1860-1869] Elizabeth Wedgwood at Down 189 



and walking in the new walk in the field. Your servants 

 are charming, and I am so glad you have such a nice set. 

 We had a pleasant party at luncheon on Sunday (Mrs Miles 

 made such elegant luncheons I was quite proud of them); 

 Mr Farrer and the Godfrey Lushingtons. There was une 

 tres bonne conversation, as poor Sismondi used to say. Mr 

 Farrer is very genial and agreeable, and I liked him for the 

 cordial and appreciative way in which he spoke of you. He 

 offered Fanny [his wife] to sing to Charles, but he could 

 not contrive it those last days; indeed I think his fondness 

 for singing is pretty well merged into Natural Selection, etc. 

 I dined over the way 1 (and Charles also) to meet Miss Cobbe 

 and Miss Lloyd. Miss Cobbe was very agreeable, and told 

 a good deal about Borrow, who lives close by her. He 

 lives the same life among ragamuffins in London as he 

 used to do in Spain. He was quite an unbeliever (and is 

 still) when he went about the Bible in Spain, and the book 

 gave one that impression. Good bye, my dear Eliz., I have 

 much scrattle. 



This year Elizabeth Wedgwood made a final move to 

 Down. The beggars in London harassed and fatigued her, 

 and the bustle of the life was too much for her, so she wisely 

 decided to end her days near my mother, and henceforward 

 lived in a pleasant house in the village of Down. There she 

 spent the last twelve years of her life, happy with her 

 garden, her little dog Tony, her devoted servants, helping 

 her village neighbours, and sheltered by my mother's con- 

 stant love and care. 



Emma Darwin to her aunt Fanny Allen. 



MY DEAREST AUNT FANNY, DowN > Sat ' [1868] ' 



Eliz. is so bent upon Tromer Lodge that I am sure 

 she will get it, and I think she will be very comfortable there. 

 She will have a little too much noise from the blacksmith's 

 forge and the school-children at play; but they are not 



1 At the Hensleigh Wedgwoods' in Cumberland Place. 



