[Sir George Henry Darwin.] Autograph petition by Darwin asking the Great Northern Railway Company to provide evening trains from London to Cambridge. Signed by Darwin and sixteen other Cambridge Professors and prominent academics.

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. On laid paper with 'Silverburn' watermark. In good condition, lightly aged, with short closed tears along fold lines. The petition, in Darwin's hand, reads: 'To the Manager of the Great Northern Railway Company | We the undersigned residents at Cambridge have often occasion to pass the day in London, and frequently make use of the admirable train service provided by your Company. | The afternoon is the time usually devoted to our business, and we are often pressed for time or compelled to stay over in London, because there is no train leaving London after 5 p.m. which will bring us back in time to dine here. | We therefore beg leave to suggest for your consideration whether it would be possible without undue expense on the part of the Company to provide a train leaving London towards six o'clock.' Signed by Darwin and sixteen other prominent Cambridge academics: Sir George Howard Darwin (1845-1912), Plumian Professor of Astronomy; Arthur Cayley (1821-1895), Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics; Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924), Professor of Music; Sir Richard Tetley Glazebrook (1854-1935), physicist; Alexander Macalister (1844-1919), Professor of Anatomy; Sir William Napier Shaw (1854-1945), meteorologist; Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb (1841-1905), Regius Professor of Greek; Alfred Rose (1840-1919), theologian; Sir Joseph Larmor (1857-1942), Lucasian Professor of Mathematics; John Couch Adams (1819-1942), Lowndean Professor of Astronomy; Alfred Newton (1829-1907), Professor of Zoology; Sir George Murray Humphry (1820-1896), Professor of Physiology; James Whitbread Lee Glaisher (1848-1928), President of the Royal Astronomical Society; Adam Sedgwick (1854-1913), Professor of Zoology; John Newport Langley (1852-1925), Professor of Physiology; Henry Montagu Butler (1833-1918), Headmaster of Harrow School and Master of Trinity College; Edward John Routh (1831-1907), mathematician. Darwin signs on behalf of John Henry Middleton (1846-1896), Slade Professor of Fine Art, and notes the signing of another copy of the document by five others: James Stuart; Thomas Wade; A. S. Lea; A. P. Humphry; W. Robertson Smith. The signatures read as follow: 'G H Darwin, Professor, F.R.S, member of the Meteorological Council (Victoria Street Westminster) | Newnham Grange | A. Cayley, Professor, Member of the Councils of the Royal & Royal Astronl. Societies. | C. V. Stanford, Professor of Music, Professor at the Royal College of Music Kensington Gore & Conductor of the Bach Choir | R. T. Glazebrook M.A. F.R.S Examiner in the University of London | Alex Macalister F.R.S. F.S.A. Examiner in the University of London. Memb of Council of Anthropological Soc | W. N. Shaw M.A. Member of Council of Physical Society off London | R. C. Jebb, LL.D., Litt. D., formerly Fellow of Trinity College & Public Orator in the Univ. of Cambridge, Member of the Council of the London Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies. | Alfred Rose M.A. Fellow & Bursar of Emmanuel College. | J Larmor M.A. Fellow of St John's College, Examiner in the University of London | J. C. Adams M.A. Lowndean Professor of Astronomy, Member of the Council of the Royal Astronomical Society | Alfred Newton, M.A. Vice-President of the Zoological Society of London, Professor of Zoology in the University of Cambridge. | G. M. Humphry F.R.S. President of the Anatomical Society Professor of Surgery | [following entry in hand of G. H. Darwin] J. H. Middleton, (per proc. GHD) Fellow of Kings Coll, Professor, Lecturer at the Royal Academy | J. W. L. Glaisher Sc.D. F.R.S. Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College Member of Council of the London Mathematical Society and Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society. | A Sedgwick M.A. FRS. Fellow of Trinity College. Examiner in the University of London. Member of of [sic] Council of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. | J. N. Langley, M.A., F.R.S. Fellow of Trinity Coll: Examiner in the University of London. | H. Montagu Butlere, D.D. Master of Trinity College. | E J Routh DSc. FRS. Member of the Senate in the University of London. Hony Fellow of St Peter's College &c &c | [the following to the end in hand of G. H. Darwin] transferred from another copy G. H. D. | (Signed) James Stuart, Professor of Mechanism, Trin. Coll. [M.P.] | Thomas Wade, Professor Chinese, Trin. Coll. [K.C.B] | A. S. Lea, Fellow of Caius College, Examiner in the Science and Art Department South Kensington | A. P. Humphry, Executive Office, Natl. Rifle Association | W. Robertson Smith, Fellow of Christ's Coll, University Librarian, & Member of Council of the Royal Asiatic Society'.