[10l]

[to WED GHD]

May 1. 1882

My dear friends

I cannot affect to be surprised at any act of kindness to me of your father's – (there have been so many in these past thirty years-) little as

[2]

anything of the kind could have entered into my imagination – I am deeply moved by the words which accompany the bequest – I shall always think the better of myself for them & they will be an heirloom for my children

We had a small and very weighty meeting at Burlington House on Saturday at which it was determined that a memorial fund should be raised –  partly  for that purpose of placing a bust of your father in the Abbey & partly, to establish a fund, on the model of the

[3]

Wollaston fund, for the promotion of biological research.

I do not think a more useful and enduring monument could be raised than this last – and I urged it because I thought your dear father would have approved of it more than of anything else.

Ray makes my affectionate remembrance to your mother & say that have a remarkable letter from Howell, the Trades union leader, which I shall send to her as I think she would like to possess it –

Ever yours affectionately TH Huxley

W. E Darwin Esq

G H Darwin Esq