242 [CHAP. XVU 



CHAPTER XVII 



18311832 



Charles Darwin's voyage round the world Hensleigh Wedgwood 

 appointed a Police Magistrate in London His marriage to 

 Fanny Mackintosh Fanny Allen and the Irvingites The 

 cholera Sir James Mackintosh's death Charlotte Wedgwood 

 marries Charles Langton Frank Wedgwood marries Fanny 

 Mosley Charlotte at Ripley Fanny Wedgwood's death. 



IN December, 1831, Charles Darwin sailed for his five years' 

 voyage round the world. Captain Fitzroy had offered to 

 give up part of his own cabin to any young man who would 

 go as naturalist on the Beagle. My father in his Autobiog- 

 raphy wrote: "I was instantly eager to accept the offer, 

 but my father strongly objected, adding the words, fortunate 

 for me, ' if you can find any man of common sense who 

 advises you to go I will give my consent.' So I wrote that 

 evening and refused the offer. On the next morning I 

 went to Maer . . . and whilst out shooting, my uncle sent 

 for me, offering to drive me over to Shrewsbury and talk 

 with my father, as my uncle thought it would be wise in me 

 to accept the offer. My father always maintained that 

 [my uncle] was one of the most sensible men in the world, 

 and he at once consented in the kindest manner. I had 

 been rather extravagant at Cambridge, and to console my 

 father said ' that I should be deuced clever to spend more 

 than my allowance on board the Beagle ' ; but he answered 

 with a smile, ' But they tell me you are very clever.' 

 Fanny Wedgwood wrote: " Charles Darwin sails to-morrow, 

 he writes in great spirits, more charmed than ever with the 

 Captain, and he seems fully to expect that they will go 

 round the world, as he says the instructions of the Admiralty 

 were all as Capt. Fitzroy pleased." 



Hensleigh, to the great delight of everyone and after 



1 Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, p. 59. 



