ch. v.] 1831. 127 



cock describes. Captain Fitz-Eoy advises me not [to] make 

 up my mind quite yet, but that, seriously, he thinks it will 

 have much more pleasure than pain for me. . . . 



" The want of room is decidedly the most serious objec- 

 tion ; but Captain Fitz-Eoy (probably owing to Wood's let- 

 ter) seems determined to make me [as] comfortable as he possi- 

 bly can. I like his manner of proceeding. He asked me at 

 once, ' Shall you bear being told that I want the cabin to 

 myself when I want to be alone ? If we treat each other 

 this way, I hope we shall suit ; if not, probably we should wish 

 each other at the devil.' " 



CD. to Miss Susan Darwin. London [September 6, 1831]. 



My dear Susan Again I am going to trouble you. I 

 suspect, if I keep on at this rate, you will sincerely wish me 

 at Tierra del Fuego, or any other Terra, but England. First, 

 I will give my commissions. Tell JNTancy to make me some 

 twelve instead of eight shirts. Tell Edward to send me up 

 in my carpet-bag (he can slip the key in the bag tied to 

 some string), my slippers, a pair of lightish walking-shoes, 

 my Spanish books, my new microscope (about six inches 

 long and three or four deep), which must have cotton stuffed 

 inside ; my geological compass ; my father knows that ; a 

 little book, if I have got it in my bedroom Taxidermy. 

 Ask my father if he thinks there would be any objection to 

 my taking arsenic for a little time, as my hands are not 

 quite well, and I have always observed that if I once get 

 them well and change my manner of living about the same 

 time, they will generally remain well. What is the dose ? 

 Tell Edward my gun is dirty. What is Erasmus's direction ? 

 Tell me if you think there is time to write and to receive an 

 answer before I start, as I should like particularly to know 

 what he thinks about it. I suppose you do not know Sir J. 

 Mackintosh's direction ? 



I write all this as if it was settled, but it is not more than 

 it was, excepting that from Captain Fitz-Koy wishing me so 

 much to go, and, from his kindness, I feel a predistination 

 I shall start. I spent a very pleasant evening with him 

 yesterday. He must be more that twenty-three years old ; 

 he is of a slight figure, and a dark but handsome edition of 

 Mr. Kynaston, and, according to my notions, pre-eminently 

 good manners. He is all for economy, excepting on one point 

 viz., fire-arms. He recommends me strongly to get a case 



