From W. E. Darwin   16 September 1880

My dear Father,

I send you 4 wrist bands, one of a smaller size which if too small I can change.¹

They say at the shop that if they are put on by putting the finger through the whole width, you avoid the nail splitting them up; but the advice does not seem worth much, as I fancy one cannot put them without taking hold of the edge.

1^s/4 is the dim total.

I am glad to say George² is uncommonly well, I have not seen him so brisk for years; he went a 12 mile ride yesterday on the pink mare. If you do want any Beaulieu worm castings I can easily get them.³ Please tell Mother that Lilly came all right last night & looks very well & happy, & was perfectly well all the passage; and poor M^lle. Wild the french Lady arrived this morning from Havre in an equinoctial gale.⁴ George is giving us a long visit, I am villain enough to think it is partly to air his French with Mademoiselle.

Sara is pretty well, but a little tired by the two arrivals.

Goodbye, dear Father, I hope Mother is well | Your affect son | W. E. Darwin

I have just been much amused at reading old Sedgwick’s ferocious letter about the “Vestiges” and the female author in M. Napier’s correspondence⁵