Darwin Correspondence Project

My dear L.

Some friends of Miss M. with Hooker amongst them, are getting up a petition to Government to put her name on the civil Pension list. I am going to sign & she has asked me to get a few other signatures.— As she has done nothing for science, you may, perhaps object to signing; but I shd be very much obliged for a line to say yes or no.— I hardly know when the Petition will be sent on, but if you do agree to sign, I will forward it to you in due time.— Miss M. wrote the life of my grandfather matern J. W. & it is really a magnificent work; she spent additional money on illustrations, & so I believe did not profit by the publication— Some of the Reviews speak of her history of the development of the art of Pottery, as valuable. She has supported herself by literary & [educational] work, but is now growing old & has lost an aunt, who aided in her support. She seems to me on the whole to have a very fair claim to be put on the list of pensioners.—

Forgive me troubling you & believe me  yours very sincerely | C. Darwin—