From Emma Darwin to Leonard Darwin 20 December [1875]

My dear Leo.

Somehow you were not written to last Monday  Having seen the Carrs & heard all about you feels something like seeing you. They said you looked very comf. in all your surroundings I think they enjoyed their 2 days at Malta. They have been very prosperous since & the voyage from Sicily to Leghorn was quite calm. They arrived in London on the 16^th & heard that the reg^t was already come after an unusually short passage, so that Major C. had not to rush down & receive them. I think he is quite a nice man— Jenny looks very happy with her fine boy who took kindly to her directly. We had a very pleasant visit at Bry. except that poor Bessy has been very unwell all the time She & Horace went to the play on the first day & I suppose she caught cold but she has been quite disordered ever since, wh. is disappointing for her, so seldom as we go to London. George staid at No 6 & we had intended to make our visit partly there, but he did not seem to be up to it so we remained where we were very comfortable. F. seems always destined to have some great job when he goes to London— One time it was the Huxley affair—last time it was vivisection & this time it was righting the wrongs of Ray Lankester who has been heavily black-balled at the Linn. Soc. not for his own demerits but by way of punishing the Council who proposed to remit his entrance fees. This is a great stigma on a man as it is so seldom done, & as he has done v. good scientific work, they propose him at once again (Huxley proposes, F. seconds him) & F. was canvassing every one to vote for him, with great success, except in the case of D^r Murie, who was the head of the cabal, & he wd not give in tho' he was profuse in his assurances to F. how painful it was to go against him. It is all the harder upon Ray Lankester as there is a great slur on the memory of his father & mother.

Just recd your letter of Dec. 12. & George has your P. & O. letter.

It is too bad to criticise amateur actors at all, as I suppose people do not pay. It must have been a private spite I think. (it wd be like criticizing a dinner or a party.) The weather here is S.W. blustery & therm. 45—a great improvement on last week— The mud of London horrible—

Poor Aunt Eliz. was more knocked down by Ed's death than I thought she wd have been by any grief—though he was the person she cared most for. His last hours were very peaceful & affectionate, sending messages to all & thinking what was best for his father & the children. I believe his only suffering for the last month (but that is very terrible) was from oppression of the breath & not being able to lie down. The Litchfields saw him about 6 weeks before his death & they felt that the end must be near. Charles L. is staying with Lena & the children. She begged him to live with them, but I am sure he had better not.

Aunt Eliz. has got Amy w. her & she goes to Bournemouth this week. (George says he will do his best for your commissions & send the things by P. & O). He is a little better & I hope will do the journey. tol. Yours my dear old man—

E. Darwin

Major Carr said the Opera was very good.