98 THE COMING [CH. 



back to the University for an extra term, and by the 

 advice of Henslow began to 'think about' the 

 despised Science of Geology. He was introduced to 

 that inspiring teacher, Sedgwick, with whom he 

 made a geological excursion into Wales ; but though 

 he said he ' worked like a tiger ' at geology, yet he, 

 when he got the chance of shooting on his uncle's 

 estate, had to make the confession, 'I should have 

 thought myself mad to give up the first days of 

 partridge-shooting for geology or any other science 98 .' 

 There is a sentence in one of the letters written 

 at this time which suggests that, even at this early 

 period in his geological career, Darwin had begun to 

 experience some misgivings concerning the cata- 

 strophic doctrines of his teachers and contemporaries. 

 He says : 



'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 day, the world would come to an end ".' 



Was he not poking fun at other hypotheses 

 besides his own? 



Darwin's real scientific education began when, 

 after some hesitation on his father's part, he was 

 allowed to accept the invitation, made to him through 

 his friend Henslow, to accompany, at his own expense, 

 the surveying ship Beagle in a cruise to South 

 America and afterwards round the world. In the 



