WCP2280

Letter (WCP2280.2170)

[1]

84 Brook St

W.

Jan 19 1872

Sir,

As secretary of the Royal Institution1 I have more than once been on the point of writing to ask you on the part of the managers to give either a single lecture or a course to the members.2

I venture now to ask you whether on the 26th of april you will be inclined to bestow on us an hour[']s talk upon any [2] subject that may be agreeable to you [.] There is no need to fix upon the subject until March, if you please; but I shall be glad to know whether you can give the Institution your assistance[.]

I am | Yo[u]r obedient Servant | H Bence Jones [signature]

1
The Royal Institution of Great Britain was founded on 7 March 1799 by Benjamin Thompson and Joseph Banks to encourage the practical application of science. The institution shifted to 21 Albemarle Street in April 1877 and built lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries and meeting rooms the following year. The Royal Institution initally focused on utilitarian subjects but as it broadened its programme it quickly became a popular venue for lectures and spectacular scientific demonstrations. Jones was Secretary at the Institution from 1860 to 1872. (James, F. A. J. L. Guides to the Royal Institution of Great Britain: 1, History. London: Royal Institution of Great Britain).
2
ARW never gave the proposed lecture at the Royal Institution, later noting in a letter to Edward Bagnall Poulton on 6 November 1908, "I declined a R[oyal]. Institut[io]n lecture about 30 or 40 years ago." (See WCP4439.4728).

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP2280.2170)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Ghosh, Susan [2015-04-08] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2015-04-08] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2020-09-15]

Please cite as “WCP2280,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2280