1844 1858] ROYAL SOCIETY 113 



enough for books. I can see many advantages in not being Letter 68 

 under the unmotherly wing of art and archaeology, and my 

 only fear was that we were not strong enough to live without 

 some protection, so profound, I think, is the contempt for 

 and ignorance of Natural Science amongst the gentry of 

 England. Hooker tells me that I should be converted into 

 favour of Kensington Gore if I heard all that could be said in 

 its favour ; but I cannot yet help thinking so western a locality 

 a great misfortune. Has Lyell been consulted ? His would 

 be a powerful name, and such names go for much with our 

 ignorant Governors. You seem to have taken much trouble 

 in the business, and I honour you for it. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter 69 



Down, Nov. 9th [1858]. 



I am quite delighted to hear about the Copley l and Lyell. 

 I have grown hot with indignation many times thinking of 

 the way the proposal was met last year, according to your 

 account of it. I am also very glad to hear of Hancock 2 ; it 

 will show the provincials are not neglected. Altogether the 

 medals are capital. I shall be proud and bound to help in 

 any way about the eloge, which is rather a heavy tax on 

 proposers of medals, as I found about Richardson and West- 

 wood ; but Lyell's case will be twenty times as difficult. I 

 will begin this very evening dotting down a few remarks on 

 Lyell ; though, no doubt, most will be superfluous, and several 

 would require deliberate consideration. Anyhow, such notes 

 may be a preliminary aid to you ; I will send them in a few 

 days' time, and will do anything else you may wish. . . . 



P.S. I have had a letter from Henslow this morning. 

 He comes here on [Thursday] 25th, and I shall be delighted 

 to see him ; but it stops my coming to the Club, as I had 

 arranged to do, and now I suppose I shall not be in London 

 till Dec. i6th, if odds and ends do not compel me to come 

 sooner. Of course I have not said a \vord to Henslow of 

 my change of plans. I had looked forward with pleasure to 

 a chat with you and others. 



1 The Copley Medal of the Royal Society was awarded to Lyell 

 in 1858. 



? Albany Hancock received a Royal Medal in 1858. 



8 



