Cambridge
16 Decr 1838
My dear Darwin,
This day 15 yrs ago I entered on that state which, it rejoices
my pericardium to think that, you are about to enter— I have been remiss in
not telling you so sooner, but I am sure you will not think me unmindful of your
happiness from having added one more specimen of my carelessness to the many you have
witnessed before— All I can wish you is, that you may experience as great
content in the marriage state as I have done myself—& all the advice,
which I need not give you, is, to remember that as you take your wife for better for
worse, be careful to value the better & care nothing for the worse— Of
course it is impossible for a lover to suppose for an instant that there can be any
worse in the matter, but it is the prudent part of a husband, to provide that there
shall be none— It is the neglect of this little particular which makes the
marriage state of so many men worse than their single blessedness—if there is
such a thing—for it is now so long since I have enjoyed my double blessedness
that I cannot fancy myself in my Bachelor days— One piece of more kindly
advice I shall just venture to hint at—that we do well to remember daily that
our greatest earthly blessings may be taken from us in a moment. So far from this
reflection annoying us & preventing our happiness from being as complete as
earthly happiness can be—I have my own experience to assure you that it
encreases happiness, & removes many an a<n>xious mental
care— But I am afraid you will think I am writing a sermon— Only
take it in good part, & believe that I most heartily wish you all joy &
prosperity— Is there a chance of your coming here this X mas
Mrs H is anxious to know & bids me
ask you—
Yrs ever affectly | J. S. Henslow
