I83s-i83y] Macaw Cottage 19 



that it were the 14th instead of the 24th. Good-bye, my own 

 dear Emma. 



I find I must wait in town till the latter end of next 

 week, on account of the lease and paying the money, and 

 suspect I must attend the Geolog. Soc. on the 9th, so my 

 plans are hampered. But what does anything signify to 

 the possessor of Macaw Cottage ? 



Charles Darwin to Emma Wedgivood. 



Jan. 1, 1839. !! 12, UPPER GOWEK STREET !! 

 MY DEAR EMMA, 



Many thanks for your two most kind, dear, and 

 affectionate letters, which I received this morning. I will 

 finish this letter to-morrow. I sit down just to date and 

 begin it, that I may enjoy the infinite satisfaction of writing 

 to my own dear wife that is to be, the very first evening of 

 my entering our house. After writing to you on Saturday 

 evening I thought much of the happy future, and in conse- 

 quence did not close my eyes till long past 2 o'clock, awoke 

 at 5 and could not go to sleep got up and set to work with 

 the good resolution of spending a quiet day about 11 

 o'clock found that would never do, so rang for Conington 

 and said, " I am very sorry to spoil your Sunday, but begin 

 packing up I must, as I cannot rest." " Pack up Sir, what 

 for ?" said Mr Conington with his eyes open with astonish- 

 ment, as if it was the first notice he had received of my 

 flitting. So we arranged some of the specimens of Natural 

 History, but did no real packing up. I, however, sorted a 

 multitude of papers. This morning however we began 

 early and in earnest, and I may be allowed to boast, when I 

 say that by half -past three we had two large vans full of 

 goods, well and carefully packed. By six o'clock we had 

 them all safely here. There is nothing left but some few 

 dozen drawers of shells, which must be carried by hand I 

 was astounded, and so was Erasmus, at the bulk of my 

 luggage, and the porters were even more so at the weight 

 of those containing my Geological Specimens. There never 



