RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1881]. [Draft memorial for Civil List Pension for A. R. Wallace (fragment)]. CUL-DAR91.101. (Cite as: John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by Kees Rookmaaker and John van Wyhe 3.2010. 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. The volume CUL-DAR91 contains early notes on guns & shooting. Darwin's draft of recollections of Henslow, 1861. Notes on the moral sense. Wallace pension. 'a sketch of the principal events in my life' & list of Darwin's works. Loose notes found with CUL-DAR119 'Books to be read'. One sheet, upper part excised. 203 x 165mm.

Darwin's efforts to seek a Civil List Pension for A. R. Wallace are described in Ralph Colp 1992. "I will gladly do my best": How Charles Darwin obtained a Civil List Pension for Alfred Russel Wallace. Isis 83: 3-26 and the important letters and commentary in Correspondence vols. 27 and 28.

See related items also transcribed from the Darwin Archive at Cambridge University Library:

[Buckley, Arabella]. [1880]. [Biographical and bibliographical notes on A. R. Wallace] CUL-DAR91.91-94 Text

Darwin, C. R. [1880]. [Draft memorial for Civil List Pension for A. R. Wallace]. CUL-DAR91.95-98 Text

Darwin, C. R. et al. [1880]. [Potential signatories for memorial for Civil List Pension for A. R. Wallace]. CUL-DAR91.99-100. Text

Darwin, C. R., T. H. Huxley et al. [11-12.1880]. [Draft of] Petition to H M Government regarding a pension for Alfred Russel Wallace. CUL-DAR196.3.1. Text


[101]

had some capital to take him out to S. America. It was a speculation to provide dealers with specimens. I do not think he had much. - as far as I can remember no very important scientific results were obtained from this expedition ??

I must Look the Catalogue of Royal Soc. for his scientific papers, before the one on natural slection in Journal of Linn. Soc. The subsequent volume of Essays (on natural selction) (see title & date) might be here introduced.

Date & length of the great Expedition to the Malay

over)

upper part of page excised.

[101v]

[the paragraph is marked by Darwin's backwards question marks]

he obtained from sale of his Malayan collections & from profits of his scientific works, which cannot pay good [excised] & by writing for journals. But at his present age of 58 with two children he finds this hard labour, & it is a great misfortune for science that he shd. not have his time left from free for scientific work.—

He has endeavoured to obtain some permanent post or office, but has failed, & it is not likely on account of his age that he will succeed.

Anyth Any hints or advice or corrections wd. be most gratefully received. I must be beyond everything accurate.—


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

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