My dear George

I was extremely glad to get your note at M^r Rich’s, telling me about your paper.² I have just seen your work noticed in the summary in the Times. I am very glad that you went to York, & I feel sure that it was proper for you to do so in person.—³

I have had a long & pleasant talk with M^r. Rich, & there is something about him, which pleases me much; he is so simple & modest. I think that I told you that I thought myself bound to tell him of the large fortune from Erasmus. & that under such changed circumstances I considered him most fully justified in altering his will.⁴ I begged him to consider it for a week, & then let me hear his decision. But he would not let me finish, & protested he sh^d. do nothing of the kind & that with so many sons I required much money. In this I heartily agree; though your mother is quite sorry! I now feel convinced that nothing will induce him to change.— He is in doubt about executors, as his sister is one & is now old. & he asked me whether William w^d. be one, if hereafter he so determined; & please tell William that I answered for him & said that I was sure he w^d. feel bound to act to the best of his power as his executor, if so appointed.—⁵ As I feel now pretty sure of M^r Richs fortune, it is all the more necessary for me to arrange my will on some fair scale of proportions to sons & daughters. I fear that poor dear old William will have been worked to death & will not have had time to calculate about the value of my property, with that of Erasmus added. But I ought to settle soon, & when you are at Down, I will get out my will & codicils, & settle what I ought to do, that is if I possibly can do so.—

Ever your affectionate father | C. Darwin

How could my father have got any of the Cleatham land?⁶