1880-1882] The Death of Erasmus Darwin 247 



by wishing for Sara. F. got up to his beloved rock this 

 morning, but just then a fit of his dazzling came on and he 

 came down. 



In my mother's diary there is the entry: " Down, July 16. 

 Litches, Lushingtons, Miss North." It was one of those 

 ideal days when we could sit under the limes all day. My 

 father was in his happiest spirits, responding to Mrs Lush- 

 ington's charming gaiety, and enjoying her grace and beauty 

 and her enchanting music. This is a happy memory of the 

 last summer of the Down of our youth. 



Erasmus Darwin died on August 26th, after four days' 

 illness. He was weary of Life, and the constant burden of 

 ill-health, but for us all the loss was irreparable. He was 

 buried at Down. 



W. E. Darwin to his mother. 



August 27, 1SS1. 



Next to coming to Down, one of my greatest pleasures 

 was going to see dear Uncle Eras whenever I was in London. 

 He seems to me much more than an uncle, and from quite 

 a little boy I can remember his steady kindness and pleas- 

 antness, always knowing how to make me feel at ease and 

 be amused. After I grew up, it year by year was a greater 

 happiness for me to go and see him. To me there was a 

 charm in his manner that I never saw in anybody else. 



Emma Darwin to her daugliter-in-law Ida. 



DOWN, Monday [Aug. 29th, 1881]. 



It will be very delightful to us to have you here, my 

 dear child, and I hope you will come before the funeral. 

 I don't know any that we shall have in the house, but if we 

 had we have plenty of room for you. I am sure it must be 

 a happy thought to you that he knew how much you loved 

 him, or rather that he loved you (for I don't think he thought 

 much about other people's affection he knew of his own 

 feelings). 



