4. Division

The Chancellor of the Exchequer states to the Board that Representations have been addressed to him from many quarters, setting forth the great advantage which would be derived to the Science of Natural History, if arrangements could be made for enabling M^r Darwin to publish in a convenient form, and at a cheap rate, the result of his labors in that branch of Science.

It appears that M^r. Darwin, during the five years in which he has been engaged in a voyage round the World in H.M.S. Beagle, has devoted his attention and labour in making Extensive Collections in the various Departments of Natural History, which in the opinion of the Presidents of the Linnean Society, of the Zoological Society, and of the Geological Society as well as of many other persons distinguished for their attainments in Natural History, it is extremely important to publish upon some uniform plan illustrated by Engravings, but that as M^r Darwin has incurred the whole expence of making the collection, and of paying the Salary of an Assistant, and as such publication will probably not repay that expense which will necessarily be occasioned by the engraving of the Plates, the assistance of the Government might properly be given, as in the case of the Publication of the results of D^r. Richardson’s labors in the same branch of Science, whilst engaged in the expedition in search of the North Western Passage—

The whole of the Collection made by M^r Darwin either has already been, or will hereafter be distributed to the Public Museums, where they will be of acknowledged Service; and under the circumstances of the case, the Chancellor of the Exchequer feels justified in recommending to the Board to give their sanction to the Application of a Sum not exceeding in the whole £1000 from Civil Contingencies in aid of this Publication; upon the clear and distinct understanding that the work shall be published, and the Plates engraved, in such manner as to be most advantageous to the Public at large, upon a plan of arrangement to be previously submitted to, and sanctioned by this Board, after consultation with those persons, who, from their attainments in this Branch of Science, are the most capable of advising their Lordships thereupon;—payments to be made to M^r. Darwin from time to time on account of the said sum of £1000—on the ⁠⟨⁠certi⁠⟩⁠ficate that such progress has been made in the Engravings, in accordance with the plan previously approved of, as to sanction the issue then applied for—

My Lords entirely concur in opinion with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and desire that ⁠⟨⁠a c⁠⟩⁠ommunication may be addressed to M^r Darwin, acquainting him with the views entertained by this Board on this subject, and apprizing him that their Lordships will be prepared to act in conformity with this arrangement upon learning from him that he is ready to proceed with the work upon the principles laid down in this minute, and upon receiving from him a statement of the manner in which he thinks the work should be published and the plates Engraved, so as most effectually to accomplish the object my Lords have in view in sanctioning this payment from the Public Funds, in aid of the Expenses of the work in question,—their Lordships write immediately ¹

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