Maer.
May 12th. 1832.
My dear Charles.—
On the 3d. of May we received your last written letter
from St Salvador, which all the house rejoiced over most heartily: the
happy account you give of yourself and all your enjoyments in the tropical world far
exceeded what we most hoped for you.— Your letter has been read very often
over to Papa (like Mrs. Bates) and I think he
never can again for shame make his old speech of the gaol & the
ship: now he has heard what a comfortable home you find
it.— Nancy & Edward were as much pleased as any of us to have tidings
of you: Erasmus had been making some very bruttal jokes to the former a week before:
``how that you were lost & we kept it from her'' so the poor old soul very
nearly cried when she heard you were really alive & well.— Papa was
much interested by your miserable account of the sea sickness you had endured, &
not a little proud of his prescription of the Raisins answering so well. I think he
should publish such a discovery for the benefit of all such sufferers.—
The Letter you wrote by the Lyra came to us the day after we had your other letter
which was very odd as the dates were so different but I suppose the Winds had kept all
the Ships out together. We have sent your letters to Erasmus who is to shew them to
Charlotte Langton & then the family here must see it for many enquiries
they are making about you & many kind messages they desire me to send
you.— The day after yr news came I had to write several despatches, first to
Eyton copying out all your messages which I hope may have the desired effect of
instantly starting him accross the Atlantic, which I fully expect he will do some time
he talks so much about it: & whenever I have an opportunity I shall certainly
urge him on.— Major Bayley & Woodhouse too I had to send the joyful
intelligence, as they all begged to hear the first news of you, so I can promise you my
dear Charley you are not att all forgotten amongst any of us, & I am very glad
to hear the warm climate agrees so well with all your affectionate feelings.—
We were very sorry for yr disappointment at the Canaries but I hope Cape Verd Islands
comforted you: Master Parky went through the whole of yr voyage as a Geographical
lesson: so Marianne made profit as well as pleasure fr your letter.—
Catherine wrote last month to Monte Video, where Caroline sent her March letter
also.— I am in hopes we shall before very long hear from you again in answer
to the letters you will find at Rio, & I hope then you will give us some more
directions for our future letters as I think it is doubtful whether this ever reaches
you.— I cannot help thinking how lucky it was you took that Tour with
Professor Sedgwick as Geology seems to be so great a pleasure now.— Poor
Arthur Owen sails this week I believe to Madras, he wrote me a little note
fr. London where he had been seeing his Ship very often It is the
Abberton: there are only 2 young Ladies amongst the Passengers which I think he
regrets as a very short allowance amongst all the Writers: Mr. Owen is with him in London now preparing his Outfit:
& Arthur expected he would be in such a bustle that by some mistake he would go
in his place to India.— Francis wanted very much to go out with Arthur
& I shd. think it wd. be by far
the best scheme if they can get any situation for such a pickle as he is.—
Caroline Owen is staying in town with Mrs. Williams: so poor Fanny who
has very much lost her former housemaid spirits is left all alone with the
Mrs. in the Forest.— Mr. Biddulph has
at last settled to have an Entail which has caused all this delay, & the
marriage will take place as soon as Mr. Owen returns.— I am now
spending a fortnight at Maer which I find sadly changed: Charlotte's loss is quite
irreparable! & Frank being gone too, makes the party appear much
smaller.— Uncle Jos talks much of poverty his Children having taken off so
much money with their Marriages:— Fanny Wedgwood has a flirtation in
han<d> with Mr. Paget Moseley (brother to Franks wife) but
as I hear he is a very dull man, I have no f<ear> of Fanny accepting
him.— Politics are much t<alked> of here, as the Ministers are
gone out, not being able to get the King to make Peers to carry the Reform, & of
course that interests this public spirited family very deeply.— The week
before I left home Mr. & Mrs. Edward Holland on
their bridal Tour came & spent 3 days with us.— It was rather
strange their liking to come so directly after their marriage, particularly as little
Mrs. H. is very shy.— however Papa joked away with
them famously & made them very merry & easy.— We heard such
dismal accounts of the Bride from Erasmus who is a most fastidious mortal: that we were
very agreeably surprised to find her rather pretty & a nice little creature all
together & particularly well suited to Edward who seemed very proud of
her.—
I am come home from Maer, & I find Eyton has been calling in consequence of our
hearing from you: but he is going immediately into Germany for the next
3 months with Mr. F Hope on a Beetle expedition.—
Professor Sedgwick dropped in here last week on his way into Wales: he talked much about
you & sent his kind regards, & begged you might be told to examine the
gravel banks of small rivers for animal remains.— We have seen to day in the
papers a sad piece of news: that Sir James Mackintosh is dead: he had been ill about a
week, & died the 30th. of May:—
Mr. & Mrs. Hensleigh Wedgwood will be obliged to
retrench very much after losing £1200 a year.— Lord Grey is
come into Office again so the Reform Bill will certainly pass triumphantly. It is a
great pity poor Sir James has died before he has finished his History of
England.— Papa desires I will give you his most
affectionate love & many thanks for your very nice letter which has given him a
great deal of pleasure.— When I told Mr Owen how happy you were
tears came into his eyes with pleasure I am sure he considers you one of his own
children.— Fanny was married on the 31st. of May to
Mr. Biddulph. I have not room here for any particulars, but Caroline
will fill her next letter with them.
God bless you my very dear Charley. All our Loves & I am | Ever yr affecti |
Susan E Darwin
We have written once every Month since you left us. All directed to Rio Janeiro, till
1st. of April, & then M Video Mr. Owen
has also written to Rio Janeiro.—
