity of little Clapham playing big Westminster. I daresay Clap. will improve very much with more practise. I hope you went up to your lark in London (United Service) yesterday It was a lovely day

Mr Engleheart was called in to the man murdered near Orpington. There was a quarrel & 2 navvies followed their companion & set upon him & killed him with kicks before the policeman who followed them, suspecting mischief, could come up. So they were taken up at once, but I don't think they will be hanged tho' the inquest has brought it in wilful murder.

On Sunday we took Bobby down the stony field & as the game keeper was in full view in his garden, Bobby took that opportunity of finding a rabbit & having a good hunt acorss the valley into the opposite wood. You must have read a good deal to get through Redgauntlet.

Horace is reading Oliver Twist which will suit you also I think.

Here is a letter from Lizzy. I am busy finishing her dress for the play & we will make her dress up in the holidays. She says she feels very low about the matter & I am rather sorry she acts. Frank is quite right to invite Mr Ward

Tell us how the dinner row has ended.

Yours my dear old man | E. D.

I will see what we can do about knuckle bones

Please cite as “FL-1016,” in Ɛpsilon: The Darwin Family Letters Collection accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/darwin-family-letters/letters/FL-1016