From G. H. Darwin to William Darwin [9 December 1860]

My dear William

On Tuesday I went with Edmund & Tom the the Princesses & saw Ruy Blas which is a very good play, a tragedy. I saw the French swell M. Fechter I like him awfully, he pronouncing very well. On Wednesday morning I went to my blessed dentist & had four teeth done, & also had the pleasing intelligence that he couldn't take me again until Saturday. On Thursday Lizzy went to the Colleen Bawn which she liked awfully, I believe she knows almost half of it off by heart. On Wednesday I came back here again; & on Friday I went to London with Franky, in the evening we went to see The Corsicans at the Princesses. It is arranged differently the duel is at the beginning. I like it almost better with Fechter. Yesterday morning I had four more teeth done.

Frank Lizzy etc went to the Zoologs & I came after them. In the afternoon we came home Lizzy & all.

Tomorrow I'm going up again & going to have two hours more stopping & then chloroform & my teeth out; Papa's going to come if he possibly can.

Etty's going on very well but of course is still weak.

Darwin Chawner is the son of an old & very drunken doctor who lived at Stoke; he called another of his sons Talavera or Salamanca or some such name after the Duke of Wellington. He had 20 children so I suppose he was rather puzzled for names. He used drink a bottle of brandy a day & so utterly ruined himself.

Good bye | I remain your affec brother | G. H. Darwin