ch. v.] 1828-1831. 119 



excuse me for not having answered your three letters, for 

 which I am really very much obliged. . . . 



" I have not stuck an insect this term, and scarcely 

 opened a case. If I had time I would have sent you the in- 

 sects which I have so long promised ; but really I had not 

 spirits or time to do anything. Reading makes me quite 

 desperate ; the plague of getting up all my subjects is next 

 thing to intolerable. Henslow is my tutor, and a most ad- 

 mirable one he makes ; the hour with him is the pleasantest 

 in the whole day. I think he is quite the most perfect man 

 I ever met with. I have been to some very pleasant parties 

 there this term. His good-nature is unbounded." 



The new year brought relief, and on January 23, 1831, 

 he wrote to tell Fox that he was through his examination. 



" I do not know why the degree should make one so 

 miserable, both before and afterwards. I recollect you were 

 sufficiently wretched before, and I can assure [you], I am 

 now ; and what makes it the more ridiculous is, I know not 

 what about. I believe it is a beautiful provision of nature 

 to make one regret the less leaving so pleasant a place as 

 Cambridge ; and amongst all its pleasures I say it for 

 once and for all none so great, as my friendship w T ith you. 

 I sent you a newspaper yesterday, in which you will see 

 what a good place tenth I have got in the Poll. As for 

 Christ's, did you ever see such a college for producing Cap- 

 tains and Apostles ? * There are no men either at Emman- 

 uel or Christ's plucked. Cameron is gulfed, f togethei with 

 other three Trinity scholars ! My plans are not at all set- 

 tled. I think I shall keep this term, and then go and 

 economise at Shrewsbury, return and take my degree. 



" A man may be excused for writing so much about him- 

 self when he has just passed the examination ; so you must 

 excuse [me]. And on the same principle do you write a 

 letter brimful of yourself and plans." 



THE APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' 



In a letter addressed to Captain Fitz-Roy, before the 

 Beagle sailed, my father wrote, " What a glorious day the 



* The " Captain " is at the head of the " Poll " : the " Apostles " are the last 

 twelve in the Mathematical Tripos. 



t For an explanation of the word " gulfed" or "gulphed," see Mr. W~. W. 

 Rouse Balls' interesting History of the Study of Mathematics at Cambridge 



9 



