250 THE DARWIN MEMORIAL ix 



Mr. Darwin's work been fully recognised, but the 

 world had discerned the simple, earnest, generous 

 character of the man, that shone through every 

 page of his writings. 



I imagine that reflections such as these swept 

 through the minds alike of loving friends and of 

 honourable antagonists when Mr. Darwin died ; 

 and that they were at one in the desire to honour 

 the memory of the man who, without fear and 

 without reproach, had successfully fought the 

 hardest intellectual battle of these days. 



It was in satisfaction of these just and generous 

 impulses that our great naturalist's remains were 

 deposited in Westminster Abbey ; and that, im- 

 mediately afterwards, a public meeting, presided 

 over by my lamented predecessor, Mr. Spottiswoode, 

 was held in the rooms of the Royal Society, 

 for the purpose of considering what further step 

 should be taken towards the same end. 



It was resolved to invite subscriptions, with the 

 view of erecting a statue of Mr. Darwin in some 

 suitable locality ; and to devote any surplus to the 

 advancement of the biological sciences. 



Contributions at once flowed in from Austria, 

 Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, 

 Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, 

 Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the 

 British Colonies, no less than from all parts of the 

 three kingdoms ; and they came from all classes of 

 the community. To mention one interesting case, 



