From Horace Darwin to Emma Darwin [June? 1868]

Dear Mamma

I shall come home on the 26^th or 28^th of July which is awfully late & will put you out very much I think. My day is breakfast at 8 & pretty soon after classics till 11 & then mathematics till 1 this we do every day except Saturday which is a whole holiday but I work as nearly much mathematics then as on the other days; in the afternoon we generally play cricket or boat or do something till about 4   Then I work till 6 which is of my own accord & in the evening mathematics from 7.30 till 9. & then supper having had tea at 6; we of course dont dress & have meals with the children & Mrs Rowse. I do a great deal more mathematics here than at Clapham

The church here is very fine quite like a little cathedral & is built of flints with stone corners but is on a slight hill with no trees round it which makes it look barren & bleak but at a distance it makes it look very well

Out of my window I can see the sea over some elms but it is not very pretty because the sea is always very muddy & brown.

Yesterday I saw the life boat launched for practice it looked very well the 2^nd time they ran it of its carriage into the sea which looked much better than simply running it off roters; the sea was rather rough. Do you think that I might go for 2 or 3 days to Cambridge during the May races as I shall have no exeats & I did not see very much of George at Easter; if you don't mind my going I shall ask M^r. Rouse & tell him that you dont mind, & I should think he would let me go. I shall write to Mady in a day or two.

I remain your affec son | H Darwin.

PS. I forgot to tell you about the sermons Mr. Rouses is not very good but Mr. Powis’s is rather good. Mr Power is a rich clergyman who helps Mr Rouse is in the Church & parish affairs, there is very good ringing here & they dont ring the psalms so the service is very nice