To W. E. Darwin 30 November [1861]¹

Down

Nov. 30^th

My dear William

The consols were purchased under name of William Erasmus Darwin of Southampton & Banker was not introduced.²

Mamma³ is in bed with bad Headach.— Miss. L.⁴ is very bad with headach.— Lenny⁵ has got a slight headach.— I am not very bright— The day is raining torrents, the children are ennuied—so I have not heart to write—

GoodBye | My dear old man | C. Darwin

Footnotes

1

The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to W. E. Darwin, 12 October [1861] (Correspondence vol. 9).

2

‘Consols’ is an abbreviation for consolidated annuities, a form of government stocks. CD purchased these in William’s name to serve as a guaranteed deposit toward William’s partnership in the bank of Atherley, Fall & Atherley (later the Southampton and Hampshire Bank; see Correspondence vol. 9, letter to W. E. Darwin, 12 October [1861] and n. 5).

3

Emma Darwin.

4

Camilla Ludwig, the Darwin children’s governess.

5

Leonard Darwin.