University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Lankester announces his resignation from the Chair of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh, citing peculiar conditions of candidature and competition, and previously undisclosed teaching duties as reasons for not accepting the post.

Lankester states that, following the resignation of Charles Wyville Thomson, Professor of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh, he is to prepare a book of testimonials and requests that Ewart writes in favour of him.

Lankester thanks Ewart for his congratulations upon gaining the Professorship of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh. He suggests they should arrange a meeting, as 'there are schemes in the air which we must keep an eye on'.

Lankester announces his resignation from the Chair of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh, and states that he will be staying at University College London. He gives the main reasons for his resignation as 'ten months are required in Edinburgh instead of three as I supposed, and that there are no laboratories nor a museum, nor likely to be for many years to come' and that the Executive Commission 'may reduce the value of the post to any extent.'