From Elizabeth Darwin to G. H. Darwin [1 February 1876]

Dear George

Mother has been unwell these two or three last days with cold, but she is on the mend to day. On Thursday we are going to London, the parents & I, Father has got to vote at the Linnean to get Ray Lancaster in, he hears the most contradictory reports, some say there will be no sort of opoosition, some that there will be a good deal. Father had a letter from Dr Hooker, the other day in which he told him the wonderful news that Tyndall is going to be married to a daughter of Lord Claude Hamilton. The Spotteswoods say she is nice. Somebody says that he is 60 which is a trifle old to be married. On Sunday Father had a large boiling from High Elms, Sir John, Huxley, Sir Henry James, not the Sir Henry James, but another young one & a Mr Minto. I didnt see them, but they don't seem to have been a bit pleasant. On Saturday we had Mrs & Miss Teasdal to lunch on Saturday. Mrs Teasdale is nice, a refined sort of woman, the daughter has no harm in her, she didn't particularly take me or not take me. These two last days have been beautiful. Yesterday morning was quite lovely. Malta sounds very nice & I envy you the outdoor life. The oranges havent arrived yet, but I have no doubt they will come soon. I am looking forward to breaking all Dr Clark's rules & eating some.

Are you one of the people that hate Lawson Tait his paper is so bad that Mr Hooker says it cannot be even proposed to be read befor the Royal society. This gives Frank & Amy a wicked joy, I have scarcely ever seen Amy so delighted at anything, & that pleased Horace because he was afraid she had no vice in her.

Horace is gone back to Erith, he seems to think there will be no difficulty in filling the works. He is now established at his new lodings with J Bonham Carter, the Limes but it isn't so nice as it sounds, he thought being a private house it would be better than common lodgings, but it isnt. He is going to lose Bonham Carter soon, he is going to leave the works & take to Brewing much against the grain. When Horace comes home for his Sundays now Frank & he do nothing but talk Stipa, Father thinks they have made out something. I have nothing more to tell so I must stop.

Your affec sister | E Darwin

The Contemp shall be sent you

There is a permit sent from South Kensington Museum in case you want to send any thing there  If you want it sent to you tell us, in meantime father will take carge of it