1851-1853] William at Rugby 145 



diaries Darwin to his son William at Rugby. 



DOWN, Tuesday, 24th [Feb. 1852]. 



MY DEAR OLD WILLY, 



I have not for a very long time been more pleased 

 than I was this morning at receiving your letter with the 

 excellent news at your having got so good a place. We 

 are both rejoiced at it, and give you our hearty congratula- 

 tions. It is in every respect a very good thing, for you 

 will be amongst an older set of boys. Your letter was a 

 very good one, and told us all that we liked to hear : it was 

 well expressed and you must have taken some pains to write 

 it. We are so very glad to hear that you are happy and 

 comfortable; long may you keep so, my dear boy. What 

 a tremendous, awful, stunning, dreadful, terrible, bothering 

 steeple-chase you have run : I am astonished at your getting 

 in the 5th. When next you write, explain how it came 

 that you, a new boy, and Erny, an old boy, came to run 

 together ? What boys run, all those in your house ? or 

 in your Form ? You must write to Mr Wharton: 1 you 

 had better begin with " My dear Sir." Tell him about your 

 examination. End by saying " I thank you and Mrs Whar- 

 ton for all the kindness you have always done me. Believe 

 me, Yours truly obliged." 



Next Sunday when you write here, tell us who your master 

 is, and what books you are in. The more you can write 

 the better we shall be pleased. All the servants enquire 

 about you; and so they did at Aunt Sarah's. . . . We are 

 doing nothing particular : one day is like another : I go my 

 morning walk and often think of you, and Georgy draws 

 every day many Horse-guards, and Lenny is as fat as ever. 

 Farewell my dear Willy ; may you go on as well as you have 

 begun. All here send their best loves to you. 



Your affectionate Father, C. DAB WEST. 



1 The schoolmaster at his preparatory school. 



