From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin 22 December [1874]

My dear Leo.

We have got your letters of Oct 22—on Dec 19 & we were just beginning to growl at you, as we had received a Lyttleton paper a week ago (I guess sent by Haast) in w. your few words were mentioned, & we were wondering why a letter did not come—

I am glad you told us what your speech was (not speach) & it sounded very sensible & nice & not at all exaggerated.

We have all been considering your plans, but I am afraid our opinions will come too late— However I think we are all agreed that it w^d be a great pity to see California & cross N. America in the cold weather, & also that you are much more likely to have a pleasant opp. in future of seeing N. America than of Australia & N.Z.

Also if you are enjoying N.Z. that may itself be quite as well worth doing, being there at hand.

I am afraid we are setting in for a severe winter, having a deep snow & hard frost for a week. William came on Sat to meet Mr Ouliss (a painter who is going to do F) on Sunday— He seems by all accounts the best we can have next to Watts, who is not well enough. He wanted to have a sight of F & to get acquainted with his face, & so came in the P. M & went off at night with Horace & Edwal (who was at the Fs).

Mr Ouliss will come down on Sat & stay over Sunday & begin some weeks hence.

Capt. Palmer's speech seemed very good & pleasant. I don't wonder you were puzzled about W^m's^ house— It is all up & his landlord has built him another storey, as his roof was bad—it seems an expensive way of mending a roof. Talking of roofs, our verandah is roofed w. such thin glass that the snow from the house has broken 4 panes, & the engineer Horace has been trying to invent a way to protect it. I believe we shall solve the difficulty had not come to England to stand up for his own rights & he w^d not make a fuss. I expect we shall get yr letter to Hen today. She received it on the 18^th or 19^th

We enjoy yr letters heartily.

yours E.D—