Volume I Part 15 (1/2)

I a to Captain Fitz-Roy, and will keep [this] letter open till evening for anything that ood officer--all the officers are the saht ain, so the service cannot be so very bad The Ade stock of canister-meat and le day with Captain Fitz-Roy, driving about in his gig, and shopping This letter is too late for to-day's post You e if any untoward accident should happen; this I can see no reason to expect I feel convinced nothing else will alter s I have procured a case of good strong pistols and an excellent rifle for 50 pounds, there is a saving; a good telescope, with compass, 5 pounds, and these are nearly the only expensive instru I never saw so (what I should call, he says not) extravagant a ards his! His fire-ar when I arrived all right, and ed I do not think I shall take any arsenic; shall send partridges to Mr Yarrell; ed Ask Edward to BARGAIN WITH Cleun--TWO SPARE has, four nipples or plugs--I mean one for each barrel, except nipples, of which there must be two for each, all of excellent quality, and set about theo on Sunday per packet to Plymouth, shall stay one or two days, then return, and hope to find a letter froe, Shrewsbury, London, Ply so much about the Coronation; I could fill another sheet

I have just been with Captain King, Fitz-Roy's senior officer last expedition; he thinks that the expedition will suit me Unasked, he said Fitz-Roy's temper was perfect He sends his own son with hiotten; it is of no consequence Love to all

CHAS DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO WD FOX 17 Spring Gardens (and here I shall remain till I start) [September 19, 1831]

My dear Fox,

I returned frole” at Plymouth on Saturday, and found your most welco period these last twenty days have appeared to me, certainly much more than as many weeks on ordinary occasions; this will account forhow much I told you of rand and fortunate opportunity; there will be so s to interest me--fine scenery and an endless occupation and amuseain navigation and rand requisite of there being a pleasant set of officers, and, as far as I can judge, this is certain On the other hand there is very considerable risk to one's life and health, and the leaving for so very long a ti so painful that it requires allis now settled, and before the 20th of October I trust to be on the broad sea My objection to the vessel is its s my own body and all my cases, etc, etc As to its safety, I hope the Ades; to a landsun three-, but, I believe, an excellent vessel So ht by themy affairs, proceed to Shrewsbury (most likely on Friday 23rd, or perhaps before); there I shall stay a few days, and be in London by the 1st of October, and start for Plymouth on the 9th

And now for the principal part of my letter I do not kno to tell you how very kind I feel your offer of coland Indeed I should like it very much; but I must tell you decidedly that I shall have very little time to spare, and that little ti so much to think about; and secondly, I can hardly think it worth your while to leave your parish for such a cause But I shall never forget such generous kindness Now I know you will act just as you think right; but do not come up for my sake Any time is the same for me I think from this letter you will know as ly the where and when to write to lorious enthusiasm, when I think of the date and cocoa-trees, the pal new, everything sublirand must such recollections be! Do you know Humboldt? (If you don't, do so directly) With what intense pleasure he appears always to look back on the days spent in the tropical countries I hope when you next write to Osive theards and farewells

Good-bye, my dear Fox, Yours ever sincerely, CHAS DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO R FITZ-ROY 17 Spring Gardens [October 17? 1831]

Dear Fitz-Roy,

Very many thanks for your letter; it has madeto have left anything quite behind, and I never should have thought of sending things by some other vessel

This letter will, I trust, acco to the name But I have now procured soood, and I will send it this evening by theBut I had just found out that the large stea to myself a small, dirty cabin, with the proportion of 39-40ths of the passengers very sick, when Mr Earl cainning of November This, of course, settled the point; so that I reoods by stea

Have you a good set of uns in the scientific world have told y to ascertain which entirely depend on their relative height If you have not a good stock, I will add one ht to be ashamed to trouble you so much, but will you SEND ONE LINE to infor more anxious to be off, and, if I alorious day the 4th of November will be to me! My second life will then commence, and it shall be as a birthday for the rest of my life

Believe me, dear Fitz-Roy, Yours most sincerely, CHAS DARWIN

MONDAY--I hope I have not put you tothe room in readiness

CHARLES DARWIN TO JS HENSLOW Devonport, November 15, 1831

My dear Henslow,

The orders are co is finally settled We positively sail the last day of this month, and I think before that time the vessel will be ready She looks most beautiful, even a landsman must admire her WE all think her theis certain, no vessel has been fitted out so expensively, and with so any, and nothing can exceed the neatness and beauty of all the accoreat deal to the Captain's discretion and judg a substantial as well as a verbal coland with such a set of Chronoood ones In short, everything is well, and I have only now to pray for the sickness to moderate its fierceness, and I shall do very well Yet I should not call it one of the very best opportunities for natural history that has ever occurred The absolute want of roo can sur, that is judging froe some few years, or been those years older, I NEVER could have endured it The officers (excepting the Captain) are like the freshest fresh else widely different Remember me ht of pal coe would not have suited hied for your advice, de Mathele, I shall often wish myself in your room, and as for those wicked sulky surds, I do not knohat I shall do without you to conjure them My time passes away very pleasantly I know one or two pleasant people, fore Harris (William Snow Harris, the Electrician), whoo on board the ”Beagle”, and try to look astaken into ask you to do one more commission, and I trust it will be the last When I was in Cae account tosubtracted about 30 pounds for otten to do, and my father has paid the bill, and I want to have the furniture-money transh to speak to Mr Ash I have cost my father so much money, I aain before sailing, and perhaps you rite to wick and Mr Peacock

Believe me, yours affectionately, CHAS DARWIN