Dear Sir Benjamin Brodie

In answer to your note, I cannot think of any Zoologist who has any especial claim for the Royal Medal.² Though not a Botanist myself, it seems to me that M^r Bentham has high claims for this honour. His contributions to De Candolles great Prodromus, almost by itself shows his European reputation as a systematic Botanist:³ & many of his memoirs, as I can speak from my own knowledge, contain much important information on Classification, Distribution & such general subjects.—

Should the Council think of a geologist, to the best of my judgment, M^r Prestwich⁴ amply deserves a medal, for his remarkable & excellent labours on the British Tertiary formations, & their correlation with those on the continent. I am tempted to add that it would be a facility in thinking over the medals if any list of the names of individuals existed to whom the medals of all kinds have been given: it would aid in apportioning the medals fairly for different subjects.—

With much respect pray believe me | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin