Dear Darwin

A thousand thanks for your most liberal (unexpectedly so) response.¹

At present we are only feeling our way— My original idea was, the funding Young’s donation, & any increase that from time to time might accrue, till the sum was sufficient to lighten the fees, & then to go on to let it increase again till the maximum relief desireable reduction might be effected— but the opinion was so strong that it would be better to do the thing off-hand, that I & Spottiswoode have undertaken to see what can be done at once.— Our idea is, that if the £10,000 cannot be raised at once, whatever is raised should be funded & allowed to accumulate till that sum is reached.²

We have had no end of minor schemes—as for raising enough to give free fellowship to poor men, & such like. & I have appointed a Committee which will consider all details of expenditure & report on it— Meanwhile Spottiswoode assures me that several men will be ready with £500 each—& the great thing is to secure the thing being done however far long in future. If your plan is followed of taking no subscriptions till the £10,000 is promised, the whole scheme may break down at £9000!—whereas £9000 funded would in a couple of years or so be £10,000.³

However it is quite within any one’s competence to offer so handsome a subscription as yours conditionally.—

I have just printed my R.I. lecture on Geograph^l. Distribⁿ. of N. American plants, & shall send you a copy when I get them.⁴

Ball & I are busy at our Marocco journals—which will I think be interesting.⁵

Shall you be at home when the Gooseberries are ripe? & will you give me a feast?—⁶

Ever yr affec | J D Hooker