CHARLESDARWINTOMISSC。DARWIN。
Valparaiso，November8，1834。
MydearCatherine，Mylastletterwasratheragloomyone，forIwasnotverywellwhenI
wroteit。Noweverythingisasbrightassunshine。Iamquitewellagainafterbeingasecondtimeinbedforafortnight。CaptainFitz—Royverygenerouslyhasdelayedtheshiptendaysonmyaccount，andwithoutatthetimetellingmeforwhatreason。
Wehavehadsomestrangeproceedingsonboardthe"Beagle"，butwhichhaveendedmostcapitallyforallhands。CaptainFitz—RoyhasforthelasttwomonthsbeenworkingEXTREMELYhard，andatthesametimeconstantlyannoyedbyinterruptionsfromofficersofotherships;thesellingtheschooneranditsconsequenceswereveryvexatious;thecoldmannertheAdmiralty（solelyIbelievebecauseheisaTory）havetreatedhim，andathousandother，etc。etc。’s，hasmadehimverythinandunwell。Thiswasaccompaniedbyamorbiddepressionofspirits，andalossofalldecisionandresolution……
AllthatBynoe[theSurgeon]couldsay，thatitwasmerelytheeffectofbodilyhealthandexhaustionaftersuchapplication，wouldnotdo;heinvalided，andWickhamwasappointedtothecommand。BytheinstructionsWickhamcouldonlyfinishthesurveyofthesouthernpart，andwouldthenhavebeenobligedtoreturndirecttoEngland。Thegriefonboardthe"Beagle"abouttheCaptain’sdecisionwasuniversalanddeeplyfelt;onegreatsourceofhisannoymentwasthefeelingitimpossibletofulfilthewholeinstructions;fromhisstateofminditneveroccurredtohimthattheveryinstructionsorderedhimtodoasmuchoftheWestcoastASHEHAS
TIMEFOR，andthenproceedacrossthePacific。
Wickham（verydisinterestedlygivinguphisownpromotion）urgedthismoststrongly，statedthatwhenhetookthecommandnothingshouldinducehimtogotoTierradelFuegoagain;andthenaskedtheCaptainwhatwouldbegainedbyhisresignation？whynotdothemoreusefulpart，andreturnascommandedbythePacific。TheCaptainatlast，toeveryone’sjoy，consented，andtheresignationwaswithdrawn。
Hurrah！hurrah！itisfixedthe"Beagle"shallnotgoonemilesouthofCapeTresMontes（about200milessouthofChiloe），andfromthatpointtoValparaisowillbefinishedinaboutfivemonths。WeshallexaminetheChonosArchipelago，entirelyunknown，andthecuriousinlandseabehindChiloe。Formeitisglorious。CapeTresMontesisthemostsouthernpointwherethereismuchgeologicalinterest，astherethemodernbedsend。TheCaptainthentalksofcrossingthePacific;butIthinkweshallpersuadehimtofinishtheCoastofPeru，wheretheclimateisdelightful，thecountryhideouslysterile，butaboundingwiththehighestinteresttoageologist。ForthefirsttimesinceleavingEnglandInowseeaclearandnotsodistantprospectofreturningtoyouall:crossingthePacific，andfromSydneyhome，willnottakemuchtime。
AssoonastheCaptaininvalidedIatoncedeterminedtoleavethe"Beagle"，butitwasquiteabsurdwhatarevolutioninfiveminuteswaseffectedinallmyfeelings。Ihavelongbeengrievedandmostsorryattheinterminablelengthofthevoyage（althoughIneverwouldhavequittedit）;buttheminuteitwasallover，Icouldnotmakeupmymindtoreturn。
IcouldnotgiveupallthegeologicalcastlesintheairwhichIhadbeenbuildingupforthelasttwoyears。OnewholenightItriedtothinkoverthepleasureofseeingShrewsburyagain，butthebarrenplainsofPerugainedtheday。Imadethefollowingscheme（Iknowyouwillabuseme，andperhapsifIhadputitinexecution，myfatherwouldhavesentamandamusafterme）;itwastoexaminetheCordillerasofChiliduringthissummer，andinwintergofromporttoportonthecoastofPerutoLima，returningthistimenextyeartoValparaiso，crosstheCordillerastoBuenosAyres，andtakeshiptoEngland。Wouldnotthishavebeenafineexcursion，andinsixteenmonthsIshouldhavebeenwithyouall？TohaveenduredTierradelFuegoandnotseenthePacificwouldhavebeenmiserable……
Igoonboardto—morrow;IhavebeenforthelastsixweeksinCorfield’shouse。YoucannotimaginewhatakindfriendIhavefoundhim。Heisuniversallyliked，andrespectedbythenativesandforeigners。SeveralChilenoSignoritasareveryobliginglyanxioustobecomethesignorasofthishouse。TellmyfatherIhavekeptmypromiseofbeingextravagantinChili。Ihavedrawnabillof100pounds（haditnotbetterbenotifiedtoMessrs。Robarts&Co。）;50poundsgoestotheCaptainfortheensuingyear，and30poundsItaketoseaforthesmallports;sothatbonafideIhavenotspent180poundsduringtheselastfourmonths。Ihopenottodrawanotherbillforsixmonths。Alltheforegoingparticularswereonlysettledyesterday。Ithasdonememoregoodthanapintofmedicine，andI
havenotbeensohappyforthelastyear。Ifithadnotbeenformyillness，thesefourmonthsinChiliwouldhavebeenverypleasant。Ihavehadillluck，however，inonlyonelittleearthquakehavinghappened。I
waslyinginbedwhentherewasapartyatdinnerinthehouse;onasuddenIheardsuchahubbubinthedining—room;withoutawordbeingspoken，itwasdeviltakethehindmostwhoshouldgetoutfirst;atthesamemomentI
feltmybedSLIGHTLYvibrateinalateraldirection。Thepartywereoldstagers，andheardthenoisewhichalwaysprecedesashock;andnooldstagerlooksatanearthquakewithphilosophicaleyes……
Good—byetoyouall;youwillnothaveanotherletterforsometime。
MydearCatherine，Yoursaffectionately，CHAS。DARWIN。
Mybestlovetomyfather，andallofyou。LovetoNancy。
CHARLESDARWINTOMISSS。DARWIN。
Valparaiso，April23，1835。
MydearSusan，Ireceived，afewdayssince，yourletterofNovember;thethreeletterswhichIbeforementionedareyetmissing，butIdonotdoubttheywillcometolife。IreturnedaweekagofrommyexcursionacrosstheAndestoMendoza。SinceleavingEnglandIhavenevermadesosuccessfulajourney;
ithas，however，beenveryexpensive。Iamsuremyfatherwouldnotregretit，ifhecouldknowhowdeeplyIhaveenjoyedit:itwassomethingmorethanenjoyment;IcannotexpressthedelightwhichIfeltatsuchafamouswinding—upofallmygeologyinSouthAmerica。Iliterallycouldhardlysleepatnightsforthinkingovermyday’swork。Thescenerywassonew，andsomajestic;everythingatanelevationof12，000feetbearssodifferentanaspectfromthatinalowercountry。Ihaveseenmanyviewsmorebeautiful，butnonewithsostronglymarkedacharacter。Toageologist，also，therearesuchmanifestproofsofexcessiveviolence;thestrataofthehighestpinnaclesaretossedaboutlikethecrustofabrokenpie。
IcrossedbythePortilloPass，whichatthistimeoftheyearisapttobedangerous，socouldnotaffordtodelaythere。AfterstayingadayinthestupidtownofMendoza，IbeganmyreturnbyUspallate，whichIdidveryleisurely。Mywholetriponlytookuptwenty—twodays。Itravelledwith，forme，uncommoncomfort，asIcarriedaBED！MypartyconsistedoftwoPeonsandtenmules，twoofwhichwerewithbaggage，orratherfood，incaseofbeingsnowedup。Everything，however，favouredme;notevenaspeckofthisyear’ssnowhadfallenontheroad。Idonotsupposeanyofyoucanbemuchinterestedingeologicaldetails，butIwilljustmentionmyprincipalresults:——Besidesunderstandingtoacertainextentthedescriptionandmanneroftheforcewhichhaselevatedthisgreatlineofmountains，Icanclearlydemonstratethatonepartofthedoublelineisofanagelongposteriortotheother。Inthemoreancientline，whichisthetruechainoftheAndes，Icandescribethesortandorderoftherockswhichcomposeit。Thesearechieflyremarkablebycontainingabedofgypsumnearly2000feetthick——aquantityofthissubstanceIshouldthinkunparalleledintheworld。Whatisofmuchgreaterconsequence，Ihaveprocuredfossilshells（fromanelevationof12，000feet）。Ithinkanexaminationofthesewillgiveanapproximateagetothesemountains，ascomparedtothestrataofEurope。IntheotherlineoftheCordillerasthereisastrongpresumption（inmyownmind，conviction）thattheenormousmassofmountains，thepeaksofwhichriseto13，000and14，000
feet，aresoverymodernastobecontemporaneouswiththeplainsofPatagonia（oraboutwiththeUPPERstrataoftheIsleofWight）。Ifthisresultshallbeconsideredasproved（Theimportanceoftheseresultshasbeenfullyrecognisedbygeologists。），itisaveryimportantfactinthetheoryoftheformationoftheworld;because，ifsuchwonderfulchangeshavetakenplacesorecentlyinthecrustoftheglobe，therecanbenoreasonforsupposingformerepochsofexcessiveviolence。Thesemodernstrataareveryremarkablebybeingthreadedwithmetallicveinsofsilver，gold，copper，etc。;hithertothesehavebeenconsideredasappertainingtoolderformations。Inthesesamebeds，andclosetoagoldmine，Ifoundaclumpofpetrifiedtrees，standingupright，withlayersoffinesandstonedepositedroundthem，bearingtheimpressionoftheirbark。Thesetreesarecoveredbyothersandstonesandstreamsoflavatothethicknessofseveralthousandfeet。Theserockshavebeendepositedbeneathwater;yetitisclearthespotwherethetreesgrewmustoncehavebeenabovethelevelofthesea，sothatitiscertainthelandmusthavebeendepressedbyatleastasmanythousandfeetasthesuperincumbentsubaqueousdepositsarethick。ButIamafraidyouwilltellmeIamprosywithmygeologicaldescriptionsandtheories……
YouraccountofErasmus’visittoCambridgehasmademelongtobebackthere。IcannotfancyanythingmoredelightfulthanhisSundayroundofKing’s，Trinity，andthosetalkinggiants，WhewellandSedgwick;Ihopeyourmusicaltastescontinueindueforce。Ishallberavenousforthepianoforte……
IhavenotquitedeterminedwhetherIwillsleepatthe’Lion’thefirstnightwhenIarriveper’Wonder，’ordisturbyouallinthedeadofnight;
everythingshortofthatisabsolutelyplanned。EverythingaboutShrewsburyisgrowinginmymindbiggerandmorebeautiful;Iamcertaintheacaciaandcopperbeecharetwosuperbtrees;Ishallknoweverybush，andIwilltroubleyouyoungladies，wheneachofyoucutdownyourtree，tospareafew。Asfortheviewbehindthehouse，Ihaveseennothinglikeit。ItisthesamewithNorthWales;Snowdon，tomymind，looksmuchhigherandmuchmorebeautifulthananypeakintheCordilleras。Soyouwillsay，withmybenightedfaculties，itistimetoreturn，andsoitis，andIlongtobewithyou。Whateverthetreesare，IknowwhatIshallfindallyou。Iamwritingnonsense，sofarewell。Mymostaffectionatelovetoall，andIprayforgivenessfrommyfather。
Yoursmostaffectionately，CHARLESDARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOW。D。FOX。
Lima，July，1835。
MydearFox，Ihavelatelyreceivedtwoofyourletters，onedatedJuneandtheotherNovember，1834（theyreachedme，however，inaninvertedorder）。Iwasverygladtoreceiveahistoryofthismostimportantyearinyourlife。
PreviouslyIhadonlyheardtheplainfactthatyouweremarried。YouareatrueChristianandreturngoodforevil，tosendtwosuchletterstosobadacorrespondentasIhavebeen。Godblessyouforwritingsokindlyandaffectionately;ifitisapleasuretohavefriendsinEngland，itisdoublysotothinkandknowthatoneisnotforgottenbecauseabsent。Thisvoyageisterriblylong。Idosoearnestlydesiretoreturn，yetIdarehardlylookforwardtothefuture，forIdonotknowwhatwillbecomeofme。Yoursituationisaboveenvy:Idonotventureeventoframesuchhappyvisions。Toapersonfittotaketheoffice，thelifeofaclergymanisatypeofallthatisrespectableandhappy。Youtemptmebytalkingofyourfireside，whereasitisasortofsceneIneveroughttothinkabout。
IsawtheotherdayavesselsailforEngland;itwasquitedangeroustoknowhoweasilyImightturndeserter。AsforanEnglishlady，Ihavealmostforgottenwhatsheis——somethingveryangelicandgood。Asforthewomeninthesecountries，theywearcapsandpetticoats，andaveryfewhaveprettyfaces，andthenallissaid。Butifwearenotwreckedonsomeunluckyreef，IwillsitbythatsamefiresideinValeCottageandtellsomeofthewonderfulstories，whichyouseemtoanticipateand，Ipresume，arenotveryreadytobelieve。Graciasadios，theprospectofsuchtimesisrathershorterthanformerly。
>Fromthismostwretched’CityoftheKings’wesailinafortnight，fromthencetoGuayaquil，Galapagos，Marquesas，SocietyIslands，etc。，etc。I
lookforwardtotheGalapagoswithmoreinterestthananyotherpartofthevoyage。Theyaboundwithactivevolcanoes，and，Ishouldhope，containTertiarystrata。IamgladtohearyouhavesomethoughtsofbeginningGeology。Ihopeyouwill;thereissomuchlargerafieldforthoughtthanintheotherbranchesofNaturalHistory。IambecomeazealousdiscipleofMr。Lyell’sviews，asknowninhisadmirablebook。GeologisinginSouthAmerica，Iamtemptedtocarrypartstoagreaterextenteventhanhedoes。
Geologyisacapitalsciencetobegin，asitrequiresnothingbutalittlereading，thinking，andhammering。Ihaveaconsiderablebodyofnotestogether;butitisaconstantsubjectofperplexitytome，whethertheyareofsufficientvalueforallthetimeIhavespentaboutthem，orwhetheranimalswouldnothavebeenofmorecertainvalue。
IshallindeedbegladonceagaintoseeyouandtellyouhowgratefulI
feelforyoursteadyfriendship。Godblessyou，myverydearFox。
Believeme，Yoursaffectionately，CHAS。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。S。HENSLOW。
Sydney，January，1836。
MydearHenslow，ThisisthelastopportunityofcommunicatingwithyoubeforethatjoyfuldaywhenIshallreachCambridge。Ihaveverylittletosay:butImustwriteifitisonlytoexpressmyjoythatthelastyearisconcluded，andthatthepresentone，inwhichthe"Beagle"willreturn，isglidingonwards。Wehaveallbeendisappointedhereinnotfindingevenasingleletter;weare，indeed，ratherbeforeourexpectedtime，otherwise，Idaresay，Ishouldhaveseenyourhandwriting。Imustfeeduponthefuture，anditisbeyondboundsdelightfultofeelthecertaintythatwithineightmonthsIshallberesidingonceagainmostquietlyinCambridge。
Certainly，Ineverwasintendedforatraveller;mythoughtsarealwaysramblingoverpastorfuturescenes;Icannotenjoythepresenthappinessforanticipatingthefuture，whichisaboutasfoolishasthedogwhodroppedtherealboneforitsshadow……
InourpassageacrossthePacificweonlytouchedatTahitiandNewZealand;atneitheroftheseplacesoratseahadImuchopportunityofworking。Tahitiisamostcharmingspot。Everythingwhichformernavigatorshavewrittenistrue。’AnewCytheraeahasrisenfromtheocean。’Deliciousscenery，climate，mannersofthepeopleareallinharmony。Itis，moreover，admirabletobeholdwhatthemissionariesbothhereandatNewZealandhaveeffected。Ifirmlybelievetheyaregoodmenworkingforthesakeofagoodcause。Imuchsuspectthatthosewhohaveabusedorsneeredatthemissionarieshavegenerallybeensuchaswerenotveryanxioustofindthenativesmoralandintelligentbeings。Duringtheremainderofourvoyageweshallonlyvisitplacesgenerallyacknowledgedascivilised，andnearlyallundertheBritishflag。ThesewillbeapoorfieldforNaturalHistory，andwithoutitIhavelatelydiscoveredthatthepleasureofseeingnewplacesisasnothing。Imustreturntomyoldresourceandthinkofthefuture，butthatImaynotbecomemoreprosy，I
willsayfarewelltillthedayarrives，whenIshallseemyMasterinNaturalHistory，andcantellhimhowgratefulIfeelforhiskindnessandfriendship。
Believeme，dearHenslow，Everyours，mostfaithfully，CHAS。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOMISSS。DARWIN。
Bahia，Brazil，August4[1836]。
MydearSusan，IwilljustwriteafewlinestoexplainthecauseofthisletterbeingdatedonthecoastofSouthAmerica。SomesingulardisagreementsinthelongitudesmadeCaptainFitz—Royanxioustocompletethecircleinthesouthernhemisphere，andthenretraceourstepsbyourfirstlinetoEngland。Thiszigzagmannerofproceedingisverygrievous;ithasputthefinishingstroketomyfeelings。Iloathe，Iabhortheseaandallshipswhichsailonit。ButIyetbelieveweshallreachEnglandinthelatterhalfofOctober。AtAscensionIreceivedCatherine’sletterofOctober，andyoursofNovember;theletterattheCapewasofalaterdate，butlettersofallsortsareinestimabletreasures，andIthankyoubothforthem。Thedesert，volcanicrocks，andwildseaofAscension，assoonasI
knewtherewasnewsfromhome，suddenlyworeapleasingaspect，andIsettoworkwithagood—willatmyoldworkofGeology。Youwouldbesurprisedtoknowhowentirelythepleasureinarrivingatanewplacedependsonletters。WeonlystayedfourdaysatAscension，andthenmadeaverygoodpassagetoBahia。
IlittlethoughttohaveputmyfootonSouthAmericancoastagain。Ithasbeenalmostpainfultofindhowmuchgoodenthusiasmhasbeenevaporatedduringthelastfouryears。IcannowwalksoberlythroughaBrazilianforest;notbutwhatitisexquisitelybeautiful，butnow，insteadofseekingforsplendidcontrasts，Icomparethestatelymangotreeswiththehorse—chestnutsofEngland。Althoughthiszigzaghaslostusatleastafortnight，insomerespectsIamgladofit。IthinkIshallbeabletocarryawayonevividpictureofinter—tropicalscenery。WegofromhencetotheCapedeVerds;thatis，ifthewindsortheEquatorialcalmswillallowus。IhavesomefainthopesthatasteadyfoulwindmightinducetheCaptaintoproceeddirecttotheAzores。ForwhichmostuntowardeventI
heartilypray。
Bothyourletterswerefullofgoodnews;especiallytheexpressionswhichyoutellmeProfessorSedgwickusedaboutmycollections。Iconfesstheyaredeeplygratifying——Itrustonepartatleastwillturnouttrue，andthatIshallactasInowthink——asamanwhodarestowasteonehouroftimehasnotdiscoveredthevalueoflife。ProfessorSedgwickmentioningmynameatallgivesmehopesthathewillassistmewithhisadvice，ofwhich，inmygeologicalquestions，Istandmuchinneed。ItisuselesstotellyoufromtheshamefulstateofthisscribblethatIamwritingagainsttime，havingbeenoutallmorning，andnowtherearesomestrangersonboardtowhomImustgodownandtalkcivility。Moreover，asthislettergoesbyaforeignship，itisdoubtfulwhetheritwilleverarrive。
Farewell，myverydearSusanandallofyou。Good—bye。
C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。S。HENSLOW。
St。Helena，July9，1836。
MydearHenslow，Iamgoingtoaskyoutodomeafavour。IamveryanxioustobelongtotheGeologicalSociety。Idonotknow，butIsupposeitisnecessarytobeproposedsometimebeforebeingballottedfor;ifsuchisthecase，wouldyoubegoodenoughtotaketheproperpreparatorysteps？ProfessorSedgwickverykindlyofferedtoproposemebeforeleavingEngland，ifheshouldhappentobeinLondon。Idaresayhewouldyetdoso。
Ihaveverylittletowriteabout。Wehaveneitherseen，done，orheardofanythingparticularforalongtimepast;andindeedifatpresentthewondersofanotherplanetcouldbedisplayedbeforeus，Ibelieveweshouldunanimouslyexclaim，whataconsummateplague。Noschoolboyseversungthehalfsentimentalandhalfjovialstrainof’dulcedomum’withmorefervour，thanweallfeelinclinedtodo。Butthewholesubjectof’dulcedomum，’
andthedelightofseeingone’sfriends，ismostdangerous，itmustinfalliblymakeoneveryprosyorveryboisterous。Oh，thedegreetowhichIlongtobeonceagainlivingquietlywithnotonesinglenovelobjectnearme！Noonecanimagineittillhehasbeenwhirledroundtheworldduringfivelongyearsinaten—gun—brig。Iamatpresentlivinginasmallhouse（amongsttheclouds）inthecentreoftheisland，andwithinstone’sthrowofNapoleon’stomb。Itisblowingagaleofwindwithheavyrainandwretchedlycold;ifNapoleon’sghosthauntshisdrearyplaceofconfinement，thiswouldbeamostexcellentnightforsuchwanderingspirits。Iftheweatherchoosestopermitme，IhopetoseealittleoftheGeology（sooftenpartiallydescribed）oftheisland。Isuspectthatdifferentlyfrommostvolcanicislandsitsstructureisrathercomplicated。
Itseemsstrangethatthislittlecentreofadistinctcreationshould，asisasserted，bearmarksofrecentelevation。
The"Beagle"proceedsfromthisplacetoAscension，thentotheCapedeVerds（whatmiserableplaces！）totheAzorestoPlymouth，andthentohome。
Thatmostgloriousofalldaysinmylifewillnot，however，arrivetillthemiddleofOctober。SometimeinthatmonthyouwillseemeatCambridge，whereImustdirectlycometoreportmyselftoyou，asmyfirstLordoftheAdmiralty。AttheCapeofGoodHopeweallonboardsufferedabitterdisappointmentinmissingninemonths’letters，whicharechasingusfromonesideoftheglobetotheother。Idaresayamongstthemtherewasaletterfromyou;itislongsinceIhaveseenyourhandwriting，butI
shallsoonseeyouyourself，whichisfarbetter。AsIamyourpupil，youareboundtoundertakethetaskofcriticisingandscoldingmeforallthethingsilldoneandnotdoneatall，whichIfearIshallneedmuch;butI
hopeforthebest，andIamsureIhaveagoodifnottooeasytaskmaster。
AttheCapeCaptainFitz—RoyandmyselfenjoyedamemorablepieceofgoodfortuneinmeetingSirJ。Herschel。Wedinedathishouseandsawhimafewtimesbesides。Hewasexceedinglygoodnatured，buthismannersatfirstappearedtomeratherawful。Heislivinginaverycomfortablecountryhouse，surroundedbyfirandoaktrees，whichaloneinsoopenacountry，giveamostcharmingairofseclusionandcomfort。Heappearstofindtimeforeverything;heshowedusaprettygardenfullofCapebulbsofhisowncollecting，andIafterwardsunderstoodthateverythingwastheworkofhisownhands……Iamverystupid，andIhavenothingmoretosay;
thewindiswhistlingsomournfullyoverthebleakhills，thatIshallgotobedanddreamofEngland。
Goodnight，mydearHenslow，Yoursmosttrulyobligedandaffectionately，CHAS。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOJ。S。HENSLOW。
Shrewsbury，Thursday，October6，[1836]。
MydearHenslow，Iamsureyouwillcongratulatemeonthedelightofonceagainbeinghome。
The"Beagle"arrivedatFalmouthonSundayevening，andIreachedShrewsburyyesterdaymorning。Iamexceedinglyanxioustoseeyou，andasitwillbenecessaryinfourorfivedaystoreturntoLondontogetmygoodsandchattelsoutofthe"Beagle"，itappearstomemybestplantopassthroughCambridge。Iwantyouradviceonmanypoints;indeedIamintheclouds，andneitherknowwhattodoorwheretogo。Mychiefpuzzleisaboutthegeologicalspecimens——whowillhavethecharitytohelpmeindescribingtheirmineralogicalnature？WillyoubekindenoughtowritetomeonelinebyRETURNOFPOST，sayingwhetheryouarenowatCambridge？I
amdoubtfultillIhearfromCaptainFitz—RoywhetherIshallnotbeobligedtostartbeforetheanswercanarrive，butpraytrythechance。MydearHenslow，Idolongtoseeyou;youhavebeenthekindestfriendtomethatevermanpossessed。Icanwritenomore，forIamgiddywithjoyandconfusion。
Farewellforthepresent，Yoursmosttrulyobliged，CHARLESDARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOR。FITZ—ROY。
Shrewsbury，Thursdaymorning，October6，[1836]。
MydearFitz—Roy，Iarrivedhereyesterdaymorningatbreakfasttime，and，thankGod，foundallmydeargoodsistersandfatherquitewell。MyfatherappearsmorecheerfulandverylittleolderthanwhenIleft。MysistersassuremeIdonotlooktheleastdifferent，andIamabletoreturnthecompliment。
Indeed，allEnglandappearschangedexceptingthegoodoldtownofShrewsburyanditsinhabitants，which，forallIcanseetothecontrary，maygoonastheynowaretoDoomsday。IwishwithallmyheartIwaswritingtoyouamongstyourfriendsinsteadofatthathorridPlymouth。
Butthedaywillsooncome，andyouwillbeashappyasInowam。IdoassureyouIamaverygreatmanathome;thefiveyears’voyagehascertainlyraisedmeahundredpercent。Ifearsuchgreatnessmustexperienceafall。
Iamthoroughlyashamedofmyselfinwhatadead—and—half—alivestateI
spentthefewlastdaysonboard;myonlyexcuseisthatcertainlyIwasnotquitewell。Thefirstdayinthemailtiredme，butasIdrewnearertoShrewsburyeverythinglookedmorebeautifulandcheerful。InpassingGloucestershireandWorcestershireIwishedmuchforyoutoadmirethefields，woods，andorchards。Thestupidpeopleonthecoachdidnotseemtothinkthefieldsonebitgreenerthanusual;butIamsureweshouldhavethoroughlyagreedthatthewideworlddoesnotcontainsohappyaprospectastherichcultivatedlandofEngland。
Ihopeyouwillnotforgettosendmeanotetellingmehowyougoon。I
doindeedhopeallyourvexationsandtroublewithrespecttoourvoyage，whichwenowknowHASanend，havecometoaclose。IfyoudonotreceivemuchsatisfactionforallthementalandbodilyenergyyouhaveexpendedinHisMajesty’sservice，youwillbemosthardlytreated。Iputmyradicalsistersintoanuproaratsomeoftheprudent（iftheywerenothonestWhigs，Iwouldsayshabby）proceedingsofourGovernment。Bytheway，I
musttellyouforthehonourandgloryofthefamilythatmyfatherhasalargeengravingofKingGeorgeIV。putupinhissitting—room。ButIamnorenegade，andbythetimewemeetmypoliticswillbeasfirmlyfixedandaswiselyfoundedasevertheywere。
IthoughtwhenIbeganthisletterIwouldconvinceyouwhatasteadyandsoberframeofmindIwasin。ButIfindIamwritingmostpreciousnonsense。TwoorthreeofourlabourersyesterdayimmediatelysettoworkandgotmostexcessivelydrunkinhonourofthearrivalofMasterCharles。
WhothenshallgainsayifMasterCharleshimselfchoosestomakehimselfafool。Good—bye。Godblessyou！Ihopeyouareashappy，butmuchwiser，thanyourmostsincerebutunworthyphilosopher，CHAS。DARWIN。
CHAPTER1。VII。
LONDONANDCAMBRIDGE。
1836—1842。
[Theperiodillustratedbythefollowinglettersincludestheyearsbetweenmyfather’sreturnfromthevoyageofthe"Beagle"andhissettlingatDown。ItismarkedbythegradualappearanceofthatweaknessofhealthwhichultimatelyforcedhimtoleaveLondonandtakeuphisabodefortherestofhislifeinaquietcountryhouse。InJune，1841，hewritestoLyell:"MyfatherscarcelyseemstoexpectthatIshallbecomestrongforsomeyears;ithasbeenabittermortificationformetodigesttheconclusionthatthe’raceisforthestrong，’andthatIshallprobablydolittlemorebutbecontenttoadmirethestridesothersmakeinscience。"
Thereisnoevidenceofanyintentionofenteringaprofessionafterhisreturnfromthevoyage，andearlyin1840hewrotetoFitz—Roy:"Ihavenothingtowishfor，exceptingstrongerhealthtogoonwiththesubjectstowhichIhavejoyfullydeterminedtodevotemylife。"
Thesetwoconditions——permanentill—healthandapassionateloveofscientificworkforitsownsake——determinedthusearlyinhiscareer，thecharacterofhiswholefuturelife。Theyimpelledhimtoleadaretiredlifeofconstantlabour，carriedontotheutmostlimitsofhisphysicalpower，alifewhichsignallyfalsifiedhismelancholyprophecy。
TheendofthelastchaptersawmyfathersafelyarrivedatShrewsburyonOctober4，1836，"afteranabsenceoffiveyearsandtwodays。"HewrotetoFox:"Youcannotimaginehowgloriouslydelightfulmyfirstvisitwasathome;itwasworththebanishment。"Butitwasapleasurethathecouldnotlongenjoy，forinthelastdaysofOctoberhewasatGreenwichunpackingspecimensfromthe"Beagle"。Astothedestinationofthecollectionshewrites，somewhatdespondingly，toHenslow:——
"Ihavenotmademuchprogresswiththegreatmen。Ifind，asyoutoldme，thattheyarealloverwhelmedwiththeirownbusiness。Mr。Lyellhasentered，intheMOSTgood—naturedmanner，andalmostwithoutbeingasked，intoallmyplans。Hetellsme，however，thesamestory，thatImustdoallmyself。Mr。Owenseemsanxioustodissectsomeoftheanimalsinspirits，and，besidesthesetwo，Ihavescarcelymetanyonewhoseemstowishtopossessanyofmyspecimens。ImustexceptDr。Grant，whoiswillingtoexaminesomeofthecorallines。Iseeitisquiteunreasonabletohopeforaminutethatanymanwillundertaketheexaminationofawholeorder。Itisclearthecollectorssomuchoutnumbertherealnaturaliststhatthelatterhavenotimetospare。
"IdonotevenfindthattheCollectionscareforreceivingtheunnamedspecimens。TheZoologicalMuseum（TheMuseumoftheZoologicalSociety，thenat33BrutonStreet。Thecollectionwassomeyearslaterbrokenupanddispersed。）isnearlyfull，andupwardsofathousandspecimensremainunmounted。IdaresaytheBritishMuseumwouldreceivethem，butIcannotfeel，fromallIhear，anygreatrespectevenforthepresentstateofthatestablishment。Yourplanwillbenotonlythebest，buttheonlyone，namely，tocomedowntoCambridge，arrangeandgrouptogetherthedifferentfamilies，andthenwaittillpeople，whoarealreadyworkingindifferentbranches，maywantspecimens。Butitappearstome[that]todothisitwillbealmostnecessarytoresideinLondon。AsfarasIcanyetseemybestplanwillbetospendseveralmonthsinCambridge，andthenwhen，byyourassistance，IknowonwhatgroundIstand，toemigratetoLondon，whereIcancompletemyGeologyandtrytopushontheZoology。IassureyouIgrievetofindhowmanythingsmakemeseethenecessityoflivingforsometimeinthisdirty，odiousLondon。ForeveninGeologyIsuspectmuchassistanceandcommunicationwillbenecessaryinthisquarter，forinstance，infossilbones，ofwhichnoneexceptingthefragmentsofMegatheriumhavebeenlookedat，andIclearlyseethatwithoutmypresencetheyneverwouldbe……
"IonlywishIhadknowntheBotanistscaredsomuchforspecimens（A
passageinasubsequentlettershowsthathisplantsalsogavehimsomeanxiety。"ImetMr。Brownafewdaysafteryouhadcalledonhim;heaskedmeinratheranominousmannerwhatImeanttodowithmyplants。InthecourseofconversationMr。Broderip，whowaspresent，remarkedtohim，’YouforgethowlongitissinceCaptainKing’sexpedition。’Heanswered，’Indeed，IhavesomethingintheshapeofCaptainKing’sundescribedplantstomakemerecollectit。’Couldabetterreasonbegiven，ifIhadbeenasked，byme，fornotgivingtheplantstotheBritishMuseum？"）andtheZoologistssolittle;theproportionalnumberofspecimensinthetwobranchesshouldhavehadaverydifferentappearance。IamoutofpatiencewiththeZoologists，notbecausetheyareoverworked，butfortheirmean，quarrelsomespirit。IwenttheothereveningtotheZoologicalSociety，wherethespeakersweresnarlingateachotherinamanneranythingbutlikethatofgentlemen。ThankHeavens！aslongasIremaininCambridgetherewillnotbeanydangeroffallingintoanysuchcontemptiblequarrels，whilstinLondonIdonotseehowitistobeavoided。OftheNaturalists，F。HopeisoutofLondon;WestwoodIhavenotseen，soaboutmyinsectsIknownothing。IhaveseenMr。Yarrelltwice，butheissoevidentlyoppressedwithbusinessthatitistooselfishtoplaguehimwithmyconcerns。HehasaskedmetodinewiththeLinneanonTuesday，andonWednesdayIdinewiththeGeological，sothatIshallseeallthegreatmen。Mr。Bell，Ihear，issomuchoccupiedthatthereisnochanceofhiswishingforspecimensofreptiles。IhaveforgottentomentionMr。
Lonsdale（WilliamLonsdale，1794—1871，wasoriginallyinthearmy，andservedatthebattlesofSalamancaandWaterloo。Afterthewarhelefttheserviceandgavehimselfuptoscience。HeactedasassistantsecretarytotheGeologicalSocietyfrom1829—42，whenheresigned，owingtoillhealth。），whogavemeamostcordialreception，andwithwhomIhadmuchmostinterestingconversation。IfIwasnotmuchmoreinclinedforgeologythantheotherbranchesofNaturalHistory，IamsureMr。Lyell’sandLonsdale’skindnessoughttofixme。Youcannotconceiveanythingmorethoroughlygood—naturedthantheheart—and—soulmannerinwhichheputhimselfinmyplaceandthoughtwhatwouldbebesttodo。AtfirsthewasallforLondonversusCambridge，butatlastImadehimconfessthat，forsometimeatleast，thelatterwouldbeformemuchthebest。ThereisnotanothersoulwhomIcouldask，exceptingyourself，towadethroughandcriticisesomeofthosepaperswhichIhaveleftwithyou。Mr。Lyellownedthat，secondtoLondon，therewasnoplaceinEnglandsogoodforaNaturalistasCambridge。UponmywordIamashamedofwritingsomanyfoolishdetails，noyoungladyeverdescribedherfirstballwithmoreparticularity。"
Afewdayslaterhewritesmorecheerfully:"IbecameacquaintedwithMr。