To W. E. Darwin 30 [October 1862]1
Down
30th
My dear William
I write only just to thank you about the Lythrum. I do not feel at all so sure, that what you thought about the mid-styled looking different is rubbish:2 I am sure that it yields more seed. I think the seed of long-styled are rather larger than of the two other forms.—3
What a melancholy thing poor little Mauds death is. I am truly sorry for the Atherleys.4 It is not at all likely that you will have any opportunity, but if you have say how sincerely we sympathise with them.— I fear if Mr A. goes away for some time, you will be much confined to your work.— How does your health keep.? Poor Etty has not been very well lately, & it makes her low.5
John Lubbock comes here to dinner tomorrow; Heaven knows how I shall stand it.—6 Herbert Norman found the other day a very perfect Celt near Cudham:7 & a grand Mammoth’s tusk has just been found at Greenstreet Green.—8
Our greatest piece of news is that Lizzie at her own wish is to go to school at Kensington after Xmas;9 & if Horace is able to go, we shall part with Miss Ludwig.—10 Etty is going on Saturday,, if well enough as I very much hope she will be, to stay for a few days at the Bonham Carters.11
Thanks for Saturday Review; it was a nice little article.—12
Farewell | My dear old fellow | Your affect | C. Darwin
Months hence will do about counting seed; you will find it tedious work.—13
Footnotes
Bibliography
Anon. 1862. Mr Darwin’s orchids. Saturday Review 14 (1862): 486.
Collected papers: The collected papers of Charles Darwin. Edited by Paul H. Barrett. 2 vols. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. 1977.
Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.
‘Three forms of Lythrum salicaria’: On the sexual relations of the three forms of Lythrum salicaria. By Charles Darwin. [Read 16 June 1864.] Journal of the Linnean Society (Botany) 8 (1865): 169–96. [Collected papers 2: 106–31.]
Summary
Thanks WED for observations on Lythrum.
Discusses family affairs.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3789
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- William Erasmus Darwin
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 210.6: 107
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3789,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3789.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10