112 EVOLUTION [CHAP. II 



Letter 66 would not stir in the matter. With such opponents as you 

 name, I daresay I am quite wrong ; but this is my best, 

 though doubtful, present judgment. . . . 



It seems to me dangerous even to hint at a new Scientific 

 Museum a popular Museum, and to subsidise the Zoological 

 Gardens ; it would, I think, frighten any Government. 



Letter 67 To J. D. Hooker. 



Moor Park, Farnham, Surrey [Oct.] 29th [1858]. 



As you say that you have good private information that 

 Government does intend to remove the collection from the 

 British Museum, the case to me individually is wholly 

 changed ; and as the memorial now stands, with such ex- 

 pression at its head, I have no objection whatever to sign. 

 I must express a very strong opinion that it would be an 

 immense evil to remove to Kensington, not on account of the 

 men of science so much as for the masses in the whole eastern 

 and central part of London. I further think it would be a 

 great evil to separate a typical collection (which I can by no 

 means look at as only popular) from the collection in full. 

 Might not some expression be added, even stronger than those 

 now used, on the display (which is a sort of vanity in the 

 curators) of such a vast number of birds and mammals, with 

 such a loss of room. I am low at the conviction that Govern- 

 ment will never give money enough for a really good library. 



I do not want to be crotchety, but I should hate signing 

 without some expression about the site being easily accessible 

 to the populace of the whole of London. 



I repeat, as things now stand, I shall be proud to sign. 



Letter 68 To T " H ' Huxley. 



Down, Nov. 3rd [1858]. 



I most entirely subscribe to all you say in your note. 

 I have had some correspondence with Hooker on the subject. 

 As it seems certain that a movement in the British Museum 

 is generally anticipated, my main objection is quite removed ; 

 and, as I have told Hooker, I have no objection whatever 

 to sign a memorial of the nature of the one he sent me or 

 that now returned. Both seem to me very good. I cannot 

 help being fearful whether Government will ever grant money 



