More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 A Record of His Work in a Series of Hitherto Unpublished Letters

LETTER 651. TO J. SCOTT. Down, February 9th, 1864.

Chapter 309140 wordsPublic domain

(651/1. Scott's paper on Primulaceae was read at the Linnean Society on February 4th, 1864.)

The President, Mr. Bentham, I presume, was so much struck by your paper that he sent me a message to know whether you would like to be elected an associate. As only one is elected annually, this is a decided honour. The enclosed list shows what respectable men are associates. I enclose the rules of admission. I feel sure that the rule that if no communication is received within three years the associate is considered to have voluntarily withdrawn, is by no means rigorously adhered to. Therefore, I advise you to accept; but of course the choice is quite free. You will see there is no payment. You had better write to me on this subject, as Dr. Hooker or I will propose you.