Darwin Correspondence Project

[Shrewsbury]

Wednesday 26th.—

My dear Fox

I returned from Black Game shooting at Maer on Monday, & was most exceedingly glad to find your letter, when I came home: I am very much obliged for your most kind & welcome invitation to Osmaston. And, as by good luck your visit into Yorkshire has been delayed, if it will suit you, I will come there early in September.— I intend going to Maer for the first, & shall stay there about a week, after which I will come through Newcastle to Derby.— I will write & let you know when I can find out about coaches &c &c

But first, to know whether it is perfectly convenient I must have a letter directed to me at J. Wedgwood Esq. Maer Hall Newcastle under Line. You must write nearly as soon as you receive this.—

I am afraid it is almost too late for Entomologizing, but I shall like a quiet week at Osmaston better than anything else: I had so very pleasant a visit the last time I was there; that every thing has a charm to me from Pig Park to your' Sanctum Sanctorum.—

The Wedgwoods whom you saw at Kingscote are staying at Maer. they have been for the last year living with Mrs. Sismondi near Geneva & there they saw the Ways who have a house there.— They did not see little Albert. his direction is Les Dèlices, Près de Genève.— If you have any virtue & are not too much engaged, you will of course immediately write to him.—

You will be surprized to hear that I have been again to Barmouth. my sisters took a sudden freak to go to the sea-side so I chaperoned them there. The weather was dreadfully bad so I did not do much amongst the beetles.— We will work gloriously, when I am at Osma<ston.> I shall extremely like going regularly through your collection, & I think I shall be able to name a good many.— I will bring you the duplicates of this summer work, such as they are.—

My Father of course meant to send the Martens as they were as I also did the Dundiver, and we are glad they arrived safe.— My Father is glad to hear that Mrs. Darwin is tolerably well: it must have been a terrible blow to her.—

The Owens of Woodhouse, the idols of my adoration, have been staying at Buxton, & are now returned for the 1st of September. They give a most amusing account of the state decrepitude to which the Beau Garcons are there reduced.—

But if I begin to talk about Woodhouse & la belle Fanny, I never shall conclude this letter, so believe me my dear Fox, Yours sincerely | Chas. Darwin

My Father sends his best regard to you.— Be sure write soon, & direct to Maer.