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Charles Darwin: His Life Told in an Autobiographical Chapter, and in a Selected Series of His Published Letters cover

Charles Darwin: His Life Told in an Autobiographical Chapter, and in a Selected Series of His Published Letters

Chapter 39: APPENDIX II.
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About This Book

This work presents an autobiographical account of the life of a prominent naturalist, detailing his early years, education, and significant scientific contributions. It includes personal reflections and selected letters that illustrate his thoughts on various subjects, including religion and his scientific endeavors. The narrative is structured chronologically, highlighting key events such as his voyage on the Beagle and the development of his groundbreaking theories on evolution. The text also explores the interplay between his personal life and scientific work, providing insight into his character and the influences that shaped his ideas.

FOOTNOTES:

[300] On the action of carbonate of ammonia on roots and leaves.

[301] The allusion is to Mr. Huxley's address, "On the hypothesis that animals are automata, and its history," given at the Belfast Meeting of the British Association, 1874, and republished in Science and Culture.


APPENDIX I. THE FUNERAL IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

On the Friday succeeding my father's death, the following letter, signed by twenty Members of Parliament, was addressed to Dr. Bradley, Dean of Westminster:—

 

House of Commons, April 21, 1882.

Very Rev. Sir,—We hope you will not think we are taking a liberty if we venture to suggest that it would be acceptable to a very large number of our fellow-countrymen of all classes and opinions that our illustrious countryman, Mr. Darwin, should be buried in Westminster Abbey.

We remain, your obedient servants,

John Lubbock, Richard B. Martin,
Nevil Storey Maskelyne,      Francis W. Buxton,
A. J. Mundella, E. L. Stanley,
G. O. Trevelyan, Henry Broadhurst,
Lyon Playfair, John Barran,
Charles W. Dilke, J. F. Cheetham,
David Wedderburn, H. S. Holland,
Arthur Russell, H. Campbell-Bannerman,
Horace Davey, Charles Bruce,
Benjamin Armitage, Richard Fort.

 

The Dean was abroad at the time, and telegraphed his cordial acquiescence.

The family had desired that my father should be buried at Down: with regard to their wishes, Sir John Lubbock wrote:—

 

House of Commons, April 25, 1882.

My dear Darwin,—I quite sympathise with your feeling, and personally I should greatly have preferred that your father should have rested in Down amongst us all. It is, I am sure, quite understood that the initiative was not taken by you. Still, from a national point of view, it is clearly right that he should be buried in the Abbey. I esteem it a great privilege to be allowed to accompany my dear master to the grave.

Believe me, yours most sincerely,

John Lubbock.

W. E. Darwin, Esq.

 

The family gave up their first-formed plans, and the funeral took place in Westminster Abbey on April 26th. The pall-bearers were:—

Sir John Lubbock, Canon Farrar,
Mr. Huxley, Sir Joseph Hooker,
Mr. James Russell Lowell      Mr. William Spottiswoode
   (American Minister),    (President of the Royal Society),
Mr. A. R. Wallace The Earl of Derby
The Duke of Devonshire, The Duke of Argyll.

 

The funeral was attended by the representatives of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, and by those of the Universities and learned Societies, as well as by large numbers of personal friends and distinguished men.

The grave is in the north aisle of the Nave, close to the angle of the choir-screen, and a few feet from the grave of Sir Isaac Newton. The stone bears the inscription—

 

CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN.
Born 12 February, 1809.
Died 19 April, 1882.


APPENDIX II.

Portraits.

Date. Description. Artist. In the Possession of
1838 Water-colour G. Richmond The Family.
1851 Lithograph Ipswich British Assn. Series.   
1853 Chalk Drawing Samuel Lawrence The Family.
1853?    Chalk Drawing[302]    Samuel Lawrence Professor Hughes, Cambridge.   
1869 Bust, marble T. Woolner, R.A. The Family.
1875 Oil Painting[303] W. Ouless, R.A. The Family.
Etched by P. Rajon.
1879 Oil Painting W. B. Richmond The University of Cambridge.
1881 Oil Painting[304] Hon. John Collier The Linnean Society.
Etched by Leopold Flameng

Chief Portraits and Memorials not taken from Life.

Statue[305] Joseph Boehm, R.A. Museum, South Kensington.
Bust Chr. Lehr, Junr.
Plaque T. Woolner, R.A., and Josiah Wedgwood and Sons.    Christ's College, in Charles Darwin's Room.   
Deep Medallion.    J. Boehm, R.A. In Westminster Abbey.

Chief Engravings from Photographs.

*1854? By Messrs. Maull and Fox, engraved on wood for Harper's Magazine (Oct. 1884). Frontispiece, Life and Letters, vol. i.

1868 By the late Mrs. Cameron, reproduced in heliogravure by the Cambridge Engraving Company for the present work.

*1870? By O. J. Rejlander, engraved on Steel by C. H. Jeens for Nature (June 4, 1874).

*1874? By Major Darwin, engraved on wood for the Century Magazine (Jan. 1883). Frontispiece, Life and Letters, vol. ii.

1881 By Messrs. Elliot and Fry, engraved on wood by G. Kruells, for vol. iii. of the Life and Letters.

*The dates of these photographs must, from various causes, remain uncertain. Owing to a loss of books by fire, Messrs. Maull and Fox can give only an approximate date. Mr. Rejlander died some years ago, and his business was broken up. My brother, Major Darwin, has no record of the date at which his photograph was taken.

FOOTNOTES:

[302] Probably a sketch made at one of the sittings for the last-mentioned.

[303] A replica by the artist is in the possession of Christ's College, Cambridge.

[304] A replica by the artist is in the possession of W. E. Darwin, Esq., Southampton.

[305] A cast from this work is now placed in the New Museums at Cambridge.


INDEX.