My dear Wallace

You know from Miss Buckley that with her assistance I drew up a Memorial to M^r Gladstone with respect to your services to science.² The memorial was corrected by Huxley, who has aided me in every possible way.³ It was signed by 12 good men, & you w^d. have been gratified if you had seen how strongly they expressed themselves on your claims.

The Duke of Argyll, to whom I sent the Memorial, wrote a private note to M^r Gladstone.⁴ The Memorial was sent in only on Jan 5^th & I have just received a note in M^r Gladstones own hand-writing, in which he says “I lose no time in apprising you that although the Fund is moderate & at present poor, I shall recommend M^r Wallace for a pension of 200£ a year.”⁵ I will keep this note carefully, as if the present Government were to go out, I do not doubt that it would be binding on the next Government.—

I hope that it will give you some satisfaction to see that not only every scientific man to whom I applied, but that also our Government, appreciated your life-long scientific labour.

Believe me, my dear Wallace | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I sh^d expect that there will be some delay before you receive an official announcement