To W. D. Fox   30 October [1857]¹

My dear Fox

I was very glad to get your note with a very fairly good account of yourself.— I cannot say much for myself; I have had a poor summer, & am at last rather come to your theory that my Brains were not made for thinking, for twice I staid for a fortnight at Moor Park,² & was so extraordinarily better that I can attribute the difference, (& I fell back into my old state immediately I returned) to nothing but to mental work; & I cannot attribute the difference but in a very secondary degree to Hydropathy. Moor Park, I like much better as a place than Malvern;³ & I like D^r. Lane very much: by the way have you seen his Brochure on Hydropathy;⁴ it seem to me very good & worth reading. Unfortunately for me, I believe D^r. L. means to look out for some new place.—⁵

We have had Etty there all summer; but she comes home for good next Saturday.—⁶ She has received much benefit, I think, from Hydropathy; but can walk very little & is still very feeble. For the last month or two we have had trouble about Lenny, who has been the picture of strength & vigour, & now his pulse has become feeble & often very irregular like three of our other children:⁷ it is strange & heart-breaking. A man ought to be a bachelor, & care for no human being to be happy! or not to be wretched.

I make slow progress in my work, which is altogether too much for me; I have done only 2 chapters in rough, first copy during the last six months!⁸

I see you ask about M^r Pritchards school: I have nothing to say against it; but were it not for the great advantage of having George home on monthly Sundays, & short Michaelmas & Easter holidays; I think I sh^d. prefer Rugby; but if you ask me why, I declare I c^d. give no answer.⁹

You ask about all my Sisters & Eras: all are much as usual: Catherine is thinking of taking a house in London & living there at least during greater part of year, but I do not know how it will answer.¹⁰

How you have been spinning all about the English world: we have been all fixture, except Moor Park.— We have, however, been recreating ourselves with building a new Dining Room & large bedroom over it; for we found our party, when we had cousins had quite outgrown our old room.— Your Pear-trees have born very well this year for the first time; & we had lots on the wall;¹¹ & pretty well off for Plums; but no other fruit succeeds with us. Louise Bonne & Marie Louise have been splendid. Not only have we been nowhere; but we have hardly had any visitors, except Henslow for 2 or 3 days;¹² & he was, all what he always is,—than which I cannot give higher praise.— I am very glad your children are flourishing.

My dear Fox | Yours affectionately | C. Darwin

Emma desires her very kind remembrances.