Dear Sir—

I am much obliged for your letter of the 10^th. & for your offer to undertake the valuation.² I sh^d. be much glad if you would send me the paper or form about the ages of the individual members, which I will have soon filled up; but there will be a little delay as I shall leave home on the 14^th for a week.³

I fear, however, that it may be impossible for you to make a valuation, owing to the scandalous neglect of the members of this small Club.— Ever since its organisation in 1850, I have drawn up balance sheets & sent them annually to the Club, & have repeatedly charged the members to take care of them. Now I find that the box, belonging to the Club, has been left open & all the annual Balance sheet since 1867 have been destroyed, except those for 1875, 1877, 1878, & 1879.— I could with much labour pick out of my ledger how much has been paid for sickness & burial fees, during each year subsequently to 1870; & how much was received by the monthly payments; but I have no means of ascertaining what interest was received each year.⁴ Will you have the kindness to advise me.— I strongly suspect that the fund will not allow of any increase of benefit to the members, but they are convinced that this can be done, & nothing will satisfy them except the assurance of an Actuary, & I am not sure that they have sense enough to be even then convinced.—

Apologising for the length of this note, | I remain dear Sir, Your obliged & obedient servant | Charles Darwin