AsIwasdoingnogoodatschool，myfatherwiselytookmeawayataratherearlieragethanusual，andsentme（Oct。1825）toEdinburghUniversitywithmybrother，whereIstayedfortwoyearsorsessions。Mybrotherwascompletinghismedicalstudies，thoughIdonotbelieveheeverreallyintendedtopractise，andIwassenttheretocommencethem。ButsoonafterthisperiodIbecameconvincedfromvarioussmallcircumstancesthatmyfatherwouldleavemepropertyenoughtosubsistonwithsomecomfort，thoughIneverimaginedthatIshouldbesorichamanasIam;butmybeliefwassufficienttocheckanystrenuouseffortstolearnmedicine。
TheinstructionatEdinburghwasaltogetherbylectures，andthesewereintolerablydull，withtheexceptionofthoseonchemistrybyHope;buttomymindtherearenoadvantagesandmanydisadvantagesinlecturescomparedwithreading。Dr。Duncan’slecturesonMateriaMedicaat8o’clockonawinter’smorningaresomethingfearfultoremember。Dr。——madehislecturesonhumananatomyasdullashewashimself，andthesubjectdisgustedme。IthasprovedoneofthegreatestevilsinmylifethatI
wasnoturgedtopractisedissection，forIshouldsoonhavegotovermydisgust;andthepracticewouldhavebeeninvaluableforallmyfuturework。Thishasbeenanirremediableevil，aswellasmyincapacitytodraw。Ialsoattendedregularlytheclinicalwardsinthehospital。Someofthecasesdistressedmeagooddeal，andIstillhavevividpicturesbeforemeofsomeofthem;butIwasnotsofoolishastoallowthistolessenmyattendance。Icannotunderstandwhythispartofmymedicalcoursedidnotinterestmeinagreaterdegree;forduringthesummerbeforecomingtoEdinburghIbeganattendingsomeofthepoorpeople，chieflychildrenandwomeninShrewsbury:IwrotedownasfullanaccountasIcouldofthecasewithallthesymptoms，andreadthemaloudtomyfather，whosuggestedfurtherinquiriesandadvisedmewhatmedicinestogive，whichImadeupmyself。AtonetimeIhadatleastadozenpatients，andIfeltakeeninterestinthework。Myfather，whowasbyfarthebestjudgeofcharacterwhomIeverknew，declaredthatIshouldmakeasuccessfulphysician，——meaningbythisonewhowouldgetmanypatients。Hemaintainedthatthechiefelementofsuccesswasexcitingconfidence;butwhathesawinmewhichconvincedhimthatIshouldcreateconfidenceI
knownot。IalsoattendedontwooccasionstheoperatingtheatreinthehospitalatEdinburgh，andsawtwoverybadoperations，oneonachild，butIrushedawaybeforetheywerecompleted。NordidIeverattendagain，forhardlyanyinducementwouldhavebeenstrongenoughtomakemedoso;thisbeinglongbeforetheblesseddaysofchloroform。Thetwocasesfairlyhauntedmeformanyalongyear。
MybrotherstayedonlyoneyearattheUniversity，sothatduringthesecondyearIwaslefttomyownresources;andthiswasanadvantage，forIbecamewellacquaintedwithseveralyoungmenfondofnaturalscience。
OneofthesewasAinsworth，whoafterwardspublishedhistravelsinAssyria;hewasaWerneriangeologist，andknewalittleaboutmanysubjects。Dr。Coldstreamwasaverydifferentyoungman，prim，formal，highlyreligious，andmostkind—hearted;heafterwardspublishedsomegoodzoologicalarticles。AthirdyoungmanwasHardie，whowould，Ithink，havemadeagoodbotanist，butdiedearlyinIndia。Lastly，Dr。Grant，myseniorbyseveralyears，buthowIbecameacquaintedwithhimIcannotremember;hepublishedsomefirst—ratezoologicalpapers，butaftercomingtoLondonasProfessorinUniversityCollege，hedidnothingmoreinscience，afactwhichhasalwaysbeeninexplicabletome。Iknewhimwell;
hewasdryandformalinmanner，withmuchenthusiasmbeneaththisoutercrust。Heoneday，whenwewerewalkingtogether，burstforthinhighadmirationofLamarckandhisviewsonevolution。Ilistenedinsilentastonishment，andasfarasIcanjudgewithoutanyeffectonmymind。I
hadpreviouslyreadthe’Zoonomia’ofmygrandfather，inwhichsimilarviewsaremaintained，butwithoutproducinganyeffectonme。Neverthelessitisprobablethatthehearingratherearlyinlifesuchviewsmaintainedandpraisedmayhavefavouredmyupholdingthemunderadifferentforminmy’OriginofSpecies。’AtthistimeIadmiredgreatlythe’Zoonomia;’butonreadingitasecondtimeafteranintervaloftenorfifteenyears，I
wasmuchdisappointed;theproportionofspeculationbeingsolargetothefactsgiven。
Drs。GrantandColdstreamattendedmuchtomarineZoology，andIoftenaccompaniedtheformertocollectanimalsinthetidalpools，whichI
dissectedaswellasIcould。IalsobecamefriendswithsomeoftheNewhavenfishermen，andsometimesaccompaniedthemwhentheytrawledforoysters，andthusgotmanyspecimens。Butfromnothavinghadanyregularpracticeindissection，andfrompossessingonlyawretchedmicroscope，myattemptswereverypoor。NeverthelessImadeoneinterestinglittlediscovery，andread，aboutthebeginningoftheyear1826，ashortpaperonthesubjectbeforethePlinianSociety。Thiswasthattheso—calledovaofFlustrahadthepowerofindependentmovementbymeansofcilia，andwereinfactlarvae。InanothershortpaperIshowedthatthelittleglobularbodieswhichhadbeensupposedtobetheyoungstateofFucusloreusweretheegg—casesofthewormlikePontobdellamuricata。
ThePlinianSocietywasencouragedand，Ibelieve，foundedbyProfessorJameson:itconsistedofstudentsandmetinanundergroundroomintheUniversityforthesakeofreadingpapersonnaturalscienceanddiscussingthem。Iusedregularlytoattend，andthemeetingshadagoodeffectonmeinstimulatingmyzealandgivingmenewcongenialacquaintances。Oneeveningapooryoungmangotup，andafterstammeringforaprodigiouslengthoftime，blushingcrimson，heatlastslowlygotoutthewords，"Mr。
President，IhaveforgottenwhatIwasgoingtosay。"Thepoorfellowlookedquiteoverwhelmed，andallthemembersweresosurprisedthatnoonecouldthinkofawordtosaytocoverhisconfusion。Thepaperswhichwerereadtoourlittlesocietywerenotprinted，sothatIhadnotthesatisfactionofseeingmypaperinprint;butIbelieveDr。GrantnoticedmysmalldiscoveryinhisexcellentmemoironFlustra。
IwasalsoamemberoftheRoyalMedicalSociety，andattendedprettyregularly;butasthesubjectswereexclusivelymedical，Ididnotmuchcareaboutthem。Muchrubbishwastalkedthere，butthereweresomegoodspeakers，ofwhomthebestwasthepresentSirJ。Kay—Shuttleworth。Dr。
GranttookmeoccasionallytothemeetingsoftheWernerianSociety，wherevariouspapersonnaturalhistorywereread，discussed，andafterwardspublishedinthe’Transactions。’IheardAudubondelivertheresomeinterestingdiscoursesonthehabitsofN。Americanbirds，sneeringsomewhatunjustlyatWaterton。Bytheway，anegrolivedinEdinburgh，whohadtravelledwithWaterton，andgainedhislivelihoodbystuffingbirds，whichhedidexcellently:hegavemelessonsforpayment，andIusedoftentositwithhim，forhewasaverypleasantandintelligentman。
Mr。LeonardHorneralsotookmeoncetoameetingoftheRoyalSocietyofEdinburgh，whereIsawSirWalterScottinthechairasPresident，andheapologisedtothemeetingasnotfeelingfittedforsuchaposition。I
lookedathimandatthewholescenewithsomeaweandreverence，andI
thinkitwasowingtothisvisitduringmyyouth，andtomyhavingattendedtheRoyalMedicalSociety，thatIfeltthehonourofbeingelectedafewyearsagoanhonorarymemberofboththeseSocieties，morethananyothersimilarhonour。IfIhadbeentoldatthattimethatIshouldonedayhavebeenthushonoured，IdeclarethatIshouldhavethoughtitasridiculousandimprobable，asifIhadbeentoldthatIshouldbeelectedKingofEngland。
DuringmysecondyearatEdinburghIattended——’slecturesonGeologyandZoology，buttheywereincrediblydull。ThesoleeffecttheyproducedonmewasthedeterminationneveraslongasIlivedtoreadabookonGeology，orinanywaytostudythescience。YetIfeelsurethatIwaspreparedforaphilosophicaltreatmentofthesubject;foranoldMr。
CottoninShropshire，whoknewagooddealaboutrocks，hadpointedouttometwoorthreeyearspreviouslyawell—knownlargeerraticboulderinthetownofShrewsbury，calledthe"bell—stone";hetoldmethattherewasnorockofthesamekindnearerthanCumberlandorScotland，andhesolemnlyassuredmethattheworldwouldcometoanendbeforeanyonewouldbeabletoexplainhowthisstonecamewhereitnowlay。Thisproducedadeepimpressiononme，andImeditatedoverthiswonderfulstone。SothatI
feltthekeenestdelightwhenIfirstreadoftheactionoficebergsintransportingboulders，andIgloriedintheprogressofGeology。EquallystrikingisthefactthatI，thoughnowonlysixty—sevenyearsold，heardtheProfessor，inafieldlectureatSalisburyCraigs，discoursingonatrapdyke，withamygdaloidalmarginsandthestratainduratedoneachside，withvolcanicrocksallaroundus，saythatitwasafissurefilledwithsedimentfromabove，addingwithasneerthatthereweremenwhomaintainedthatithadbeeninjectedfrombeneathinamoltencondition。WhenIthinkofthislecture，IdonotwonderthatIdeterminednevertoattendtoGeology。
>Fromattending——’slectures，Ibecameacquaintedwiththecuratorofthemuseum，Mr。Macgillivray，whoafterwardspublishedalargeandexcellentbookonthebirdsofScotland。Ihadmuchinterestingnatural—historytalkwithhim，andhewasverykindtome。Hegavemesomerareshells，forI
atthattimecollectedmarinemollusca，butwithnogreatzeal。
Mysummervacationsduringthesetwoyearswerewhollygivenuptoamusements，thoughIalwayshadsomebookinhand，whichIreadwithinterest。Duringthesummerof1826ItookalongwalkingtourwithtwofriendswithknapsacksonourbacksthroughNorthwales。Wewalkedthirtymilesmostdays，includingonedaytheascentofSnowdon。IalsowentwithmysisteraridingtourinNorthWales，aservantwithsaddle—bagscarryingourclothes。TheautumnsweredevotedtoshootingchieflyatMr。Owen’s，atWoodhouse，andatmyUncleJos’s（JosiahWedgwood，thesonofthefounderoftheEtruriaWorks。）atMaer。MyzealwassogreatthatIusedtoplacemyshooting—bootsopenbymybed—sidewhenIwenttobed，soasnottolosehalfaminuteinputtingthemoninthemorning;andononeoccasionIreachedadistantpartoftheMaerestate，onthe20thofAugustforblack—gameshooting，beforeIcouldsee:Ithentoiledonwiththegame—keeperthewholedaythroughthickheathandyoungScotchfirs。
IkeptanexactrecordofeverybirdwhichIshotthroughoutthewholeseason。OnedaywhenshootingatWoodhousewithCaptainOwen，theeldestson，andMajorHill，hiscousin，afterwardsLordBerwick，bothofwhomI
likedverymuch，Ithoughtmyselfshamefullyused，foreverytimeafterI
hadfiredandthoughtthatIhadkilledabird，oneofthetwoactedasifloadinghisgun，andcriedout，"Youmustnotcountthatbird，forIfiredatthesametime，"andthegamekeeper，perceivingthejoke，backedthemup。
Aftersomehourstheytoldmethejoke，butitwasnojoketome，forIhadshotalargenumberofbirds，butdidnotknowhowmany，andcouldnotaddthemtomylist，whichIusedtodobymakingaknotinapieceofstringtiedtoabutton—hole。Thismywickedfriendshadperceived。
HowIdidenjoyshooting！ButIthinkthatImusthavebeenhalf—
consciouslyashamedofmyzeal，forItriedtopersuademyselfthatshootingwasalmostanintellectualemployment;itrequiredsomuchskilltojudgewheretofindmostgameandtohuntthedogswell。
OneofmyautumnalvisitstoMaerin1827wasmemorablefrommeetingthereSirJ。Mackintosh，whowasthebestconverserIeverlistenedto。Iheardafterwardswithaglowofpridethathehadsaid，"Thereissomethinginthatyoungmanthatinterestsme。"ThismusthavebeenchieflyduetohisperceivingthatIlistenedwithmuchinteresttoeverythingwhichhesaid，forIwasasignorantasapigabouthissubjectsofhistory，politics，andmoralphilosophy。Tohearofpraisefromaneminentperson，thoughnodoubtaptorcertaintoexcitevanity，is，Ithink，goodforayoungman，asithelpstokeephimintherightcourse。
MyvisitstoMaerduringthesetwoorthreesucceedingyearswerequitedelightful，independentlyoftheautumnalshooting。Lifetherewasperfectlyfree;thecountrywasverypleasantforwalkingorriding;andintheeveningtherewasmuchveryagreeableconversation，notsopersonalasitgenerallyisinlargefamilyparties，togetherwithmusic。Inthesummerthewholefamilyusedoftentositonthestepsoftheoldportico，withtheflower—gardeninfront，andwiththesteepwoodedbankoppositethehousereflectedinthelake，withhereandthereafishrisingorawater—birdpaddlingabout。NothinghasleftamorevividpictureonmymindthantheseeveningsatMaer。IwasalsoattachedtoandgreatlyreveredmyUncleJos;hewassilentandreserved，soastobearatherawfulman;buthesometimestalkedopenlywithme。Hewastheverytypeofanuprightman，withtheclearestjudgment。Idonotbelievethatanypoweronearthcouldhavemadehimswerveaninchfromwhatheconsideredtherightcourse。Iusedtoapplytohiminmymindthewell—knownodeofHorace，nowforgottenbyme，inwhichthewords"necvultustyranni，etc。，"
comein。
（JustumettenacempropositivirumNonciviumardorpravajubentiumNonvultusinstantistyranniMentequatitsolida。）
CAMBRIDGE1828—1831。
AfterhavingspenttwosessionsinEdinburgh，myfatherperceived，orheheardfrommysisters，thatIdidnotlikethethoughtofbeingaphysician，soheproposedthatIshouldbecomeaclergyman。Hewasveryproperlyvehementagainstmyturningintoanidlesportingman，whichthenseemedmyprobabledestination。Iaskedforsometimetoconsider，asfromwhatlittleIhadheardorthoughtonthesubjectIhadscruplesaboutdeclaringmybeliefinallthedogmasoftheChurchofEngland;thoughotherwiseIlikedthethoughtofbeingacountryclergyman。AccordinglyI
readwithcare’PearsonontheCreed，’andafewotherbooksondivinity;
andasIdidnotthenintheleastdoubtthestrictandliteraltruthofeverywordintheBible，IsoonpersuadedmyselfthatourCreedmustbefullyaccepted。
ConsideringhowfiercelyIhavebeenattackedbytheorthodox，itseemsludicrousthatIonceintendedtobeaclergyman。Norwasthisintentionandmyfather’swisheverformerlygivenup，butdiedanaturaldeathwhen，onleavingCambridge，Ijoinedthe"Beagle"asnaturalist。Ifthephrenologistsaretobetrusted，Iwaswellfittedinonerespecttobeaclergyman。AfewyearsagothesecretariesofaGermanpsychologicalsocietyaskedmeearnestlybyletterforaphotographofmyself;andsometimeafterwardsIreceivedtheproceedingsofoneofthemeetings，inwhichitseemedthattheshapeofmyheadhadbeenthesubjectofapublicdiscussion，andoneofthespeakersdeclaredthatIhadthebumpofreverencedevelopedenoughfortenpriests。
AsitwasdecidedthatIshouldbeaclergyman，itwasnecessarythatI
shouldgotooneoftheEnglishuniversitiesandtakeadegree;butasI
hadneveropenedaclassicalbooksinceleavingschool，Ifoundtomydismay，thatinthetwointerveningyearsIhadactuallyforgotten，incredibleasitmayappear，almosteverythingwhichIhadlearnt，eventosomefewoftheGreekletters。IdidnotthereforeproceedtoCambridgeattheusualtimeinOctober，butworkedwithaprivatetutorinShrewsbury，andwenttoCambridgeaftertheChristmasvacation，earlyin1828。Isoonrecoveredmyschoolstandardofknowledge，andcouldtranslateeasyGreekbooks，suchasHomerandtheGreekTestament，withmoderatefacility。
DuringthethreeyearswhichIspentatCambridgemytimewaswasted，asfarastheacademicalstudieswereconcerned，ascompletelyasatEdinburghandatschool。Iattemptedmathematics，andevenwentduringthesummerof1828withaprivatetutor（averydullman）toBarmouth，butIgotonveryslowly。Theworkwasrepugnanttome，chieflyfrommynotbeingabletoseeanymeaningintheearlystepsinalgebra。Thisimpatiencewasveryfoolish，andinafteryearsIhavedeeplyregrettedthatIdidnotproceedfarenoughatleasttounderstandsomethingofthegreatleadingprinciplesofmathematics，formenthusendowedseemtohaveanextrasense。ButIdonotbelievethatIshouldeverhavesucceededbeyondaverylowgrade。
WithrespecttoClassicsIdidnothingexceptattendafewcompulsorycollegelectures，andtheattendancewasalmostnominal。InmysecondyearIhadtoworkforamonthortwotopasstheLittle—Go，whichIdideasily。
Again，inmylastyearIworkedwithsomeearnestnessformyfinaldegreeofB。A。，andbrushedupmyClassics，togetherwithalittleAlgebraandEuclid，whichlattergavememuchpleasure，asitdidatschool。InordertopasstheB。A。examination，itwasalsonecessarytogetupPaley’s’EvidencesofChristianity，’andhis’MoralPhilosophy。’Thiswasdoneinathoroughmanner，andIamconvincedthatIcouldhavewrittenoutthewholeofthe’Evidences’withperfectcorrectness，butnotofcourseintheclearlanguageofPaley。Thelogicofthisbookand，asImayadd，ofhis’NaturalTheology，’gavemeasmuchdelightasdidEuclid。Thecarefulstudyoftheseworks，withoutattemptingtolearnanypartbyrote，wastheonlypartoftheacademicalcoursewhich，asIthenfeltandasIstillbelieve，wasoftheleastusetomeintheeducationofmymind。IdidnotatthattimetroublemyselfaboutPaley’spremises;andtakingtheseontrust，Iwascharmedandconvincedbythelonglineofargumentation。ByansweringwelltheexaminationquestionsinPaley，bydoingEuclidwell，andbynotfailingmiserablyinClassics，Igainedagoodplaceamongtheoipolloiorcrowdofmenwhodonotgoinforhonours。Oddlyenough，I
cannotrememberhowhighIstood，andmymemoryfluctuatesbetweenthefifth，tenth，ortwelfth，nameonthelist。（TenthinthelistofJanuary1831。）
PubliclecturesonseveralbranchesweregivenintheUniversity，attendancebeingquitevoluntary;butIwassosickenedwithlecturesatEdinburghthatIdidnotevenattendSedgwick’seloquentandinterestinglectures。HadIdonesoIshouldprobablyhavebecomeageologistearlierthanIdid。Iattended，however，Henslow’slecturesonBotany，andlikedthemmuchfortheirextremeclearness，andtheadmirableillustrations;butIdidnotstudybotany。Henslowusedtotakehispupils，includingseveraloftheoldermembersoftheUniversity，fieldexcursions，onfootorincoaches，todistantplaces，orinabargedowntheriver，andlecturedontherarerplantsandanimalswhichwereobserved。Theseexcursionsweredelightful。
Although，asweshallpresentlysee，thereweresomeredeemingfeaturesinmylifeatCambridge，mytimewassadlywastedthere，andworsethanwasted。Frommypassionforshootingandforhunting，and，whenthisfailed，forridingacrosscountry，Igotintoasportingset，includingsomedissipatedlow—mindedyoungmen。Weusedoftentodinetogetherintheevening，thoughthesedinnersoftenincludedmenofahigherstamp，andwesometimesdranktoomuch，withjollysingingandplayingatcardsafterwards。IknowthatIoughttofeelashamedofdaysandeveningsthusspent，butassomeofmyfriendswereverypleasant，andwewereallinthehighestspirits，Icannothelplookingbacktothesetimeswithmuchpleasure。
ButIamgladtothinkthatIhadmanyotherfriendsofawidelydifferentnature。IwasveryintimatewithWhitley（Rev。C。Whitley，Hon。CanonofDurham，formerlyReaderinNaturalPhilosophyinDurhamUniversity。），whowasafterwardsSeniorWrangler，andweusedcontinuallytotakelongwalkstogether。Heinoculatedmewithatasteforpicturesandgoodengravings，ofwhichIboughtsome。IfrequentlywenttotheFitzwilliamGallery，andmytastemusthavebeenfairlygood，forIcertainlyadmiredthebestpictures，whichIdiscussedwiththeoldcurator。IreadalsowithmuchinterestSirJoshuaReynolds’book。Thistaste，thoughnotnaturaltome，lastedforseveralyears，andmanyofthepicturesintheNationalGalleryinLondongavememuchpleasure;thatofSebastiandelPiomboexcitinginmeasenseofsublimity。
Ialsogotintoamusicalset，Ibelievebymeansofmywarm—heartedfriend，Herbert（ThelateJohnMauriceHerbert，CountyCourtJudgeofCardiffandtheMonmouthCircuit。），whotookahighwrangler’sdegree。
>Fromassociatingwiththesemen，andhearingthemplay，Iacquiredastrongtasteformusic，andusedveryoftentotimemywalkssoastohearonweekdaystheantheminKing’sCollegeChapel。Thisgavemeintensepleasure，sothatmybackbonewouldsometimesshiver。Iamsurethattherewasnoaffectationormereimitationinthistaste，forIusedgenerallytogobymyselftoKing’sCollege，andIsometimeshiredthechoristerboystosinginmyrooms。NeverthelessIamsoutterlydestituteofanear，thatI
cannotperceiveadiscord，orkeeptimeandhumatunecorrectly;anditisamysteryhowIcouldpossiblyhavederivedpleasurefrommusic。
Mymusicalfriendssoonperceivedmystate，andsometimesamusedthemselvesbymakingmepassanexamination，whichconsistedinascertaininghowmanytunesIcouldrecognisewhentheywereplayedrathermorequicklyorslowlythanusual。’GodsavetheKing，’whenthusplayed，wasasorepuzzle。
TherewasanothermanwithalmostasbadanearasIhad，andstrangetosayheplayedalittleontheflute。OnceIhadthetriumphofbeatinghiminoneofourmusicalexaminations。
ButnopursuitatCambridgewasfollowedwithnearlysomucheagernessorgavemesomuchpleasureascollectingbeetles。Itwasthemerepassionforcollecting，forIdidnotdissectthem，andrarelycomparedtheirexternalcharacterswithpublisheddescriptions，butgotthemnamedanyhow。
Iwillgiveaproofofmyzeal:oneday，ontearingoffsomeoldbark，I
sawtworarebeetles，andseizedoneineachhand;thenIsawathirdandnewkind，whichIcouldnotbeartolose，sothatIpoppedtheonewhichI
heldinmyrighthandintomymouth。Alas！itejectedsomeintenselyacridfluid，whichburntmytonguesothatIwasforcedtospitthebeetleout，whichwaslost，aswasthethirdone。
Iwasverysuccessfulincollecting，andinventedtwonewmethods;I
employedalabourertoscrapeduringthewinter，mossoffoldtreesandplaceitinalargebag，andlikewisetocollecttherubbishatthebottomofthebargesinwhichreedsarebroughtfromthefens，andthusIgotsomeveryrarespecies。NopoeteverfeltmoredelightedatseeinghisfirstpoempublishedthanIdidatseeing，inStephens’’IllustrationsofBritishInsects，’themagicwords，"capturedbyC。Darwin，Esq。"IwasintroducedtoentomologybymysecondcousinW。DarwinFox，acleverandmostpleasantman，whowasthenatChrist’sCollege，andwithwhomIbecameextremelyintimate。AfterwardsIbecamewellacquainted，andwentoutcollecting，withAlbertWayofTrinity，whoinafteryearsbecameawell—knownarchaeologist;alsowithH。ThompsonofthesameCollege，afterwardsaleadingagriculturist，chairmanofagreatrailway，andMemberofParliament。Itseemsthereforethatatasteforcollectingbeetlesissomeindicationoffuturesuccessinlife！
IamsurprisedwhatanindelibleimpressionmanyofthebeetleswhichI
caughtatCambridgehaveleftonmymind。Icanremembertheexactappearanceofcertainposts，oldtreesandbankswhereImadeagoodcapture。TheprettyPanagaeuscrux—majorwasatreasureinthosedays，andhereatDownIsawabeetlerunningacrossawalk，andonpickingitupinstantlyperceivedthatitdifferedslightlyfromP。crux—major，anditturnedouttobeP。quadripunctatus，whichisonlyavarietyorcloselyalliedspecies，differingfromitveryslightlyinoutline。IhadneverseeninthoseolddaysLicinusalive，whichtoanuneducatedeyehardlydiffersfrommanyoftheblackCarabidousbeetles;butmysonsfoundhereaspecimen，andIinstantlyrecognisedthatitwasnewtome;yetIhadnotlookedataBritishbeetleforthelasttwentyyears。
Ihavenotasyetmentionedacircumstancewhichinfluencedmywholecareermorethananyother。ThiswasmyfriendshipwithProfessorHenslow。
BeforecominguptoCambridge，Ihadheardofhimfrommybrotherasamanwhokneweverybranchofscience，andIwasaccordinglypreparedtoreverencehim。Hekeptopenhouseonceeveryweekwhenallundergraduates，andsomeoldermembersoftheUniversity，whowereattachedtoscience，usedtomeetintheevening。Isoongot，throughFox，aninvitation，andwentthereregularly。BeforelongIbecamewellacquaintedwithHenslow，andduringthelatterhalfofmytimeatCambridgetooklongwalkswithhimonmostdays;sothatIwascalledbysomeofthedons"themanwhowalkswithHenslow;"andintheeveningIwasveryoftenaskedtojoinhisfamilydinner。Hisknowledgewasgreatinbotany，entomology，chemistry，mineralogy，andgeology。Hisstrongesttastewastodrawconclusionsfromlong—continuedminuteobservations。Hisjudgmentwasexcellent，andhiswholemindwellbalanced;butIdonotsupposethatanyonewouldsaythathepossessedmuchoriginalgenius。Hewasdeeplyreligious，andsoorthodoxthathetoldmeonedayheshouldbegrievedifasinglewordoftheThirty—nineArticleswerealtered。Hismoralqualitieswereineverywayadmirable。Hewasfreefromeverytingeofvanityorotherpettyfeeling;andIneversawamanwhothoughtsolittleabouthimselforhisownconcerns。Histemperwasimperturbablygood，withthemostwinningandcourteousmanners;yet，asIhaveseen，hecouldberousedbyanybadactiontothewarmestindignationandpromptaction。
IoncesawinhiscompanyinthestreetsofCambridgealmostashorridasceneascouldhavebeenwitnessedduringtheFrenchRevolution。Twobody—
snatchershadbeenarrested，andwhilstbeingtakentoprisonhadbeentornfromtheconstablebyacrowdoftheroughestmen，whodraggedthembytheirlegsalongthemuddyandstonyroad。Theywerecoveredfromheadtofootwithmud，andtheirfaceswerebleedingeitherfromhavingbeenkickedorfromthestones;theylookedlikecorpses，butthecrowdwassodensethatIgotonlyafewmomentaryglimpsesofthewretchedcreatures。NeverinmylifehaveIseensuchwrathpaintedonaman’sfaceaswasshownbyHenslowatthishorridscene。Hetriedrepeatedlytopenetratethemob;
butitwassimplyimpossible。Hethenrushedawaytothemayor，tellingmenottofollowhim，buttogetmorepolicemen。Iforgettheissue，exceptthatthetwomenweregotintotheprisonwithoutbeingkilled。
Henslow’sbenevolencewasunbounded，asheprovedbyhismanyexcellentschemesforhispoorparishioners，wheninafteryearsheheldthelivingofHitcham。Myintimacywithsuchamanoughttohavebeen，andIhopewas，aninestimablebenefit。Icannotresistmentioningatriflingincident，whichshowedhiskindconsideration。Whilstexaminingsomepollen—grainsonadampsurface，Isawthetubesexserted，andinstantlyrushedofftocommunicatemysurprisingdiscoverytohim。NowIdonotsupposeanyotherprofessorofbotanycouldhavehelpedlaughingatmycominginsuchahurrytomakesuchacommunication。Butheagreedhowinterestingthephenomenonwas，andexplaineditsmeaning，butmademeclearlyunderstandhowwellitwasknown;soIlefthimnotintheleastmortified，butwellpleasedathavingdiscoveredformyselfsoremarkableafact，butdeterminednottobeinsuchahurryagaintocommunicatemydiscoveries。
Dr。WhewellwasoneoftheolderanddistinguishedmenwhosometimesvisitedHenslow，andonseveraloccasionsIwalkedhomewithhimatnight。
NexttoSirJ。MackintoshhewasthebestconverserongravesubjectstowhomIeverlistened。LeonardJenyns（Thewell—knownSoameJenynswascousintoMr。Jenyns’father。），whoafterwardspublishedsomegoodessaysinNaturalHistory（Mr。Jenyns（nowBlomefield）describedthefishfortheZoologyofthe"Beagle";andisauthorofalongseriesofpapers，chieflyZoological。），oftenstayedwithHenslow，whowashisbrother—in—law。I
visitedhimathisparsonageonthebordersoftheFens[SwaffhamBulbeck]，andhadmanyagoodwalkandtalkwithhimaboutNaturalHistory。Ibecamealsoacquaintedwithseveralothermenolderthanme，whodidnotcaremuchaboutscience，butwerefriendsofHenslow。OnewasaScotchman，brotherofSirAlexanderRamsay，andtutorofJesusCollege:hewasadelightfulman，butdidnotliveformanyyears。AnotherwasMr。Dawes，afterwardsDeanofHereford，andfamousforhissuccessintheeducationofthepoor。
Thesemenandothersofthesamestanding，togetherwithHenslow，usedsometimestotakedistantexcursionsintothecountry，whichIwasallowedtojoin，andtheyweremostagreeable。
Lookingback，Iinferthattheremusthavebeensomethinginmealittlesuperiortothecommonrunofyouths，otherwisetheabove—mentionedmen，somucholderthanmeandhigherinacademicalposition，wouldneverhaveallowedmetoassociatewiththem。CertainlyIwasnotawareofanysuchsuperiority，andIrememberoneofmysportingfriends，Turner，whosawmeatworkwithmybeetles，sayingthatIshouldsomedaybeaFellowoftheRoyalSociety，andthenotionseemedtomepreposterous。
DuringmylastyearatCambridge，IreadwithcareandprofoundinterestHumboldt’s’PersonalNarrative。’Thiswork，andSirJ。Herschel’s’IntroductiontotheStudyofNaturalPhilosophy，’stirredupinmeaburningzealtoaddeventhemosthumblecontributiontothenoblestructureofNaturalScience。Nooneoradozenotherbooksinfluencedmenearlysomuchasthesetwo。IcopiedoutfromHumboldtlongpassagesaboutTeneriffe，andreadthemaloudononeoftheabove—mentionedexcursions，to（Ithink）Henslow，Ramsay，andDawes，foronapreviousoccasionIhadtalkedaboutthegloriesofTeneriffe，andsomeofthepartydeclaredtheywouldendeavourtogothere;butIthinkthattheywereonlyhalfinearnest。Iwas，however，quiteinearnest，andgotanintroductiontoamerchantinLondontoenquireaboutships;buttheschemewas，ofcourse，knockedontheheadbythevoyageofthe"Beagle"。
Mysummervacationsweregivenuptocollectingbeetles，tosomereading，andshorttours。Intheautumnmywholetimewasdevotedtoshooting，chieflyatWoodhouseandMaer，andsometimeswithyoungEytonofEyton。
UponthewholethethreeyearswhichIspentatCambridgewerethemostjoyfulinmyhappylife;forIwastheninexcellenthealth，andalmostalwaysinhighspirits。
AsIhadatfirstcomeuptoCambridgeatChristmas，Iwasforcedtokeeptwotermsafterpassingmyfinalexamination，atthecommencementof1831;
andHenslowthenpersuadedmetobeginthestudyofgeology。ThereforeonmyreturntoShropshireIexaminedsections，andcolouredamapofpartsroundShrewsbury。ProfessorSedgwickintendedtovisitNorthWalesinthebeginningofAugusttopursuehisfamousgeologicalinvestigationsamongsttheolderrocks，andHenslowaskedhimtoallowmetoaccompanyhim。（InconnectionwiththistourmyfatherusedtotellastoryaboutSedgwick:
theyhadstartedfromtheirinnonemorning，andhadwalkedamileortwo，whenSedgwicksuddenlystopped，andvowedthathewouldreturn，beingcertain"thatdamnedscoundrel"（thewaiter）hadnotgiventhechambermaidthesixpenceintrustedtohimforthepurpose。Hewasultimatelypersuadedtogiveuptheproject，seeingthattherewasnoreasonforsuspectingthewaiterofespecialperfidy。——F。D。）Accordinglyhecameandsleptatmyfather’shouse。
Ashortconversationwithhimduringthiseveningproducedastrongimpressiononmymind。Whilstexamininganoldgravel—pitnearShrewsbury，alabourertoldmethathehadfoundinitalargeworntropicalVoluteshell，suchasmaybeseenonthechimney—piecesofcottages;andashewouldnotselltheshell，Iwasconvincedthathehadreallyfounditinthepit。ItoldSedgwickofthefact，andheatoncesaid（nodoubttruly）
thatitmusthavebeenthrownawaybysomeoneintothepit;butthenadded，ifreallyembeddedthereitwouldbethegreatestmisfortunetogeology，asitwouldoverthrowallthatweknowaboutthesuperficialdepositsoftheMidlandCounties。Thesegravel—bedsbelonginfacttotheglacialperiod，andinafteryearsIfoundinthembrokenarcticshells。
ButIwasthenutterlyastonishedatSedgwicknotbeingdelightedatsowonderfulafactasatropicalshellbeingfoundnearthesurfaceinthemiddleofEngland。Nothingbeforehadevermademethoroughlyrealise，thoughIhadreadvariousscientificbooks，thatscienceconsistsingroupingfactssothatgenerallawsorconclusionsmaybedrawnfromthem。
NextmorningwestartedforLlangollen，Conway，Bangor，andCapelCurig。
Thistourwasofdecideduseinteachingmealittlehowtomakeoutthegeologyofacountry。Sedgwickoftensentmeonalineparalleltohis，tellingmetobringbackspecimensoftherocksandtomarkthestratificationonamap。Ihavelittledoubtthathedidthisformygood，asIwastooignoranttohaveaidedhim。OnthistourIhadastrikinginstanceofhoweasyitistooverlookphenomena，howeverconspicuous，beforetheyhavebeenobservedbyanyone。WespentmanyhoursinCwmIdwal，examiningalltherockswithextremecare，asSedgwickwasanxioustofindfossilsinthem;butneitherofussawatraceofthewonderfulglacialphenomenaallaroundus;wedidnotnoticetheplainlyscoredrocks，theperchedboulders，thelateralandterminalmoraines。Yetthesephenomenaaresoconspicuousthat，asIdeclaredinapaperpublishedmanyyearsafterwardsinthe’PhilosophicalMagazine’（’PhilosophicalMagazine，’
1842。），ahouseburntdownbyfiredidnottellitsstorymoreplainlythandidthisvalley。Ifithadstillbeenfilledbyaglacier，thephenomenawouldhavebeenlessdistinctthantheynoware。
AtCapelCurigIleftSedgwickandwentinastraightlinebycompassandmapacrossthemountainstoBarmouth，neverfollowinganytrackunlessitcoincidedwithmycourse。Ithuscameonsomestrangewildplaces，andenjoyedmuchthismanneroftravelling。IvisitedBarmouthtoseesomeCambridgefriendswhowerereadingthere，andthencereturnedtoShrewsburyandtoMaerforshooting;foratthattimeIshouldhavethoughtmyselfmadtogiveupthefirstdaysofpartridge—shootingforgeologyoranyotherscience。