RECORD: Darwin, C. R. et al. 1866. Copy of a memorial presented to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [W. E. Gladstone]. Dated May 14.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2012. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here.
This offprint memorial is figured in Gunther, Albert E. 1975. A century of zoology at the British Museum through the lives of two keepers 1815-1914. London: Dawsons of Pall Mall, plate facing p. 239.
[page 1]
COPY OF A MEMORIAL
Presented to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
To the RT. HON. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
SIR,
It having been stated that the Scientific men of the Metropolis are, as a body, entirely opposed to the removal of the Natural History Collections from their present situation in the British Museum, we, the undersigned Fellows of the Royal, Linnean, Geological, and Zoological Societies of London, beg leave to offer to you the following expression of our opinion upon the subject.
We are of opinion that it is of fundamental importance to the progress of the Natural Sciences in this country, that the administration of the National Natural History Collections should be separated from that of the Library and Art Collections, and placed under one officer, who should be immediately responsible to one of the Queen's Ministers.
We regard the exact locality of the National Museum of Natural History as a question of comparatively minor importance, provided that it be conveniently accessible and within the Metropolitan district.
| GEORGE BENTHAM, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| WM. B. CARPENTER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S. |
| W. S. DALLAS, F.L.S. |
| CHARLES DARWIN, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| F. DUCANE GODMAN, F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| J. H. GURNEY, F.Z.S. |
| EDWARD HAMILTON, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| JOSEPH D. HOOKER, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S. |
| THOS. H. HUXLEY, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., F.L.S., F.G.S. |
| JOHN KIRK, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. |
| LILFORD, F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| ALFRED NEWTON, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| W. KITCHEN PARKER, F.R.S., F.Z.S. |
| ANDREW RAMSAY, F.R.S., V.P.G.S. |
| ARTHUR RUSSELL, M.P., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. |
| OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| P. L. SCLATER, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| G. SCLATER-BOOTH, M.P., F.Z.S. |
| S. JAMES A. SALTER, M.B., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S. |
| W. H. SIMPSON, M.A., F.Z.S. |
| J. EMERSON TENNENT, F.R.S., F.Z.S. |
| THOMAS THOMSON, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S. |
| H. B. TRISTRAM, M.A., F.L.S. |
| WALDEN, F.Z.S., F.L.S. |
| ALFRED R. WALLACE, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. |
LONDON, May 14th, 1866.
1 This memorial was later republished in Darwin 1870 and Darwin 1873. See Correspondence vol. 14, pp. 174-6.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 11 January, 2023