From A. B. Buckley   13 January 1881

Dear M^r. Darwin

I am glad & congratulate you most heartily on the success of your generous undertaking

Of course you were the only person who could tell M^r. Wallace— He may well be proud both of his proposer & seconders, & it is this which will make the pension a pleasure as well as a boon to him.¹

Beyond being proud of the instinct which led me to state the particulars to you as the right man, I have really had nothing to do with it—²

I have always felt that your generous friendship for M^r. Wallace, & the almost overdue credit which you have always assigned to him, is one of those bright spots in the history of science, which ought to shame all those who indulge in petty jealousies; & this success is the befitting crown to the whole matter—

I shall now write & congratulate him, telling him that you have let me know, though of course it must not be spoken of till officially announced— I will also let him know who are his supporters.

I am so glad it has come just now when he is looking forward to settling down in a month or two in his little cottage at Godalming,³ so that he can work with his garden & his writing without feeling the pressure which has forced him of late to work at uncongenial writing—

With most sincere congratulations | I remain | Yours very sincerely Arabella B Buckley.