120 APPOINTMENT TO THE BEAGLE. [ch. v. 



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." 



Foremost in the chain of circumstances which led to his 

 appointment to the Beagle, was his friendship with Professor 

 Henslow, of which the autobiography gives a sufficient ac- 

 count, f 



An extract from a pocket-book, in which Darwin briefly 

 recorded the chief events of his life, 'gives the history of his 

 introduction to that science which was so soon to be his 

 chief occupation geology. 



" 1831. Christmas. Passed my examination for B.A. 

 degree and kept the two following terms. During these 

 months lived much with Professor Henslow, often din- 

 ing with him and walking with him ; became slightly ac- 

 quainted with several of the learned men in Cambridge, 

 which much quickened the zeal which dinner parties and 

 hunting had not destroyed. In the spring Henslow per- 

 suaded me to think of Geology, and introduced me to Sedg- 

 wick. During Midsummer geologized a little in Shrop- 

 shire." 



This geological work was doubtless of importance as 

 giving him some practical experience, and perhaps of more 

 importance in helping to give him some confidence in him- 

 self. In July of the same year, 1831, he was " working like 

 a tiger " at G-eology, and trying to make a map of Shrop- 

 shire, but not findino; it " as easy as I expected." 



In writing to Henslow about the same time, he gives 

 some account of his work : 



" I have been working at so many things that I have not 

 got on much with geology. I suspect the first expedition I 

 take, clinometer and hammer in hand, will send me back 

 very little wiser and a good deal more puzzled than when I 

 started. As yet I have only indulged in hypotheses, but they 

 are such powerful ones that I suppose, if they were put into 

 action but for one clay, the world would come to an end." 



He was evidently most keen to get to work with Sedg- 

 wick, who had promised to take him on a geological tour in 

 North Wales, for he wrote to Henslow : " I have not heard 

 from Professor Sedgwick, so I am afraid he will not pay the 



* The Beagle should have started on Nov. 4, but was delayed until Dec. 27. 

 t See. too, a sketch by my father of his old master, in the Eev. L. Blome- 

 field's Memoir of Professor Henslow. 



