Cori'tiSjwiuhnce with CharlcM Darunn 11>9 



pall-lK'itrfi' hikI lie (Fiirmr) tintertxl inoNt cordially into the wiahM of the family. He offered 

 to net as a pall-lioarer t'itlier in or without his toIjch, aH dt^Hirt^. Ho is to pn-aoh next Sunday 

 on Uarwin at the Ahlwy and tells «io that he wishes to niak<^ such amends as ho can for 

 the reception formerly given by the Church party to Darwin's works, and we have talked over 

 sonip pointM for the sermon. 



Ho^iiiuld Darwin was there and Emma Wilmot and Cameron Galton and H. Bristowe. 

 The family party was so larjjo that inuHt of the ladies (including liouisa) nn<l aliout half of the 

 men wen^ placoil in the scats by the altar rails else the proct-Ksioii would have l)een too long. 

 H. Uristowe and I walked together. I»uisa will writt; more details. The newspa|K»rs will give 

 a much fuller account. The service was not particularly touching; it never is in the Abbey; 

 it is more like the ceremonial of ijicimj ii i'niivriiitij Degree. 



I got a curd for Kra-smus to attend with the family and telegraphed to him to Loxton 

 thinking it jwMxble that owing to his admiration of Darwin's works he might like to come, but 

 he declined. 



Mrs Darwin is very composed now. 



I feel this is a worthle.s.s and heartless sounding letter, but as I said the feeling promoted by 

 the ceremony is tuit a .solemn one but rather the sense of a national honour and glory. 



Ever affectly, Francis Galtos. 



The words of the anthem, taken from Proverbs iii. 13, 15, Ifi and 17 "Happy 



is tlie man tliat Hndetli wi.sdom.and tlie man that ffetteth understanding 



Her ways are ways of plea-santness, and all her paths are peace," were aptly 

 chosen, tis also the anthem of Handel at the grave-side: "His Ixxly is buried 

 in peace, but his name liveth evermore." The ceremony did not strongly 

 appeal, however, to Darwin's Quaker-minded cousin ; for him the restful 

 burial in the little churchyard of Claverdon Leys thirty years later seemed 

 indeed appropriate. The ne.xt day, April 27th, Darwin's daughter, Miss 

 Eliijabeth Darwin, wrote to Galton's sister Emma: 



"We have had a grejit deal of syuipathy and it is sof)thing to feel how many aj)preciate<l 

 our dear Fathers goodness. He always hail a very real affection for your- brother and took 

 great pleasure in his company." 



On the sjime <Uiy ajjpeared a letter by (Jalton in the I'alL Mall Uazette: 



The Ijate Mr Darwin : A suggestion 



SlK, — Next Sunday numerous congregations will e-xj^-ct some honourable recognition of the 

 character and works of Charles Darwin. Let me suggest to clergymen generally that they 

 .should substitute on that day the 'Benedicite' for the more usual 'To Deum,' as many of its 

 noble verses are pointetlly appropriate to what they would prolxibly wish to say afterwards 

 from the pulpit: — 



O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever. 



O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for over. 



O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the TiOrd : praise him, and magnify 



him for ever. 

 O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Ixird : praise him, and magnify him for ever. 

 O all ye Beasts, and Cattle, bless ye the liord : praise him, and nisgnify him for ever. 

 O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the I»rd : prai.se him, and magnify him for ever. 



In pursuance of the .same idea, let me adil that a staineti glass window in Westminster 

 .\l)bey, syniboli.sing these and other verses of the same canticle in its several panels, would be 

 a beautiful monument to the memory of Charles Darwin, and (piite in harmony with the 

 surroundings. It would afford a desired opportunity for other countries to shsre in the erection 

 of a memorial without merging their several contributions indistinnuishably into one, as each 

 country might contribute a st^parate panel. I suggest this window in addition to, and not in 

 substitution of, any bust or tablet that may hereafter be decided upon, and towards all of 

 which I, for one, am prepared to subscribe lii)erally. I am. Sir, Your obedient servant, F. G. 



