l83/.] GOVERNMENT GRANT. 283 



pagos plants ; but before he never would say a word. It 

 is just striking twelve o'clock ; so I will wish you a very good 

 night. 



My dear Jenyns, 



Yours most truly, 



C. DARWIN. 



[A few weeks later the plan seems to have been matured, 

 and the idea of seeking Government aid to have been 

 adopted.] 



C. Darwin to J. S. Henslow. 



36 Great Marlborough Street, 



[i8th May, 1837]. 



MY DEAR HENSLOW, 



I was very glad to receive your letter. I wanted much 

 to hear how you were getting on with your manifold labours. 

 Indeed I do not wonder your head began to ache ; it is almost 

 a wonder you have any head left. Your account of the 

 Gamltngay expedition was cruelly tempting, but I cannot 

 anyhow leave London. I wanted to pay my good, dear people 

 at Shrewsbury a visit of a few days, but I found I could not 

 manage it ; at present I am waiting for the signatures of the 

 Duke of Somerset, as President of the Linnean, and of Lord 

 Derby and Whewell, to a statement of the value of my collec- 

 tion ; the instant I get this I shall apply to Government for as- 

 sistance in engraving, and so publish the ' Zoology ' on some 

 uniform plan. It is quite ridiculous the time any operation 

 requires which depends on many people. 



I have been working very steadily, but have only got two- 

 thirds through the Journal part alone. I find, though I remain 

 daily many hours at work, the progress is very slow : it is an 

 awful thing to say to oneself, every fool and every clever man 

 in England, if he chooses, may mak*e as many ill-natured 

 remarks as he likes on this unfortunate sentence. 



