To J. S. Henslow   26 December [1855]

My dear Henslow.

Will you look over the little book on Clubs sent with this.— It amused me, but it has frightened me about our Club,¹ of which I am Treasurer & in fact Guardian. By the way our Club is in some degree your offspring.— What I want to hear is whether you think enrolled Clubs can be in such a dangerous state as he makes all Clubs to be in. I have thought of sending full statement to some Actuary for his opinion: can you give me any advice.—

Secondly, I have thought to advise our Club not to grant pensions for it has, as yet, not granted one.

Thirdly, do you think it w^d be possible to enact a rule that the Club should buy off any member who went to reside at distance; but I fear that members would object, & I presume an Actuary would have to calculate value in each case. What think you? certainly a Club has very little check over a distant member.—

Will you return little book, which has been lent me by M^r. Innes.—²

Yours most truly | C. Darwin