From H. E. Litchfield to Horace Darwin 24 [January] 1873

Dear Jemmy

We are so truly rejoiced to have the some what better account of G. It was so terribly dismal to think of him so very miserably sick. Tell him to be sure & write full bulletins & not merely better or worse, because after a few letters one loses ones standard & such purly relative terms cease to have any meaning, whilst how often he takes B. pill & how long he walks are facts we can judge of. I hope you Jemmy will get to see people & for that reason I hope you will send me the visitors lists— Even if people aren't the least amusing I'm quite sure it is healthy & best to see 'em—

I've told Elinor & will tell Laura, that if they find anybody they think you'll care to know, they are to send letters for us to forward to you so that you may have it entirely in your own hands about getting to know them. I hope you'll stick to french—Jemmy—a very very little french is so infinitely better than none & with your turn against languages I don't think you must expect to ever know it all well.

I am glad you appreciate the charm of Cannes. I think I could never be tired of those $\frac{1}{2}$ oz walks round the Provence— Le Cannet Le Grand [Put] Chapelle St. Antoine etc. I hope you go to Canne sometimes in the morning & look at the pretty bright market  I used to think it so charming a scene— You must go to Croix la garde— Of course you will naturally go to that long sand spit which makes the bay of Cannes whose name I've forgotten. Of all the drives I think Auribeau is the most striking. You of course will go to Valloris & look at the pottery. If you felt inclined to have a small hamper packed I should like to join you— & would spend £ 1.0.0 or 30s— I want things to put round flowers—you know what I mean  I'm not sure weather they are made at Valloris—& any thing else that you thought pretty. Also, if it is does not bother you to try it, I should like a Spanish [Mule] cloth price about 30 francs.

I hope you'll go to the Opera  It was so good when we were there. I hope you won't be in a hurry to do any thing but stay at Cannes— Individual scenes are more beautiful further on but the general character is the same—& if you enjoy the beauty of Cannes your enjoyment only increases in a small ratio. R. & I were here on Wednesday so that I might be well looked up for the ball  He couldn't go as twas on Singing class night— Poor Mother was headachy so it was very lucky I could go, & I quite liked it was so pretty bright a scene— & I didn't want to dance, & Amy & Bessy seemed to pick up a good few of partners by hook or by crook. Ernest was much struck with Aug's dancing. We are going to have Moncure Conway's dining here tonight  He has written a striking sermon on Father in which he quotes Higginson's speech that Father has restored the scripture of science to England.

William comes tomorrow. We hear from Ernest he is off to Rome with D^r Sturgis so perhaps you'll see him QQQQ— not likely tho' he is [rare] to go thro' the hole on the wall. He says he has been poorly every since he has been home.

I think is all the news there is— It has cheered us very much to have G's letter today—tho' we wish we could hear that he had less discomfort. I saw D^r W. F. the other day & he seemed to think one might hope for G's taking a real turn any time. He seemed so sure that there was nothing organic—& he was not surprised to hear how miserable he was. Ever yours dear Jemmy | H.E.L.