37* MY LIFE [Chap. 



continued depreciating so constantly as to be a source of great 

 anxiety to me, and every effort to extricate myself by seeking 

 better investments only made matters worse. It was at this 

 time that the endeavour to get the Epping Forest appoint- 

 ment failed, and had it not been for the kindness of a relative, 

 Miss Roberts, of Epsom, a cousin of my mother's, with whose 

 family I had been intimate from my boyhood, I should have 

 been in absolute want. She had intended to leave me £1000 

 in her will, but instead of doing so transferred it to me at 

 once, and as it was in an excellent security, and brought me 

 in from ,£50 to £6$ a year, it was most welcome. I had sold 

 my house at Grays fairly well, and in 1880 bought a piece of 

 land and built a cottage at Godalming, so that I had a home 

 of my own ; but I had now to depend almost entirely on the 

 little my books brought me in, together with a few lectures, 

 reviews, and other articles. I had just finished writing my 

 "Island Life," and had no idea that I should ever write 

 another important book, and I therefore saw no way of 

 increasing my income, which was then barely sufficient to 

 support my family and educate my two children in the most 

 economical way. From this ever-increasing anxiety I was 

 relieved through the grant of a Civil Service pension of .£200, 

 which came upon me as a very joyful surprise. My most 

 intimate and confidential friend at this time was Mrs. Fisher 

 (then Miss Buckley), and to her alone I mentioned my great 

 losses, and my anxiety as to any sure source of income. 

 Shortly afterwards she was visiting Darwin, and mentioned it 

 to him, and he thought that a pension might be granted 

 me in recognition of my scientific work. Huxley most kindly 

 assisted in drawing up the necessary memorial to the Prime 

 Minister, Mr. Gladstone, to whom Darwin wrote personally. 

 He promptly assented, and the next year, 1881, the first pay- 

 ment was made. Other of my scientific friends, I believe, 

 signed the memorial, but it is especially to the three named 

 that I owe this very great relief from anxiety for the remainder 

 of my life. 



I have already stated that what at the time appeared to 



