[Shrewsbury]
March 7th.
My dear Charles
Though it is not my turn to write to you I cannot resist the opportunity of
sending you my very best love— I was so glad to get your last letter of
November 24th with such a happy account of yourself &
I must congrat— you on being so successful and persevering in collecting I
shall be very curious to read in your journal how you first heard of the Megatherium
Coat & whether it is a part that has not before been sent to England—
I thought I had heard Mr Sedgwick say some specimen of the coat was now
in England—
We heard of you a few days later than your letter again through Mr.
Hughes who seems to envy you your expedition his own life must be dull enough to be
sure— I am so happy to be able to give you such a nice account of my Father he
is looking very well & though since you went his powers of moving about, walking
&tc are very much gone he is in every other respect quite like
himself, he sees hardly any patients & refuses going to any distance but he
amuses himself very well & his eyes from habit are not so soon tired by reading
as they were formerly, we go on in the old way having our game of whist &
Cassino every evening—
Charlotte Holland is to be married on the 14th of this month to
Mr Isaac Emma Wedgwood is to be one of the Brides maids & go
back with Louisa H. to London— I expect Erasmus will be a very
attentive Cavalier to her & nobody knows what will be the end of the drives in
his Cab he will take her to & fro Clapham where the Hensleigh Wedgwoods
live— there will be quite a new race sprung up before you return little
Hensleighs & little Franks— Charlotte Langton says she almost rejoices
to hear the expedition is to last 5 years longer as she thinks there is greater
chance of your not staying all the time but I hope the report we heard was false of the
time being lengthened— How anxious & impatient we shall be for your
next letter after your cold Patagonian voyage my dear Charles it is such a happiness
that your health bears what you go through— I wish I could think of any more
home details— Mark has a very pretty little baby— Old Pincher is
very well— I ride now the Grey you had from Joseph & like him very
much
I am going to Maer tomorrow—such a small party—Uncle Jos being in
London & Emma away. Uncle Jos stands the fatigue of Parliamt very well &
I think writes in spirits as if he liked the life— he says 19 out of
20 of the speeches are very dull. he is a staunch supporter of
Ministry & is very bitter against the Radicals All parties seem to agree that
some strong measure in favor of Emancipation of the Slaves will be carried this session
& I am sure that alone is enough to make one value the present
Ministers—
Your journal is quite safe & we are far from thinking you over careful in being
most anxious it should not be lost but pray be at ease it shall be taken the greatest
care of— I had & so had my father & all of us so much pleasure
& interest in reading it.
Good bye My very dear Charles and God bless you Sitting & writing in this old
school room makes me feel so Motherly to you dear Tactus—
Yrs. vy affecly | Caroline Darwin
