Draft letter from Prof. E. Ray Lankester to potential MBA donors c.1887.
Letter layout retained as far as possible. Original punctuation and spelling retained.
Page 1
Sir,
The Marine Biological Association was founded
in June 1884 and is registered under
Act of Parliament.
Its object is to systematically carry on
systematic investigations into the life & habits of
marine organisms, with a view to the
improvement ^regulation^ of sea fisheries and the
general exclusion ^improvement^ of scientific ^our^ scientific
knowledge of the inhabitants of the
sea.
The Prince of Wales is Patron of the
Association; Professor Huxley, F.R.S
is its President.
The Association is about to erect a
laboratory and experimental [illegible word]
at Plymouth on a site granted by
the War Office. Plymouth Sound has
been chosen by the Association as
eminently fitted for its investigations.
The sum of £10,000 will be expended
in building, [struck through letter] equipping and starting
this laboratory institution.
[struck through letters] A sum exceeding £5000 has
already been raised by the Association,
to which the Corporation of London,
the City Companies, the Royal Society,
^a committee of members of^ the University of Cambridge and a
large number of scientific men of science,
statesmen & others have contributed.
I venture to invite you to join the
Association which has undertaken a
national work of the greatest commercial
& scientific importance.
Donors of £500 become life governors
Page 2
of the Association & permanent
members of its Council.
Donors of £100 become life members
of the Association and are registered
as Founders.
An annual subscription of one guinea
or a composition fee of fifteen guineas
qualifies for ordinary membership.
Letter from the Archives of the Marine Biological Association.
MB2.1
www.mba.ac.uk/nmbl
Letter transcribed by Dr Ian Cooper.
The Members of the Association are entitled
to receive the reports of the Association,
and to [struck through letters] certain privileges in the use of
the Plymouth laboratory for purposes
of [struck through letters] investigation: and to ^they also^ control
the management of the Association
by the election annual election
of the officers & council.
[struck through letters]
It is hoped that you will fill [struck through letters] in the
an annexed form and enclose it
with your cheque in the stamped accompanying stamped
envelope to the Secretary of the
Association.
I have the honour to be Sir,
your obedient servant
E Ray Lankester
Hon Sec M. B. A.
Letter from the Archives of the Marine Biological Association.
MB2.1
www.mba.ac.uk/nmbl
Letter transcribed by Dr Ian Cooper.