“These are just a few miscellaneous reminiscences, many of them no doubt trivial, but they may perhaps be not entirely devoid of interest, when it is remembered that they are the impressions and recollections of one who was then a boy of eight years old.”—­B.B.K.

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The year 1908 was very auspicious to Dr. Wallace.  To begin with, it was the fiftieth anniversary of the reading of the Darwin and Wallace joint papers on the Origin of Species before the Linnean Society, an event which was commemorated in the way described elsewhere.

In the autumn, and just as he was beginning to recover from a spell of bad health, he was invited to give a lecture at the Royal Institution, the prospect of which seemed to have upon him a most stimulating effect; he at once began to think about a suitable subject.

Following closely on this came the news that the Order of Merit was to be conferred upon him.  His letters to his son give the details of this eventful period:[45]

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TO MR. W.G.  WALLACE

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Wimborne.  October 28, 1908.

My dear Will,—­ ...  I have a rather surprising bit of news for you.  When I was almost at my worst, feeling very bad, I had a letter inviting me to give an evening lecture at the Royal Institution, for their Jubilee of the “Origin of Species”!  Of course I decided at once to decline as impossible, etc., having nothing new to say, etc.  But a few hours afterwards an idea suddenly came to me for a very fine lecture, if I can work it out as I hope—­and the more I thought over it the better it seemed.  So, two days back, I wrote to Sir W. Crookes—­the Honorary Secretary, who had written to me—­accepting provisionally!...  Here is another “crowning honour”—­the most unexpected of all!...

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TO MR. W.G.  WALLACE

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Wimborne.  December 2, 1908.

My dear Will,—­ ...  This morning the Copley Medals came, gold and silver, smaller than any of the others, but very beautifully designed; the face has the Royal Society’s arms, with Copley’s name, and “Dignissimo,” and my name below.  The reverse is the Royal Arms.  By the same post came a letter from the Lord Chancellor’s Office informing me, to my great relief, that the King had been graciously pleased to dispense with my personal attendance at the investiture of the Order of Merit, ...

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TO MR. W.G.  WALLACE

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Wimborne.  December 17, 1908.