Ɛpsilon

To R. P. Hardy   6 August [1880]1

[Down.]

Aug 6th

To Rolfe Price Hardy Esq | Actuary

Sir

The members of the D.F.C. have asked me, as the Treasurer, to find out whether the belief is well grounded that the funds wd allow of an increase of their benefit 2

The Club was registered in        according to the [schedule] of registration by Mr [illeg]—3 There have been 3 distributions of surplus cash by permission of an Actuary.

Each member received 10s per week for sickness during first 6 months & afterwards 5s.— Burial fee 5£.

They wish to receive 12s weekly during sickness for the first 26 week & afterwards 6s instead of as at present 10s & 5s. Also to receive 10£ for burial fee instead of 5£, with the power of drawing half the 10£ (i.e. 5£) in the case of the death of a wife. I enclose the balance-sheet for the last year,4 (with some appended facts) which I hope will give you sufficient information to judge by; but if not any other information will be supplied by me.— As the T & member of this small Club (51 members) may I request that before considering your answer you will have the kindness to inform me what your fee will be for officially informing me whether any increment to the benefits can be safely granted.

I beg leave to remain, Sir | your obliged & obedient serv | Charles Darwin

Return accounts

ADraftS

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to J. M. F. Ludlow, 4 August 1880.
2
CD had been advised to consult an actuary on the matter of increasing sickness benefits for members of the Down Friendly Club (see letter to J. M. F. Ludlow, 4 August 1880).
3
The Friendly Club was established in 1850 (see Correspondence vol. 4, letter to J. S. Henslow, 17 January [1850] and n. 6).
4
The enclosure has not been found.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 The members … 5£. 3.2] transposed from verso
4.1 They wish] after del ‘I *have been [above del ‘am’] Treasurer to Down [above del ‘a very small’] F. Cl. at this place *since its foundation in 18 [interl] The members *of DFCl (of wh I have been the Treasurer since the foun) [interl] believe [above del ‘fancy’ above del ‘believe’] that their Funds wd allow them an [above del ‘to’] increase [‘their’ del] of benefits.’
4.1 26 week] above del ‘6 month’
4.3 (i.e. 5£)] added above
4.4 (with … facts)] interl
4.5 give you] ‘you’ interl
4.6 As … small] added
4.6 (51 members)] added above del ‘is very small’
4.6 may I 4.7] after added and del ‘[illeg] expressing a wish to know what the expense’
4.7 before … answer] transposed from after ‘inform me’; ‘considering’ del and stetted below del ‘giving’
4.8 what your] after del ‘through one of your clerks’
4.8 to the benefits 4.9] interl
5.1 I beg] after del ‘As’
5.1 obliged &] interl
6.1 Return accounts] added in margin pencil

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12680,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12680