RoysaysifIspend，includingmyoutfitting，500pounds，itwillbebeyondtheextreme。Butnowforstillworsenews。TheroundtheworldisnotCERTAIN，butthechancemostexcellent。Tillthatpointisdecided，Iwillnotbeso。Andyoumaybelieve，afterthemanychangesIhavemade，thatnothingbutmyreasonshalldecideme。
Fitz—Roysaysthestormyseaisexaggerated;thatifIdonotchoosetoremainwiththem，IcanatanytimegethometoEngland，somanyvesselssailthatway，andthatduringbadweather（probablytwomonths），ifIlikeIshallbeleftinsomehealthy，safeandnicecountry;thatIshallalwayshaveassistance;thathehasmanybooks，allinstruments，guns，atmyservice;thatthefewerandcheaperclothesItakethebetter。Themannerofproceedingwilljustsuitme。Theyanchortheship，andthenremainforafortnightataplace。IhavemadeCaptainBeaufortperfectlyunderstandme。HesaysifIstartanddonotgoroundtheworld，Ishallhavegoodreasontothinkmyselfdeceived。Iamtocallthedayafterto—morrow，and，ifpossible，toreceivemorecertaininstructions。Thewantofroomisdecidedlythemostseriousobjection;butCaptainFitz—Roy（probablyowingtoWood’sletter）seemsdeterminedtomakeme[as]comfortableashepossiblycan。Ilikehismannerofproceeding。Heaskedmeatonce，"ShallyoubearbeingtoldthatIwantthecabintomyself——whenIwanttobealone？Ifwetreateachotherthisway，Ihopeweshallsuit;ifnot，probablyweshouldwisheachotheratthedevil。"
Westopaweekat[the]MadeiraIslands，andshallseemostof[the]bigcitiesinSouthAmerica。CaptainBeaufortisdrawingupthetrackthroughtheSouthSea。Iamwritingin[a]greathurry;Idonotknowwhetheryoutakeinterestenoughtoexcusetreblepostage。IhopeIamjudgingreasonably，andnotthroughprejudice，aboutCaptainFitz—Roy;ifso，Iamsureweshallsuit。Idinewithhimto—day。Icouldwrite[a]greatdealmoreifIthoughtyoulikedit，andIhadatpresenttime。Thereisindeedatideintheaffairsofman，andIhaveexperiencedit，andIhadENTIRELY
givenituptilloneto—day。
Lovetomyfather。DearestSusan，good—bye。
CH。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。S。HENSLOW。
London，Monday，[September5，1831]。
MydearSir，GloriainexcelsisisthemostmoderatebeginningIcanthinkof。ThingsaremoreprosperousthanIshouldhavethoughtpossible。CaptainFitz—Royiseverythingthatisdelightful。IfIwastopraisehalfsomuchasI
feelinclined，youwouldsayitwasabsurd，onlyonceseeinghim。Ithinkhereallywishestohaveme。Heoffersmetomesswithhim，andhewilltakecareIhavesuchroomasispossible。ButaboutthecaseshesaysI
mustlimitmyself;butthenhethinkslikeasailoraboutsize。CaptainBeaufortsaysIshallbeupontheBoards，andthenitwillonlycostmelikeotherofficers。Shipsails10thofOctober。SpendsaweekatMadeiraIslands;andthenRiodeJaneiro。Theyallthinkmostextremelyprobable，homebytheIndianarchipelago;buttillthatisdecided，Iwillnotbeso。
WhathasinducedCaptainFitz—Roytotakeabetterviewofthecaseis，thatMr。Chester，whowasgoingasafriend，cannotgo，sothatIshallhavehisplaceineveryrespect。
CaptainFitz—Royhas[a]goodstockofbooks，manyofwhichwereinmylist，andrifles，etc。，sothattheoutfitwillbemuchlessexpensivethanIsupposed。
Thevesselwillbeoutthreeyears。Idonotobjectsothatmyfatherdoesnot。OnWednesdayIhaveanotherinterviewwithCaptainBeaufort，andonSundaymostlikelygowithCaptainFitz—RoytoPlymouth。SoIhopeyouwillkeeponthinkingonthesubject，andjustkeepmemorandaofwhatmaystrikeyou。IwillcallmostprobablyonMr。Burchellandintroducemyself。Iaminlodgingsat17SpringGardens。Youcannotimagineanythingmorepleasant，kind，andopenthanCaptainFitz—Roy’smannersweretome。Iamsureitwillbemyfaultifwedonotsuit。
WhatchangesIhavehad。Tilloneto—dayIwasbuildingcastlesintheairabouthuntingfoxestheShropshire，nowllamasinSouthAmerica。
Thereisindeedatideintheaffairsofmen。IfyouseeMr。Wood，remembermeverykindlytohim。
Good—bye。
MydearHenslow，Yourmostsincerefriend，CHAS。DARWIN。
Excusethisletterinsuchahurry。
CHARLESDARWINTOW。D。FOX。
17SpringGardens，London，September6，1831……
Yourlettergavemegreatpleasure。Youcannotimaginehowmuchyourformerletterannoyedandhurtme。（HehadmisunderstoodaletterofFox’sasimplyingachargeoffalsehood。）But，thankheaven，IfirmlybelievethatitwasmyOWNENTIREfaultinsointerpretingyourletter。Ilostafriendtheotherday，andIdoubtwhetherthemoraldeath（asIthenwickedlysupposed）ofourfriendshipdidnotgrievemeasmuchastherealandsuddendeathofpoorRamsay。Wehaveknowneachothertoolongtoneed，Itrust，anymoreexplanations。ButIwillmentionjustonething——
thatonmydeath—bed，IthinkIcouldsayIneverutteredoneinsincere（whichatthetimeIdidnotfullyfeel）expressionaboutmyregardforyou。Onethingmore——thesendingIMMEDIATELYtheinsects，onmyhonour，wasanunfortunatecoincidence。Iforgothowyounaturallywouldtakethem。Whenyoulookatthemnow，Ihopenounkindlyfeelingswillriseinyourmind，andthatyouwillbelievethatyouhavealwayshadinmeasincere，andIwilladd，anobligedfriend。TheverymanypleasantminutesthatwespenttogetherinCambridgeroselikedepartedspiritsinjudgmentagainstme。Maywehavemanymoresuch，willbeoneofmylastwishesinleavingEngland。Godblessyou，dearoldFox。Mayyoualwaysbehappy。
Yourstruly，CHAS。DARWIN。
Ihaveleftyourletterbehind，sodonotknowwhetherIdirectright。
CHARLESDARWINTOMISSSUSANDARWIN。
17SpringGardens，Tuesday，[September6，1831。]
MydearSusan，AgainIamgoingtotroubleyou。Isuspect，ifIkeeponatthisrate，youwillsincerelywishmeatTierradelFuego，oranyotherTerra，butEngland。FirstIwillgivemycommissions。TellNancytomakemesometwelveinsteadofeightshirts。TellEdwardtosendmeupinmycarpet—bag（hecanslipthekeyinthebagtiedtosomestring），myslippers，apairoflightishwalking—shoes，mySpanishbooks，mynewmicroscope（aboutsixincheslongandthreeorfourdeep），whichmusthavecottonstuffedinside;
mygeologicalcompass;myfatherknowsthat;alittlebook，ifIhavegotitinmybedroom——’Taxidermy。’Askmyfatherifhethinkstherewouldbeanyobjectiontomytakingarsenicforalittletime，asmyhandsarenotquitewell，andIhavealwaysobservedthatifIoncegetthemwell，andchangemymanneroflivingaboutthesametime，theywillgenerallyremainwell。Whatisthedose？TellEdwardmygunisdirty。WhatisErasmus’sdirection？TellmeifyouthinkthereistimetowriteandreceiveananswerbeforeIstart，asIshouldlikeparticularlytoknowwhathethinksaboutit。IsupposeyoudonotknowSirJ。Mackintosh’sdirection？
Iwriteallthisasifitwassettled，butitisnotmorethanitwas，exceptingthatfromCaptainFitz—Roywishingmesomuchtogo，andfromhiskindness，IfeelapredestinationIshallstart。Ispentaverypleasanteveningwithhimyesterday。Hemustbemorethantwenty—threeyearsold;
heisofaslightfigure，andadarkbuthandsomeeditionofMr。Kynaston，and，accordingtomynotions，pre—eminentlygoodmanners。Heisallforeconomy，exceptingononepoint——viz。，fire—arms。Herecommendsmestronglytogetacaseofpistolslikehis，whichcost60pounds！！andnevertogoonshoreanywherewithoutloadedones，andheisdoubtingaboutarifle;hesaysIcannotappreciatetheluxuryoffreshmeathere。OfcourseIshallbuynothingtilleverythingissettled;butIworkalldaylongatmylists，puttinginandstrikingoutarticles。ThisisthefirstreallycheerfuldayIhavespentsinceIreceivedtheletter，anditallisowingtothesortofinvoluntaryconfidenceIplaceinmybeauidealofaCaptain。
WestopatTeneriffe。Hisobjectistostopatasmanyplacesaspossible。
Hetakesouttwentychronometers，anditwillbea"sin"nottosettlethelongitude。HetellsmetogetitdowninwritingattheAdmiraltythatI
havethefreechoicetoleaveassoonandwheneverIlike。IdaresayyouexpectIshallturnbackattheMadeira;ifIhaveamorselofstomachleft，Iwon’tgiveup。Excusemysooftentroublingandwriting:theoneisofgreatutility，theotheragreatamusementtome。MostlikelyI
shallwriteto—morrow。Answerbyreturnofpost。Lovetomyfather，dearestSusan。
C。DARWIN。
Asmyinstrumentswantaltering，sendmythingsbythe’Oxonian’thesamenight。
CHARLESDARWINTOMISSSUSANDARWIN。
London，FridayMorning，September9，1831。
MydearSusan，Ihavejustreceivedtheparcel。IsupposeitwasnotdeliveredyesterdayowingtotheCoronation。Iamverymuchobligedtomyfather，andeverybodyelse。Everythingisdonequiteright。Isupposebythistimeyouhavereceivedmyletterwrittennextday，andIhopewillsendoffthethings。Myaffairsremaininstatuquo。CaptainBeaufortsaysIamonthebooksforvictuals，andhethinksIshallhavenodifficultyaboutmycollectionswhenIcomehome。Butheistoodeepafishformetomakehimout。Theonlythingthatnowpreventsmefinallymakingupmymind，isthewantofcertaintyabouttheSouthSeaIslands;althoughmorallyIhavenodoubtweshouldgotherewhetherornoitisputintheinstructions。
CaptainFitz—RoysaysIdogoodbyplaguingCaptainBeaufort，itstirshimupwithalongpole。CaptainFitz—Roysaysheissurehehasinterestenough（particularlyifthisAdministrationisnoteverlasting——IshallsoonturnTory！），anyhow，evenwhenout，togettheshiporderedhomebywhatevertrackhelikes。FromwhatWoodsays，IpresumetheDukesofGraftonandRichmondinterestthemselvesabouthim。Bytheway，Woodhasbeenofthegreatestusetome;andIamsurehispersonalintroductionofmeinclinedCaptainFitz—Roytohaveme。
Toexplainthingsfromtheverybeginning:CaptainFitz—RoyfirstwishedtohaveaNaturalist，andthenheseemstohavetakenasuddenhorrorofthechancesofhavingsomebodyheshouldnotlikeonboardthevessel。HeconfesseshislettertoCambridgewastothrowcoldwateronthescheme。I
don’tthinkweshallquarrelaboutpolitics，althoughWood（asmightbeexpectedfromaLondonderry）solemnlywarnedFitz—RoythatIwasaWhig。
CaptainFitz—RoywasbeforeUncleJos。，hesaid，"nowyourfriendswilltellyouasea—captainisthegreatestbruteonthefaceofthecreation。
Idonotknowhowtohelpyouinthiscase，exceptbyhopingyouwillgivemeatrial。"Howonedoeschange！Iactuallynowwishthevoyagewaslongerbeforewetouchland。IfeelmybloodruncoldatthequantityI
havetodo。Everybodyseemsreadytoassistme。TheZoologicalwanttomakemeacorrespondingmember。AllthisIcanconstructwithoutcrossingtheEquator。Butonefriendisquiteinvaluable，viz。，aMr。Yarrell，astationer，andexcellentnaturalist。（WilliamYarrell，well—knownforhis’HistoryofBritishBirds’and’HistoryofBritishFishes，’wasbornin1784。Heinheritedfromhisfatheranewsagent’sbusiness，towhichhesteadilyadhereduptohisdeath，"inhis73rdyear。"Hewasamanofathoroughlyamiableandhonourablecharacter，andwasavaluedoffice—bearerofseveralofthelearnedSocieties。）Hegoestotheshopswithmeandbulliesaboutprices（notthatIyetbuy）:hangmeifIgive60poundsforpistols。
Yesterdayalltheshopswereshut，sothatIcoulddonothing;andIwaschildenoughtogive1pound1shillingforanexcellentseattoseetheProcession。（TheCoronationofWilliamIV。）Anditcertainlywasverywellworthseeing。Iwassurprisedthatanyquantityofgoldcouldmakealongrowofpeoplequiteglitter。Itwaslikeonlywhatoneseesinpicture—booksofEasternprocessions。TheKinglookedverywell，andseemedpopular，buttherewasverylittleenthusiasm;solittlethatIcanhardlythinktherewillbeacoronationthistimefiftyyears。
TheLifeGuardspleasedmeasmuchasanything——theyarequitemagnificent;
anditisbeautifultoseethemclearacrowd。Youthinkthattheymustkillascoreatleast，andapparentlytheyreallyhurtnobody，butmostdeucedlyfrightenthem。Wheneveracrowdwassodensethatthepeoplewereforcedoffthecauseway，oneofthesesix—feetgentlemen，onablackhorse，rodestraightattheplace，makinghishorserearveryhigh，andfallonthethickestspot。Youwouldsupposemenweremadeofspongetoseethemshrinkaway。
Intheeveningtherewasanillumination，andmuchgranderthantheoneontheReformBill。Alltheprincipalstreetswerecrowdedjustlikearace—
ground。Carriagesgenerallybeingsixabreast，andIwillventuretosaynotgoingonemileanhour。TheDukeofNorthumberlandlearntalessonlasttime，forhishousewasverygrand;muchmoresothantheothergreatnobility，andinmuchbettertaste;everywindowinhishousewasfullofstraightlinesofbrilliantlights，andfromtheirextremeregularityandnumberhadabeautifuleffect。Thepaucityofinventionwasverystriking，crowns，anchors，and"W。R。’s"wererepeatedinendlesssuccession。Theprettiestweregas—pipeswithsmallholes;theywerealmostpainfullybrilliant。IhavewrittensomuchabouttheCoronation，thatIthinkyouwillhavenooccasiontoreadthe"MorningHerald"。
ForaboutthefirsttimeinmylifeIfindLondonverypleasant;hurry，bustle，andnoiseareallinunisonwithmyfeelings。AndIhaveplentytodoinsparemoments。IworkatAstronomy，asIsupposeitwouldastoundasailorifonedidnotknowhowtofindLatitudeandLongitude。IamnowgoingtoCaptainFitz—Roy，andwillkeep[this]letteropentilleveningforanythingthatmayoccur。IwillgiveyouoneproofofFitz—Roybeingagoodofficer——alltheofficersarethesameasbefore;two—thirdsofhiscrewand[the]eightmarineswhowentbeforeallofferedtocomeagain，sotheservicecannotbesoverybad。TheAdmiraltyhavejustissuedordersforalargestockofcanister—meatandlemon—juice，etc。etc。IhavejustreturnedfromspendingalongdaywithCaptainFitz—Roy，drivingaboutinhisgig，andshopping。Thisletteristoolateforto—day’spost。YoumayconsideritsettledthatIgo。Yetthereisroomforchangeifanyuntowardaccidentshouldhappen;thisIcanseenoreasontoexpect。I
feelconvincednothingelsewillaltermywishofgoing。Ihavebeguntoorderthings。Ihaveprocuredacaseofgoodstrongpistolsandanexcellentriflefor50pounds，thereisasaving;agoodtelescope，withcompass，5pounds，andthesearenearlytheonlyexpensiveinstrumentsI
shallwant。CaptainFitz—Royhaseverything。Ineversawso（whatI
shouldcall，hesaysnot）extravagantaman，asregardshimself，butaseconomicaltowardsme。Howhedidorderthings！Hisfire—armswillcost400poundsatleast。IfoundthecarpetbagwhenIarrivedallright，andmuchobliged。IdonotthinkIshalltakeanyarsenic;shallsendpartridgestoMr。Yarrell;muchobliged。AskEdwardtoBARGAINWITH
Clemsontomakeformygun——TWOSPAREhammersorcocks，twomain—springs，twosere—springs，fournipplesorplugs——Imeanoneforeachbarrel，exceptnipples，ofwhichtheremustbetwoforeach，allofexcellentquality，andsetaboutthemimmediately;tellEdwardtomakeinquiriesaboutprices。I
goonSundayperpackettoPlymouth，shallstayoneortwodays，thenreturn，andhopetofindaletterfromyou;afewdaysinLondon;thenCambridge，Shrewsbury，London，Plymouth，Madeira，ismyroute。ItisagreatboremywritingsomuchabouttheCoronation;Icouldfillanothersheet。IhavejustbeenwithCaptainKing，Fitz—Roy’sseniorofficerlastexpedition;hethinksthattheexpeditionwillsuitme。Unasked，hesaidFitz—Roy’stemperwasperfect。Hesendshisownsonwithhimasmidshipman。Thekeyofmymicroscopewasforgotten;itisofnoconsequence。Lovetoall。
CHAS。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOW。D。FOX。
17SpringGardens（andhereIshallremaintillIstart）
[September19，1831]。
MydearFox，Ireturnedfrommyexpeditiontoseethe"Beagle"atPlymouthonSaturday，andfoundyourmostwelcomeletteronmytable。Itisquiteridiculouswhataverylongperiodtheselasttwentydayshaveappearedtome，certainlymuchmorethanasmanyweeksonordinaryoccasions;thiswillaccountformynotrecollectinghowmuchItoldyouofmyplans……
Butonthewholeitisagrandandfortunateopportunity;therewillbesomanythingstointerestme——finesceneryandanendlessoccupationandamusementinthedifferentbranchesofNaturalHistory;thenagainnavigationandmeteorologywillamusemeonthevoyage，joinedtothegrandrequisiteoftherebeingapleasantsetofofficers，and，asfarasIcanjudge，thisiscertain。Ontheotherhandthereisveryconsiderablerisktoone’slifeandhealth，andtheleavingforsoverylongatimesomanypeoplewhomIdearlylove，isoftentimesafeelingsopainfulthatitrequiresallmyresolutiontoovercomeit。Buteverythingisnowsettled，andbeforethe20thofOctoberItrusttobeonthebroadsea。Myobjectiontothevesselisitssmallness，whichcrampsonesoforroomforpackingmyownbodyandallmycases，etc。，etc。Astoitssafety，IhopetheAdmiraltyarethebestjudges;toalandsman’seyeshelooksverysmall。Sheisaten—gunthree—mastedbrig，but，Ibelieve，anexcellentvessel。Somuchformyfutureplans，andnowformypresent。Igoto—
nightbythemailtoCambridge，andfromthence，aftersettlingmyaffairs，proceedtoShrewsbury（mostlikelyonFriday23rd，orperhapsbefore）;
thereIshallstayafewdays，andbeinLondonbythe1stofOctober，andstartforPlymouthonthe9th。
Andnowfortheprincipalpartofmyletter。IdonotknowhowtotellyouhowverykindIfeelyourofferofcomingtoseemebeforeIleaveEngland。
IndeedIshouldlikeitverymuch;butImusttellyoudecidedlythatI
shallhaveverylittletimetospare，andthatlittletimewillbealmostspoiltbymyhavingsomuchtothinkabout;andsecondly，Icanhardlythinkitworthyourwhiletoleaveyourparishforsuchacause。ButI
shallneverforgetsuchgenerouskindness。NowIknowyouwillactjustasyouthinkright;butdonotcomeupformysake。Anytimeisthesameforme。IthinkfromthisletteryouwillknowasmuchofmyplansasIdomyself，andwilljudgeaccordinglythewhereandwhentowritetome。
EverynowandthenIhavemomentsofgloriousenthusiasm，whenIthinkofthedateandcocoa—trees，thepalmsandfernssoloftyandbeautiful，everythingnew，everythingsublime。AndifIlivetoseeyearsinafterlife，howgrandmustsuchrecollectionsbe！DoyouknowHumboldt？（Ifyoudon’t，dosodirectly。）Withwhatintensepleasureheappearsalwaystolookbackonthedaysspentinthetropicalcountries。IhopewhenyounextwritetoOsmaston，[youwill]tellthemmyscheme，andgivethemmykindestregardsandfarewells。
Good—bye，mydearFox，Yourseversincerely，CHAS。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOR。FITZ—ROY。
17SpringGardens[October17？1831]。
DearFitz—Roy，Verymanythanksforyourletter;ithasmadememostcomfortable，foritwouldhavebeenheart—breakingtohaveleftanythingquitebehind，andI
nevershouldhavethoughtofsendingthingsbysomeothervessel。Thisletterwill，Itrust，accompanysometalc。Ireadyourletterwithoutattendingtothename。ButIhavenowprocuredsomefromJones，whichappearsverygood，andIwillsenditthiseveningbythemail。Youwillbesurprisedatnotseeingmepropriapersonainsteadofmyhandwriting。
ButIhadjustfoundoutthatthelargesteam—packetdidnotintendtosailonSunday，andIwaspicturingtomyselfasmall，dirtycabin，withtheproportionof39—40thsofthepassengersverysick，whenMr。Earlcameinandtoldmethe"Beagle"wouldnotsailtillthebeginningofNovember。
This，ofcourse，settledthepoint;sothatIremaininLondononeweekmore。IshallthensendheavygoodsbysteamerandstartmyselfbythecoachonSundayevening。
Haveyouagoodsetofmountainbarometers？Severalgreatgunsinthescientificworldhavetoldmesomepointsingeologytoascertainwhichentirelydependontheirrelativeheight。Ifyouhavenotagoodstock，I
willaddonemoretothelist。Ioughttobeashamedtotroubleyousomuch，butwillyouSENDONELINEtoinformme？Iamdailybecomingmoreanxioustobeoff，and，ifIamso，youmustbeinaperfectfever。Whatagloriousdaythe4thofNovemberwillbetome！Mysecondlifewillthencommence，anditshallbeasabirthdayfortherestofmylife。
Believeme，dearFitz—Roy，Yoursmostsincerely，CHAS。DARWIN。
MONDAY。——IhopeIhavenotputyoutomuchinconveniencebyorderingtheroominreadiness。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。S。HENSLOW。
Devonport，November15，1831。
MydearHenslow，TheordersarecomedownfromtheAdmiralty，andeverythingisfinallysettled。Wepositivelysailthelastdayofthismonth，andIthinkbeforethattimethevesselwillbeready。Shelooksmostbeautiful，evenalandsmanmustadmireher。WEallthinkherthemostperfectvesseleverturnedoutoftheDockyard。Onethingiscertain，novesselhasbeenfittedoutsoexpensively，andwithsomuchcare。Everythingthatcanbemadesoisofmahogany，andnothingcanexceedtheneatnessandbeautyofalltheaccommodations。Theinstructionsareverygeneral，andleaveagreatdealtotheCaptain’sdiscretionandjudgment，payingasubstantialaswellasaverbalcomplimenttohim……
NovesseleverleftEnglandwithsuchasetofChronometers，viz。，twenty—
four，allverygoodones。Inshort，everythingiswell，andIhaveonlynowtoprayforthesicknesstomoderateitsfierceness，andIshalldoverywell。YetIshouldnotcallitoneoftheverybestopportunitiesfornaturalhistorythathaseveroccurred。Theabsolutewantofroomisanevilthatnothingcansurmount。IthinkL。Jenynsdidverywiselyinnotcoming，thatisjudgingfrommyownfeelings，forIamsureifIhadleftcollegesomefewyears，orbeenthoseyearsolder，INEVERcouldhaveenduredit。Theofficers（exceptingtheCaptain）arelikethefreshestfreshmen，thatisintheirmanners，ineverythingelsewidelydifferent。
Remembermemostkindlytohim，andtellhimifeverhedreamsinthenightofpalm—trees，hemayinthemorningcomforthimselfwiththeassurancethatthevoyagewouldnothavesuitedhim。
Iammuchobligedforyouradvice，deMathematicis。IsuspectwhenIamstrugglingwithatriangle，Ishalloftenwishmyselfinyourroom，andasforthosewickedsulkysurds，IdonotknowwhatIshalldowithoutyoutoconjurethem。Mytimepassesawayverypleasantly。Iknowoneortwopleasantpeople，foremostofwhomisMr。Thunder—and—lightningHarris（WilliamSnowHarris，theElectrician。），whomIdaresayyouhaveheardof。
Mychiefemploymentistogoonboardthe"Beagle"，andtrytolookasmuchlikeasailorasIcan。Ihavenoevidenceofhavingtakeninman，womanorchild。
Iamgoingtoaskyoutodoonemorecommission，andItrustitwillbethelast。WhenIwasinCambridge，IwrotetoMr。Ash，askinghimtosendmyCollegeaccounttomyfather，afterhavingsubtractedabout30poundsformyfurniture。Thishehasforgottentodo，andmyfatherhaspaidthebill，andIwanttohavethefurniture—moneytransmittedtomyfather。
PerhapsyouwouldbekindenoughtospeaktoMr。Ash。Ihavecostmyfathersomuchmoney，Iamquiteashamedofmyself。
Iwillwriteonceagainbeforesailing，andperhapsyouwillwritetomebeforethen。
RemembermetoProfessorSedgwickandMr。Peacock。
Believeme，yoursaffectionately，CHAS。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。S。HENSLOW。
Devonport，December3，1831。
MydearHenslow，Itisnowlateintheevening，andto—nightIamgoingtosleeponboard。
OnMondaywemostcertainlysail，soyoumayguesswhatadesperatestateofconfusionweareallin。Ifyouweretohearthevariousexclamationsoftheofficers，youwouldsupposewehadscarcelyhadaweek’snotice。I
amjustinthesamewaytakenallABACK，andinsuchabustleIhardlyknowwhattodo。Thenumberofthingstobedoneisinfinite。Ilookforwardeventosea—sicknesswithsomethinglikesatisfaction，anythingmustbebetterthanthisstateofanxiety。Iamverymuchobligedforyourlastkindandaffectionateletter。Ialwayslikeadvicefromyou，andnoonewhomIhavethelucktoknowismorecapableofgivingitthanyourself。
Recollect，whenyouwrite，thatIamasortofprotegeofyours，andthatitisyourboundendutytolectureme。
Iwillnowgiveyoumydirection;itisatfirst，Rio;butifyouwillsendmealetteronthefirstTuesday（whenthepacketsails）inFebruary，directedtoMonteVideo，itwillgivemeverygreatpleasure;IshallsomuchenjoyhearingalittleCambridgenews。PoordearoldAlmaMater！I
amaveryworthysoninasfarasaffectiongoes。Ihavelittlemoretowriteabout……IcannotendthiswithouttellingyouhowcordiallyIfeelgratefulforthekindnessyouhaveshownmeduringmyCambridgelife。MuchofthepleasureandutilitywhichImayhavederivedfromitisowingtoyou。Ilongforthetimewhenweshallagainmeet，andtillthenbelieveme，mydearHenslow，Youraffectionateandobligedfriend，CH。DARWIN。
Remembermemostkindlytothosewhotakeanyinterestinme。
CHAPTER1。VI。
THEVOYAGE。
"Thereisanaturalgood—humouredenergyinhislettersjustlikehimself。"——FromaletterofDr。R。W。Darwin’stoProf。Henslow。
[Theobjectofthe"Beagle"voyageisbrieflydescribedinmyfather’s’JournalofResearches，’page1，asbeing"tocompletetheSurveyofPatagoniaandTierradelFuego，commencedunderCaptainKingin1826to1830;tosurveytheshoresofChile，Peru，andsomeislandinthePacific;
andtocarryachainofchronometricalmeasurementsroundtheworld。"
The"Beagle"isdescribedasawell—builtlittlevessel，of235tons，riggedasabarque，andcarryingsixguns。Shebelongedtotheoldclassoften—gunbrigs，whichwerenicknamed"coffins，"fromtheirliabilitytogodowninsevereweather。Theywerevery"deep—waisted，"thatis，theirbulwarkswerehighinproportiontotheirsize，sothataheavyseabreakingoverthemmightbehighlydangerous。Nevertheless，shelivedthroughthefiveyears’work，inthemoststormyregionsintheworld，underCommandersStokesandFitz—Roy，withoutaseriousaccident。Whenre—
commissionedin1831forhersecondvoyage，shewasfound（asIlearnfromAdmiralSirJamesSulivan）tobesorottenthatshehadpracticallytoberebuilt，anditwasthisthatcausedthelongdelayinrefitting。Theupperdeckwasraised，makinghermuchsaferinheavyweather，andgivingherfarmorecomfortableaccommodationbelow。Bythesealterationsandbythestrongsheathingaddedtoherbottomshewasbroughtupto242tonsburthen。ItisaproofofthesplendidseamanshipofCaptainFitz—Royandhisofficersthatshereturnedwithouthavingcarriedawayaspar，andthatinonlyoneoftheheavystormsthatsheencounteredwassheingreatdanger。
Shewasfittedoutfortheexpeditionwithallpossiblecare，beingsuppliedwithcarefullychosensparsandropes，sixboats，anda"dinghy;"
lightningconductors，"inventedbyMr。Harris，werefixedinallthemasts，thebowsprits，andevenintheflyingjib—boom。"Toquotemyfather’sdescription，writtenfromDevonport，November17，1831:"Everybody，whocanjudge，saysitisoneofthegrandestvoyagesthathasalmosteverbeensentout。Everythingisonagrandscale。Twenty—fourchronometers。Thewholeshipisfittedupwithmahogany;sheistheadmirationofthewholeplace。Inshort，everythingisasprosperousashumanmeanscanmakeit。"
Owingtothesmallnessofthevessel，everyoneonboardwascrampedforroom，andmyfather’saccommodationseemstohavebeensmallenough:"I
havejustroomtoturnround，"hewritestoHenslow，"andthatisall。"
AdmiralSirJamesSulivanwritestome:"Thenarrowspaceattheendofthechart—tablewashisonlyaccommodationforworking，dressing，andsleeping;thehammockbeinglefthangingoverhisheadbyday，whentheseawasatallrough，thathemightlieonitwithabookinhishandwhenhecouldnotanylongersitatthetable。Hisonlystowageforclothesbeingseveralsmalldrawersinthecorner，reachingfromdecktodeck;thetoponebeingtakenoutwhenthehammockwashungup，withoutwhichtherewasnotlengthforit，sothenthefoot—clewstooktheplaceofthetopdrawer。
Forspecimenshehadaverysmallcabinundertheforecastle。"
Yetofthisnarrowroomhewroteenthusiastically，September17，1831:——
"WhenIwrotelastIwasingreatalarmaboutmycabin。Thecabinswerenotthenmarkedout，butwhenIlefttheywere，andmineisacapitalone，certainlynextbesttotheCaptain’sandremarkablylight。Mycompanionmostluckily，Ithink，willturnouttobetheofficerwhomIshalllikebest。CaptainFitz—RoysayshewilltakecarethatonecornerissofittedupthatIshallbecomfortableinitandshallconsideritmyhome，butthatalsoIshallhavetherunofhis。Mycabinisthedrawingone;andinthemiddleisalargetable，onwhichwetwosleepinhammocks。Butforthefirsttwomonthstherewillbenodrawingtobedone，sothatitwillbequitealuxuriousroom，andgooddeallargerthantheCaptain’scabin。"
Myfatherusedtosaythatitwastheabsolutenecessityoftidinessinthecrampedspaceofthe"Beagle"thathelped’togivehimhismethodicalhabitsofworking。’Onthe"Beagle"，too，hewouldsay，thathelearnedwhatheconsideredthegoldenruleforsavingtime;i。e。，takingcareoftheminutes。
SirJamesSulivantellsmethatthechieffaultintheoutfitoftheexpeditionwasthewantofasecondsmallervesseltoactastender。ThiswantwassomuchfeltbyCaptainFitz—RoythathehiredtwodeckedboatstosurveythecoastofPatagonia，atacostof1100pounds，asumwhichhehadtosupply，althoughtheboatssavedseveralthousandpoundstothecountry。
Heafterwardsboughtaschoonertoactasatender，thussavingthecountryafurtherlargeamount。Hewasultimatelyorderedtoselltheschooner，andwascompelledtobearthelosshimself，anditwasonlyafterhisdeaththatsomeinadequatecompensationwasmadeforallthelosseswhichhesufferedthroughhiszeal。
Forwantofapropertender，muchoftheworkhadtobedoneinsmallopenwhaleboats，whichweresentawayfromtheshipforweekstogether，andthisinaclimate，wherethecrewswereexposedtoseverehardshipsfromthealmostconstantrains，whichsometimescontinuedforweekstogether。