Dear Sir Benjamin Brodie
In answer to your note, I cannot think of any Zoologist who has any especial claim for the Royal Medal.2 Though not a Botanist myself, it seems to me that Mr Bentham has high claims for this honour. His contributions to De Candolles great Prodromus, almost by itself shows his European reputation as a systematic Botanist:3 & many of his memoirs, as I can speak from my own knowledge, contain much important information on Classification, Distribution & such general subjects.—
Should the Council think of a geologist, to the best of my judgment, Mr Prestwich4 amply deserves a medal, for his remarkable & excellent labours on the British Tertiary formations, & their correlation with those on the continent. I am tempted to add that it would be a facility in thinking over the medals if any list of the names of individuals existed to whom the medals of all kinds have been given: it would aid in apportioning the medals fairly for different subjects.—
With much respect pray believe me | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2454F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on