On the 18th of April, 1802, Dr. Darwin had written "one page of a very sprightly letter to Mr. Edgeworth, describing the Priory and his purposed alterations there, when the fatal signal was given. He rang the bell and ordered the servant to send Mrs. Darwin to him. She came immediately, with his daughter, Miss Emma Darwin. They saw him shivering and pale. He desired them to send to Derby for his surgeon, Mr. Hadley. They did so, but all was over before he could arrive. "It was reported at Lichfield that, perceiving himself growing rapidly worse, he said to Mrs. Darwin, 'My dear, you must bleed me instantly.' 'Alas! I dare not, lest--' 'Emma, will you? There is no time to be lost.' 'Yes, my dear father, if you will direct me.' At that moment he sank into his chair and expired."[154] Dr. Dowson gives the letter to Mr. Edgeworth, which is as follows:-- "Dear Edgeworth, "I am glad to find that you still amuse yourself with mechanism, in spite of the troubles of Ireland. "The _use_ of turning aside or downwards the claw of a table, I don't see; as it must then be reared against a wall, for it will not stand alone. If the use be for carriage, the feet may shut up, like the usual brass feet of a reflecting telescope. "We have all been now removed from Derby about a fortnight, to the Priory, and all of us like our change of situation. We have a pleasant house, a good garden, ponds full of fish, and a pleasing valley, somewhat like Shenstone's--deep, umbrageous, and with a talkative stream running down it. Our house is near the top of the valley, well screened by hills from the east and north, and open to the south, where at four miles distance we see Derby tower. "Four or more strong springs rise near the house, and have formed the valley which, like that of Petrarch, may be called Val Chiusa, as it begins, or is shut at the situation of the house. I hope you like the description, and hope farther that yourself and any part of your family will sometimes do us the pleasure of a visit. "Pray tell the authoress" (Miss Maria Edgeworth) "that the water-nymphs of our valley will be happy to assist her next novel. "My bookseller, Mr. Johnson, will not begin to print the 'Temple of Nature' till the price of paper is fixed by Parliament. I suppose the present duty is paid...." At these words Dr. Darwin's pen stopped. What followed was written on the opposite side of the paper by another hand. FOOTNOTES: [137] 'Sketch, &c., of Erasmus Darwin,' pp. 3, 4. [138] Miss Seward's 'Memoirs of Dr. Darwin,' p. 3. [139] Ibid. [140] Dr. Dowson's 'Sketch of Dr. Erasmus Darwin,' p. 50. [141] Dr. Dowson's 'Sketch of Dr. Darwin,' p. 53. [142] Miss Seward's 'Memoirs,' &c., p. 6. [143] 'Memoirs,' &c., p. 14. [144] 'Memoirs,' &c., p. 21. [145] 'Memoirs,' &c., p. 62. [146] 'Memoirs,' &c., p. 68. [147] Miss Seward's 'Memoirs,' p. 69.