ch. v.] 1828-1831. 121 



Severn formations a visit. I hope and trust you did your 

 best to urge him." 



My father has given in his Recollections some account of 

 this Tour ; there too we read of the projected excursion to 

 the Canaries. 



In April 1831, he writes to Fox: "At present I talk, 

 think, and dream of a scheme I have almost hatched of go- 

 ing to the Canary Islands. I have long had a wish of see- 

 ing tropical scenery and vegetation, and, according to Hum- 

 boldt, Teneriffe is a very pretty specimen." And again in 

 May : " As for my Canary scheme, it is rash of you to ask 

 questions ; my other friends most sincerely wish me there, I 

 plague them so with talking about tropical scenery, &c. 

 Eyton will go next summer, and I am learning Spanish." 



Later on in the summer the scheme took more definite 

 form, and the date seems to have been fixed for June 1832. 

 He got information in London about passage-money, and in 

 July was working at Spanish and calling Fox " un grandisi- 

 mo lebron," in proof of his knowledge of the language. But 

 even then he seems to have had some doubts about his com- 

 panions' zeal, for he writes to Henslow (July 27, 1831) : "I 

 hope you continue to fan your Canary ardour. I read and 

 re-read Humboldt ; * do you do the same. I am sure noth- 

 ing will prevent us seeing the Great Dragon Tree." 



Geological work and TenerirTe dreams carried him 

 through the summer, till on returning from Barmouth for 

 the sacred 1st of September, he received the offer of ap- 

 pointment as Naturalist to the Beagle. 



The following extract from the pocket-book will be a 

 help in reading the letters : 



" Returned to Shrewsbury at end of August. Refused 

 offer of voyage. 



" September. Went to Maer, returned with L T ncle Jos. 

 to Shrewsbury, thence to Cambridge. London. 



"11th. Went with Captain Fitz-Roy in steamer to Ply- 

 mouth to see the Beagle. 



" 22nd. Returned to Shrewsbury, passing through Cam- 

 bridge. 



" October 2nd. Took leave of my home. Stayed in 

 London. 



* The copy of Humboldt given by Henslow to my father, -which is in my 

 possession, is a double memento of the two men the author and the donor, 

 wLv ? o-reatly influenced his life. 



