Darwin Correspondence Project

My dear Postillion,

Of course you are well initiated in all the black mysteries which I am sure are going on at the Forest, I think you know that if I have a punchon it is for a thorough good mystery, so I implore you to write me a full account of all that has been going on lately between the noble Houses of the Forest, Bliss Castle & Darwin-Hall. I am dying by inches to know all, & your well known and laudable thirst for useful knowledge has I am sure made you acquainted with every particular before this so pray sit down and relieve me from my dreadful state of haggitation — I have heard of your honoring the Forest with your presence, & regretted very much I was not there to win some of your shigs at écarté, or to make a beast of myself in the strawberry beds. I am afraid your holidays will be over before I grace Shropshire with my presence, for I don't know at all how soon that will be, my bereaved Parents want me to return, and the Dean's want to keep me—how it will be settled I don't know—

Have you been at the Sale   I hear that brilliant Hare Mr. George Scott intended to buy a great deal of furniture if it went cheap, he means to furnish Cronkhill and ``see Batchellors to dinner''. Shall you be included do you think, among the select batchellors — Pray tell me all the gossip—how goes on Miss Clarissa, Abyssinia & Donadavid Dallas, as for Caddy Pemby and Mr. Gibby I am tired of their names, for they never get on any further — but tell me any thing or every thing you know, the smallest intelligence will be thankfully received— I am sure if Ma'm Burton could hear of my corresponding with Mr. Charles Darwin, she would say dear me Ma'm what a sense of propriety Miss Fanny Owen must have, indeed I think it is quite incorrect, but it is to be hoped it may not reach her ears. I must conclude now, for my paper is full and my pen split up half an inch which puts me in horride passion—

so I remain dr. Postillion | yr. dutiful Housemaid | Fanny Owen—

I must put this in an envellope well sealed sisters I know peep so, and pray make a mystery of it, tell them there is something very particular—