Summary

Reports on Anne’s health throughout the night and from 8 a.m. through to 4.30 p.m.

Summary

Further reports on Anne’s illness.

Summary

An evening report on Annie Darwin’s somewhat improved condition.

Summary

Tells of Anne’s death.

Summary

CD recounts an idyllic stroll and nap – "as pleasant a rural scene as ever I saw, and I did not care one penny how any of the beasts or birds had been formed".

Summary

Concerned about ED’s headaches, CD writes an affectionate letter.

Believes he has found a rare slave-making species of ant.

Is reading novels: Beneath the surface and Three chances.

Summary

His [first] railway journey was disappointing.

Summary

In his first letter after their engagement, CD reports on the happy reception of the news by his family. He hopes she will not find life with him solitary and dull after the lively social life of Maer.

Summary

Recounts his misadventures on the train journey back to London. Tells of a visit to the FitzRoys and a friendly letter from Lyell. Whether CD and Emma should live in central London or in the suburbs is a perplexing problem, much discussed by relatives and friends.

Summary

CD and Erasmus continue to search for a house in central London. They have tea with the Carlyles.

Summary

His search for a London house. He visits the Lyells, who give solemn advice to choose their London acquaintances carefully.

Summary

The house at 12 Upper Gower Street is theirs.

Summary

Has moved into the Gower Street house. Is pleased with it and its location.

Hopes to be able to finish his Glen Roy paper soon.

Summary

His dinner with the Carlyles. "He is the best worth listening to of any man" – but CD cannot get up much admiration for Mrs C, partly because of her Scots accent, which makes her difficult to understand.

Summary

Has been with the Lyells doing geology.

Is reading a biography of Sir W. Scott [J. G. Lockhart, Memoirs of the life of Sir Walter Scott (1837–8)]; also Mungo Park’s book [Travels (1799)].

Has hired a cook at fourteen guineas a year with tea and sugar.

Summary

Has had two bad days with boils.

Is reading Last days of Pompeii [Edward Bulwer Lytton (1834)].

Summary

Reports on his father’s health, and Catherine’s. CD, himself, has been a little sick.

Hensleigh [Wedgwood] thinks he has settled the free-will question – "we have none whatsoever".

Summary

His health not good.

Has been reading John Evelyn’s Life of Mrs Godolphin, and Mme Sévigné.

Summary

Family news. Finds Shrewsbury too noisy.

Summary

Anxiety about R. W. Darwin’s health.