To Lawson Tait   13 January 1880

My dear Sir

The honour which you propose to do me is a great one.¹ But would it not be better to wait until I am in my grave? Nevertheless if you & friends remain of the same opinion, I can express only my gratitude & the wish that I were more worthy of the honour. I know of no other biographical notices published in England so full as the two to which you allude. A good sketch by Prof. Preyer appeared in the last Feb^y. no^r. of Kosmos, as a sort of commemoration of my Birth-day.² I could lend you the no^r, if you sh^d. think it worth while to read it in German, which to almost all Englishmen is a great trouble & sorrow.

I was born on Feb. 12^th 1809, so shall be 71 next Feb.^y.

Pray reflect on what I have said about my grave, & till then, pray believe me | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin