Darwin Correspondence Project

[Maer]

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<about seven lines missing >old friend much to endure in the ill-health of your wife.— There is a degree of anxiety about the health of <about ten lines missing > boy—(William Erasmus,—proper family names)—he is a prodigy of beauty & intellect. He is so charming, that I cannot pretend to any modesty.— I defy anybody to flatter us on our baby,—for I defy anyone to say anything, in its praise, of which we are not fully conscious.—

He is a charming little fellow, & I had not the smallest concepcion there was so much in a five month baby:— You will perceive, by this, that I have a fine degree of paternal fervour. And now for myself, about whom I can now give a very good account.— I have during the last six weeks been gradually, though very slowly, gaining strength & health, but previous to that time I was for nearly six months in very indifferent health, so that I felt the smallest exertion most irksome. This is the reason I have been so long without writing

I had no spirits to do anything. I have scarcely put pen to paper for the last half year, & everything in the publishing line is going backwards— I have been much mortified at this, but there is no help, but patience.—

My Father, who has certainly in a quite unexpected degree put me on the course in getting well, (having put a stop to periodical vomiting to which I was subject) feels pretty sure that I shall before long get quite well.— At present I only want vigour—in wanting which, however, one wants almost all, which makes life endurable.—

We came here the day before yesterday and are enjoying the delightful smell of the damp earth & plants.— I think we shall never be able to stick all our lives in London, & our present castle in the air is to live near a station in Surrey about 20 miles from Town.— We shall remain here about a month.— should my health continue getting stronger, I will, should all things be fitting with you, pay you a flying visit.— I want much to see your house.— it is always very pleasant to have a picture of a person's residence rise before one, when one thinks of the person.— At present, however, I am determined to obey implicitly my Father & remain absolutely quiet.— You speak in your letter of going with Mrs Fox to the sea.— pray send me a short note before long, telling me your plans.— I hope Mrs Fox came home from Osmaston as well as could be expected after her confinement.— What an awful affair a confinement is: it knocked me up, almost as much as it did Emma herself.—

You ask about scientific news— I have none to tell, for I have of late literally seen no one except Lyell occasionally.— He is going to start immediately to examine Fren<ch> Tertiary deposits— I have not seen Henslow for a long time, though I have occasionally heard from him. He likes his living exceedingly, & is growing fat.— He is very active, giving scientific lectures to parish & whole neighbourhood: displaying fire works, & preparing for publication a continuation of Lindley & Hutton's fossil coal Flora.—

Pray remember me most kindly to Mrs Fox, & believe me dear Fox, your's affectionately | Chas. Darwin