124 APPOINTMENT TO THE BEAGLE. [ch. v. 



away all energy, and I should want a good stock of that, 

 Again I must thank you, it adds a little to the heavy but 

 pleasant load of gratitude which I owe to you." 



The following letter was written by Darwin from Maer, 

 the house of his uncle Josiah Wedgwood the younger. It is 

 plain that at first he intended to await a written reply from 

 Dr. Darwin, and that the expedition to Shrewsbury, men- 

 tioned in the Autobiography, was an afterthought. 



[Maer] August SI [1831]. 



My dear Father I am afraid I am going to make 

 you again very uncomfortable. But, upon consideration, I 

 think you will excuse me once again stating my opinions on 

 the offer of the voyage. My excuse and reason is the dif- 

 ferent way all the Wedgwoods view the subject from what 

 you and my sisters do. 



I have given Uncle Jos* what I fervently trust is an accu- 

 rate and full list of your objections, and he is kind enough 

 to give his opinions on all. The list and his answers will be 

 enclosed. But may I beg of you one favour, it will be doing 

 me the greatest kindness, if you will send me a decided 

 answer, yes or no ? If the latter, I should be most ungrate- 

 ful if I did not implicitly yield to your better judgment, 

 and to the kindest indulgence you have shown me all through 

 my life ; and you may rely upon it I will never mention the 

 subject again. If your answer should be yes ; I will go 

 directly to Henslow and consult deliberately with him, and 

 then come to Shrewsbury. 



The danger appears to me and all the Wedgwoods not 

 great. The expense can not be serious, and the time I do 

 not think, anyhow, would be more thrown away than if I 

 stayed at home. But pray do not consider that I am so 

 bent on going that I would for one single moment hesitate, 

 if you thought that after a short period you should continue 

 uncomfortable. 



I must again state I cannot think it would unfit me here- 

 after for a steady life. I do hope this letter will not give 

 you much uneasiness. I send it by the car to-morrow morn- 

 ing ; if you make up your mind directly will you send me 

 an answer on the following day by the same means ? If 

 this letter should not find you at home, I hope you will 

 answer as soon as you conveniently can. 



Josiah Wedgwood. 



