ch. vi.] 1831-1836. 147 



to see you, and as it will be necessary in four or five days 

 to return to London to get my goods and chattels out of the 

 Beagle, it appears to me my best plan to pass through Cam- 

 bridge. I want your advice on many points ; indeed I am 

 in the clouds, and neither know what to do or where to go. 

 My chief puzzle is about the geological specimens who 

 will have the charity to help me in describing the minera- 

 logical nature ? Will you be kind enough to write to me 

 one line by return of post, saying whether you are now at 

 Cambridge ? I am doubtful till I hear from Captain Fitz- 

 Roy whether I shall not be obliged to start before the 

 answer can arrive, but pray try the chance. My dear Hens- 

 low, I do long to see you ; you have been the kindest friend 

 to me that ever man possessed. I can write no more, for I 

 am giddy with joy and confusion. 



Farewell for the present, 



Yours most truly obliged. 



After his return and settlement in London, he began to 

 realise the value of what he had done, and wrote to Captain 

 Fitz-Roy " However others may look back to the Beagle's 

 voyage, now that the small disagreeable parts are well-nigh 

 forgotten, I think it far the most fortunate circumstance in 

 my life that the chance afforded by your offer of taking a 

 Naturalist fell on me. I often have the most vivid and 

 delightful pictures of what I saw on board the Beagle* pass 

 before my eyes. These recollections, and what I learnt on 

 Natural History, I would not exchange for twice ten thou- 

 sand a year." 



* According to the Japan Weekly Jfail, as quoted in Xature, March 8, 

 1888, the Beagle is in use as a training ship at Yokosuka in Japan. Part of 

 the old ship is, I am glad to think, in my possession, in the form of a box 

 (which I owe to the kindness of Admiral Mellersh) made out of her main 

 cross-tree. 



