My dear George

I am quite delighted at Ball’s letter & have read it ever so many times.² I am like the Poet, of whom Ralston spoke, whose head was so much turned that it came right off.—³ It is really splendid, for the letter is obviously so spontaneous.—

This place is magnificently beautiful, but the weather is nothing less than damnably cold, & this precludes much enjoyment. There was snow on the mountains yesterday & this morning. Mother has got one of her usual headaches, but is improving & will be up, we hope by luncheon.— We rather expect M^r. Marshall to call today, & if he offers his Park-like grounds—for walking in, it will be a great advantage to me; for at present, I have only 2 walks.⁴ The Boys have taken no end of long walks, & so has Bessy, but poor Litchfield has sprained again the same ancle as before.—⁵ Leonard has gone to Pooley Bridge to arrange about his sappers.—⁶

There is no Boat at present at 5^o 20′.— It is nominally 16 miles from Penrith here, & a very pretty drive.— It will be very nice having you here, & there is some hope of William coming.⁷ I hope poor dear Ida may be able to come. I think the visit here has done Horace good; he has been very jolly & pleasant, & has taken several gigantic walks.—⁸

Please look in list of Royal Soc. members for the initials of M^r. Lawes of Rothamsted(?) Christian name, & tell me.— I want to send him my worm-book, when published, as the only return which I can make for an astoundingly civil invitation to Rothamsted.—⁹

I think Ball one of the best men who ever lived: I wish he was going to be Astronomer R., but Leonard says Stone at the C. of G. Hope has been appointed.—¹⁰

Your affectionate Father | C. Darwin