Ɛpsilon

To W. D. Fox   10 April [1859]

Down Bromley Kent

Ap. 10th

My dear Fox

I anticipated from your former letter that your mother could not possibly survive long.1 You must yourself have been quite prepared; but when the blow comes it is always shocking. Pray give my kindest remembrances & sincere sympathy to your sisters. What a happy time I once spent at Osmaston.2 How all things are changed for us in this world.—

I am extremely glad that you going to attend to your own health; for I am sure it must want care, after all you have gone through. Dr Lane’s address is “Moor Park, Farnham, Surrey”.3 He has two tarifs, 4 guineas per week for the better & larger bed-rooms & 3 guineas for the smaller, but I believe these are good.4 There is Bathman to add, & 5s per week if fire in Bedroom.— I think if anyone goes as friend it is only 2 guineas per week— I do not think I have ever heard charge for man & wife.— Had you not better write to Dr. Lane; I would under similar circumstances openly.— I am sure they would be very glad to have you: for they were much taken with you.5 In my opinion it is a very nice place.—

It will be splendid if you come to see us at Ilkley.6

Believe me, My dear Fox | Your old & affectionate friend | Ch. Darwin

1
Ann Fox died on 7 April 1859 (Darwin pedigree).
2
Osmaston Hall, near Derby, had been the home of the Fox family. CD had spent three weeks there in 1828 (see Correspondence vol. 1, letter to W. D. Fox, [October 1828]).
3
Edward Wickstead Lane was the proprietor of the Moor Park hydropathic establishment.
4
For the two weeks CD stayed at Moor Park in February 1859, he recorded having paid £9. 6s. (Account book (Down House MS)).
5
Fox visited CD at Moor Park in April 1858 (see letter to W. D. Fox, 8 May [1858]).
6
CD was planning to undergo the water-cure at an establishment in Ilkley, Yorkshire, in the summer.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2451,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2451