Darwin, C. R. to Darwin, Horace
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Writes to express his pleasure at Leonard's success [second in the Woolwich Academy entrance examination].
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Transcription
Dumbola Lodge | Freshwater | Isle of Wight
26
My dear Horace
We do not know Leonards address & I must write to some
one else I shall burst with pleasure at Leonards
success.— We saw the news yesterday & no doubt you will
have seen it.— Is it not splendid? Who would ever have
thought that poor dear old Lenny w
This is a very dull place, but we like it much better than we did at first. Erasmus & the Hensleighs are here for a few days & we went yesterday evening to Alum Bay, which is vy grand.
Perhaps the Leith Hill folk are coming to the Hotel here.—
What a bad job it is that Ruck has not got in.— I wish you were coming sooner.
My vy dear old man | Your affect. Father | C. Darwin
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- f1 6289.f1
The month and year are established by the address of the letter: the Darwins were at Freshwater on the Isle of Wight from 17 July to 20 August 1868 (Emma Darwin's diary (DAR 242)). - +
- f2 6289.f2
Leonard Darwin had come second in the entrance examination for the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (Emma Darwin (1904), 2: 221). It is not known where the Darwins saw the news. - +
- f3 6289.f3
The reference is to Erasmus Alvey Darwin, Hensleigh Wedgwood and Frances Emma Elizabeth Wedgwood, and possibly some of Hensleigh and Frances's children. - +
- f4 6289.f4
Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight is famous for the Needles (chalk stacks) and for its coloured sands. - +
- f5 6289.f5
Leith Hill Place was the home of Josiah Wedgwood III and Caroline Sarah Wedgwood. - +
- f6 6289.f6
CD probably refers to Richard Matthews Ruck, who entered Woolwich in February 1869 (Register of gentleman cadets, Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, held in the archives of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst).