38, Belgrave Road. S. W.
Nov. 2<rest of line missing>
Dear Sir
On Jan <7>th last an informal conference was held at
Lambe<t>h Palace of Scientific men; the Archibishop of
Can<t>erbury in the Chair, when it was resolved unanimously, ``That it is
desirable <t>hat those Scientific men who believe in the truths of
Religion should take every opportunity of stating that belief; and that the following be
appointed a Committee wi<t>h pow<e>r to add to their number,
for the p<u>rpose of maintaining communication among those desirous of
promoting this object:— His Grace the Archibishop of Canterbury,
<Prof>or Stokes Profor
<Balfo>ur Stewart, Dr Sorby, Dr Gladstone,
Profor Rollestone and Profor McKendrick,
Hon. Sec Mr Walter Browne''. The Committee have lately been
ab<l>e to take advantage of an offer, kindly made to them by
<t>he proprietors of the ``Contemporary Review', who propose to publish a
series of articles dealing with the present state of the various Sciences. It
is proposed to consider how far the theories in each science, without any reference to
Christianity, rest on fully proved & verified laws, & how far on
hypotheses, <co>njectures more or less probable; in other words how far
each science has advan<ced> <12 line missing> & assured from beyo<nd> <12 line missing>r conclusions ma< > to <14 line missing> matter of speculation, I am
<re>quest<ed by> the Committee to inqui<re>
wheth<er y>ou would kindly undert<a>ke to
prep<a>re an article of this char<a>cter on the Science of
Comparative Anatomy. The points which it is suggested, should be specially dealt with,
are the evidence on the Theory of Evolution; but of course, much would be left to your
own discretion in this matter. It is prop<ose>d that the series should
comme<n>ce as early next year as possible and I may add that
Dr Gladstone, Dr Sorby & Profor
Balfour Stewart have already consented to take part in <this.> The
<hon>orarium for each <artic>le wil<l be>
£1 p<er> page & the <a>rticle
sh<ould> run <to> about twenty pages. It is hope that the
series may be subsequently published in a volume.
Hoping for an early & favourable reply | I remain | Yours truly | Walter R
Browne | Hon. Sec
Chas. Darwin Esq F.R.S.
