The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Bentham, George. 1882.04.25. Letter to Francis Darwin. CUL-DAR215.9c. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2021. Corrections by Anne Secord 4.2022. RN2

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.

"Bentham, George, 1800-84. Son of Sir Samuel B. Nephew of Jeremy B. Botanist. Biography: Jackson 1906, CD discussed evolution with before Origin. 1844 CD discussed flora of Sandwich Islands with. 1854 B presented his books and herbarium to Kew and worked there daily. 1858 Jul. 28 CD "I have ordered Bentham, for as Babington says it will be very curious to see a Flora written by a man who knows nothing of British plants!!!" CCD7:139. 1858 Jul. 30 "I have got Bentham and am charmed with it". These two quotations refer to Handbook of the British flora, 1858. 1859 Royal Medal Royal Society. 1859 B accepted evolution. 1862 FRS. 1862 B approved of Orchids in his Presidential address to Linnean Society. 1882 B was on "Personal Friends invited" list for CD's funeral. 1882 recollections of CD in DAR112.A5-A7, in Darwin Online." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021)

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[FD]

25 Wilton Place SW

April 25/82

My dear Sir

I received last night a ticket of admission to Westminster Abbey for the sad ceremony of tomorrow and it is with the greatest regret that I feel unable to avail myself to it. No one has ever entertained a greater respect for Mr Darwin – no one has felt a greater admiration of his wonderful labours than myself – no one has more deeply deplored the great loss to science occurred by his

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death or could be more anxious to contribute in my small way to do honour to his remains – but with the growing infirmities of my advanced age – just recovered from a tedious cold and cough of which I still feel the effect I fear thus I should be unable to stand out the ceremony and am most reluctantly obliged to forgo it: I trust therefore you will kindly excuse my troubling you with this note to express to you and your family how sincerely I join in the condolences you have received from all quarters at home and abroad

Your very sincerely

George Bentham

F. Darwin Esq

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)