From E. S. Galton   25 March 1879

A copy of what was written many years ago by me on one of the leaves, inside the cover of the book I have of M^rs. Schimmelpenninck’s life¹

E. S. Galton

“As this book gives a false impression of many things, I intend to copy out a letter I wrote to D^r. Dowson on D^r. Erasmus Darwins life, as he quotes largely from M^rs. Schimmelpenninck— E. S. Galton

“(Grand-daughter to D^r. Erasmus Darwin & niece of M^rs. Schimmelpenninck)²

“Feb^y 20^th. 1871. to D^r. Dowson of Whitby”

“Sir, as recently as last week, having had sent to me a copy of your lecture at Whitby in 1861, on D^r. Erasmus Darwin, I must apologize for troubling you with this letter.³ As his Grand-daughter, I have been much interested in reading your lecture upon his life and works, and as I see you are preparing a fuller account, I cannot refrain from expressing our satisfaction that you do not agree entirely with M^rs. Schimp^k.— So far from D^r. Darwin being an atheist, I enclose a beautiful poem of his, against atheism.⁴

“M^rs. Schimp^k. had the habit of coloring her facts, till they almost ceased to be true—

“Her eldest Brother, Samuel Tertius Galton (my Father) married D^r. Erasmus Darwin’s eldest daughter, by his second wife, M^rs. Pole—(who is my Mother)—⁵

“An unfortunate quarrel between M^rs. Schim^k & her family, caused a complete cessation of intercourse with them since 1810—and her feelings towards them, which she shewed on various occasions, has evidently influenced her in her description of D^r. Darwin—such as his coarseness and gluttony &c—so very different from the character given him by her Father, Mother Brothers & Sisters, all of whom had so great a veneration for him—

“With respect to her account of the Upas tree Page 207—what may have been said as a joke, between very intimate friends, I know not, but as a child, I was often told of the Upas tree as a fact, & it has been proved to be true (see M^rs. Somerville’s Molecular Science Vol 1. Page 426)⁶ M^rs. Schimp^k was only 24. years of age when D^r. Darwin died. Her life was not published till after my Father’s death, as she outlived him for 12. years—⁷

“My Aunt, M^rs. Brewin (née Sophia Galton)⁸ who was only a few years younger than her sister Mary Anne Schimp^k. made this remark to me, when I asked her opinion as to M^rs. Schimp^ks. life ‘They are facts distorted, & give a false impression’

“I would rather see my Grandfather’s character drawn by his intimate friends—Watt, Boulton, Edgeworth & Wedgewood,⁹ who were his co-temporaries & knew him, & spoke of him as he was, than from Miss Seward¹⁰ & M^rs. Schimp^k., who for private reasons speak of him so differently—” “Miss Seward was well known to be much disappointed, at not being the second M^rs. Erasmus Darwin— I well remember my Grandmother M^rs. Darwin, a sensible & agreeable person

“At the time Miss Sewards life of D^r. Darwin came out, the family were so angry with the false accounts put in, that my mother says, D^r. Robert Darwin (of Shrewsbury) obliged her to contradict many things she had written, in the Reviews of the day— Those reviews are forgotten, & her book remains—¹¹

“I well remember seeing the life of D^r. E Darwin at my Uncle’s (D^r. Robert Darwin of Shrewsbury) many passages were marked by himself, as “false” “Utterly false” &c—

“This book, I fear is lost, or mislaid, as I asked one of the family some years ago, if they had it when D^r. Richardson mentioned, he was collecting anecdotes of D^r. E Darwin—¹²

“My Mother (née Violetta Darwin) the last surviving child of D^r. E Darwin still lives* & has nearly attained her 88^th. year. Her mind is perfectly clear, & would gladly answer any questions—

I remain yours very truly | Emma Sophia Galton

To D^r. Dowson”

*that was Feb^y 20^th. 1871 | She died—Feb^y 12^th. 1874— b. 23^rd. April 1783— wed March 30^th. 1807

P.S. I ought to add, my Mother never saw M^rs. Schimmelpennings life— We purposely kept it from her—knowing how it would distress her—& she never expressed a wish to have it to read—tho’ she read a great deal during the day—