Ɛpsilon

To G. D. Campbell   [before 27 December 1880]1

[Down.]

My Lord Duke

I hope that your Grace will excuse the liberty which I take in asking you to read the enclosed copy of a memorial, in which I take the deepest interest.2 I am aware that you disagree with many of Mr Wallace’s scientific views;3 but I believe that this disagreement, if it were to have any influence on your judgment, would lead you to look as favourably as possible on other points of his scientific career.— Supposing for a moment, that your Grace, would have signed the memorial as a simple scientific worker, would it be asking too great a favour to request you to inform Mr. Gladstone to this effect; or as the memorial will soon be printed will you allow me to mention this fact in a private letter to Mr Gladstone, if he cannot spare time to receive a Deputation.)4

The memorial will be signed exclusively by men who for their special scientific work, or for their positions as Presidents of Scientific Societies, have some claim to be heard.—

If my request is unworthy one, I hope that your Grace will believe that this is due to this is entirely due to my ignorance of what is customary, as to Govt

I beg leave to remain my Lord Duke [with sincere regards] | yours faithfully | Ch. D.

ADraftS

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to Albert Günther, 27 December 1880.
2
The enclosure was the memorial to obtain a government pension for Alfred Russel Wallace. It has not been found, but there is a draft of it in DAR 196: 3; for a transcription, see Appendix VI.
3
Campbell was a proponent of design in nature; his book The reign of law (Campbell 1867) was critical of CD’s theory. Wallace had written a critical review of Campbell’s book (Wallace 1867).
4
As a member of the government (lord privy seal), Campbell could not sign the memorial, but he did write a letter to the prime minister, William Ewart Gladstone, expressing his approval (see letter to T. H. Huxley, 27 December 1880).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.2 Duke] above del Dear D. of A.
1.1 read] after del comma
1.3 with] above del ‘on’
1.3 of] above del ‘points with’
1.3 scientific views] del then stetted
1.3 I] after del ‘for all that I have heard of your Grace, I’
1.4 disagreement,] above del ‘opposition’
1.4 were to have] above del ‘had’
1.5 career] above del ‘work.’
1.5 Supposing … Grace 1.6] above del ‘I am sure that If your Grace as a simple’
1.6 as a simple] added
1.6 as … worker 1.7] transposed from before ‘would have signed’
1.7 inform] after del ‘ask’
1.8 as] after del ‘what would be in some respects better’
1.8 will you] interl
1.8 to mention … cannot 1.9] interl above del ‘me, as one of a small deputation, or me *or to mention or to state [above del ‘in a private letter’] to him [above del ‘Mr G’] [‘who’ del] (with whom I I have (or as one [above del ‘one’] of a small Deputation [‘)’ del], if Mr Gladstone can’
1.10 Deputation] before del ‘to state that you would as a have signed as a private individual, as a mere naturalist have signed the memorial, under the above circumstances have signed it’
2.1 be] after del ‘carry only a few signatures,’
2.1 special scientific] interl
2.2 or] after del ‘which they have done’
2.2 Scientific] interl
3.1 one,] above del ‘presumptuous or unworthy’; ‘unworthy’ stetted
3.1 this is due to 3.2] interl above del ‘it has been made’
3.2 entirely] interl after del interl ‘it has been made entirely’; before del interl ‘myself’
3.2 ignorance] after del ‘complete’
3.2 of what … Govt] interl
4.1 I beg] after del ‘of customs in high official circumstances [above del ‘of what is usual [illeg] customary’] in this world’
4.1 My Lord Duke] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12946,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12946