From W. D. Fox to G. H. Darwin   15 April [1879]¹

My dear Darwin

I fear I cannot give any information of D^r Darwin. I am a generation too late.

My Father and Mother abounded with remembrances of him. He was most kind and useful to my dear Mother when a girl and thro life.²

When in her teens the Med: Man at Stamford feared she was going into a decline, and recommended great care as to diet &c— The D^r heard of her illness and invited her to pay him a visit. To her great surprise, he encouraged her to take all sorts of forbidden food—giving her after dinner a large Bowl of rich cream and strawberries, & repeating the same treatment at breakfast. A most liberal diet completely set her up and she returned to her Mother a strong healthy lassie.³

He was always most kind to her. I will try to recollect some of the many anecdotes I have heard from my Father and Mother, but fear I shall remember none worth narrating. I fear we have next to no letters of his. My Mother never kept letters on principle.

Of course the Wedgwoods must have many letters of his.⁴

I have always thought him a very great man— & compared him in my mind with D^r Johnson.⁵ In those days Men of Mind did not exist by the million as they do now.

I hope your Father will take time in his work, & probably things may turn up when it is known that he is looking out for letters &^c.

The D^r once got me into a great mess. I was travelling as a Boy & rather a shy one, when a lady in the Coach with me, my only fellow passenger—found out my name was Darwin. She attacked me with great vehemence asking if I was related to that Brute D^r D. On my acknowledging the crime, she told me with much impetuosity & anger— “that she was a young lady with beautiful teeth, when that Brute had them all taken out, to cure some nervous pains.” I remember I was much alarmed & feared she would attack me. I rejoice to hear your Father is strong—

Ever yours | W D Fox