Editing Development of Darwin's theory (section)

===Family life===
Darwin was on good terms with the local curate. He contributed to the church, helped with parish assistance and proposed a benefit society which became the ''Down Friendly Society'' with Darwin as guardian and treasurer. On Sundays, Emma took the children to church. Darwin sometimes went with them as far as the [[lychgate]] to the churchyard, and then he would go for a walk. During the service, Emma continued to face forward when the congregation turned to face the altar for the Creed, sticking to her Unitarian faith.

The Darwins went up to the [[Great Exhibition]] in 1851, staying with "[[Erasmus Alvey Darwin|Uncle Ras]]", but while the children enjoyed their several visits, Darwin's ailments returned with the excitement. The slog of describing barnacles continued. Family life was rewarding but also brought pressures. The worst of his bugbears was a fear of inherited weaknesses. His oldest son [[Darwin — Wedgwood family|William]] was a slow learner, and after much agonising Darwin sent him to [[Rugby School]]. While they had inherited wealth, it had to be wisely invested. A large proportion was cautiously put in railway stock, then in a boom but subject to fluctuations. He had kept records of the effects of the continuing water treatment, and finding that it was of some help with relaxation but had no significant effect he stopped it in 1852 and proceeded to try various experimental therapies without any confidence in their effects.