Ɛpsilon

To H. E. Wedgwood   [28 May 1876]1

[Hopedene, Surrey]

My dear Hope.

There is a wonderful little bush trained against W. end of Terrace wall,—Grevillea … ?2 Will you observe for me whether it sets any seeds, & if it does give me some?? What is name of dwarf crimson Oxalis in upper rough garden: it is beautifully dimorphic or trimorphic.? This place is simply a paradise with the lovely power in it of nothing whatever needing to be done.

yours affectionately | C. Darwin

I have performed to day a truly wondrous feat & walked to top of Holmesbury Hill.3

1
The date is established by the reference to CD having walked up Holmbury Hill (see n. 3, below).
2
CD and Emma Darwin were staying at Hopedene in Surrey, the home of Hope’s parents Hensleigh and Frances Emma Elizabeth Wedgwood. Grevillea is a genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. Grevillea species are found mainly in Australia; they were introduced into Britain in the early nineteenth century.
3
Holmbury Hill is 827 feet high (EB s.v. Surrey). Oxalis is the genus of wood sorrels.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10514,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10514