To G. W. Norman   15 September [1876]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.

Sept. 15th

My dear Mr. Norman

Your very kind note has pleased me much & it was very good of you to write.2 It has been a terrible blow to us. She was most sweet & gentle, & they loved each other with the deepest love. What will become of my poor son I cannot conceive. He has gone into N. Wales where she was buried yesterday in a little churchyard amongst the mountains.3 It is a terrible affair.

Pray give our very kind remembrances to Mrs. Norman4 & believe me | Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

1
The year is established by the reference to Amy Darwin’s death (see n. 2, below).
2
Norman’s letter has not been found, but was evidently a letter of condolence on the death of Francis Darwin’s wife, Amy, who died 11 September 1876 (see letter to W. E. Darwin, 11 September [1876]).
3
Amy was buried at Holy Trinity church, Corris, near Machynlleth, about five miles from her family’s home, Pantlludw.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.1 our] after del ‘my’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10599,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10599