2i8 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xv 



Evans's tearful face made me feel rather hard and unnatural. 

 In writing to you I shall try to forget how long it will be 

 before you get my letter, and imagine you at Chatham. 



Emma Darwin to her son Leonard. 



MY DEAR LEO BASSET, Sunday, Aug. 23rd [1874]. 



We are packing up for to-morrow's start for home 

 at 6.30 a.m.; after a most successful and peaceful stay with 

 dear old William. F. says he has not felt so rested and 

 improved and full of enjoyment since old Moor Park days. 

 George joined us about 10 days ago, and has been able to 

 join all our expeditions, which have chiefly consisted in 

 driving as far as N. Stoneham Park and getting out for a 

 short walk. I had no idea it was so charming and pretty, 

 and P. finds that he was quite mistaken in thinking he had 

 succeeded in crushing out his taste for scenery, or that for 

 a beautiful garden which he saw yesterday in such a blaze 

 of sun. . . . The Bessemer Steam-boat is to be launched in 

 3 weeks. I don't despair of taking F. across some day. 



Yours, my dear old man, E. D. 



And after then* return she wrote to her daughter Bessy: 



Wilh'am says how quiet and dull the meals are, and how 



much he enjoyed our visit. I believe he quite misses us, 



though F. would think that quite too presumptuous an 



idea, he being a man and we fogies." 



Emma Darwin to her son Leonard in New Zealand. 



Dec. 22, 1874. 



Colenso is just returning well pleased with having ob- 

 tained justice for the Caffre tribes who have been so badly 

 treated. Dean Stanley had the courage to ask him to 

 preach at Westminster Abbey, but Colenso declined, saying 

 he had not come to England to stand up for his own rights, 

 and he would not make a fuss. We enjoy your letters 

 heartily. 



