From Elizabeth Darwin to G. H. Darwin [14 May 1875]

My dear George.

We were much relieved at the Prince's not coming on Tuesday. he went to Windser to see the Queen instead, & now his visit has been put off indefinitely & there is every hope that it will never take place.

However Father could not have seen him anyhow, for he has a very bad attack of exhima which made him very uncomfortable but is now going off.

Uncle Hensleigh & Hope are here very full of spiritual news as usual. Uncle Hensleigh has brought his photograph book of spirits the most absurd thing. The photographs I do believe are humbug, what ever else is or is not.

We have had an offer of Abinger for June from Effy which Mother has accepted it is very kind of Effy & will be very pleasant. We have just heard that the Ridge is let for a year so it comes in most a propos & it is much better for Father to have his rest earlier in the year.

The greatest event since you went is that Mother has settled the beer question and told poor old Parslow that they were all to have beer money it was a great grief to him. Mother said he turned quite pale when he first heard of it. It is the disgrace more than anything else he minds, that we were a first class house & now we shall be only a second class house on a level with the Lubbocks & Normans no longer. However I think he is getting resigned. Mother & Father both buttered him up a good deal how well he had served the house etc etc!

Horace has gone back to Erith not expecting to work there but because he cannot bear the idle life he leads here & at any rate he could read there.

In this lovely weather it is very difficult to do any thing one sits and loiters all day. Yesterday Hope & I went to Holwood which was looking quite lovely. Frank is come home from Wales & Amy follows him on Saturday.

How did you like your Othello?

Frank says he thinks you are going to some séances. is that true?

Your affec | Bessy.