56 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



From my return to England {October 2, 1836) to my marriage 



{January 29, 1839). 



These two years and three months were the most active 

 ones which I ever spent, though I was occasionally unwell, 

 and so lost some time. After going backwards and forwards 

 several times between Shrewsbury, Maer, Cambridge, and 

 London, I settled in lodgings at Cambridge * on December 

 13th, where all my collections were under the care of Hens- 

 low. I stayed here three months, and got my minerals and 

 rocks examined by the aid of Professor Miller. 



I began preparing my * Journal of Travels,' which was not 

 hard work, as my MS. Journal had been written with care, 

 and my chief labour was making an abstract of my more in- 

 teresting scientific results. I sent also, at the request of 

 Lyell, a short account of my observations on the elevation of 

 the coast of Chile to the Geological Society.f 



On March 7th, 1837, I took lodgings in Great Marlborough 

 Street in London, and remained there for nearly two years, 

 until I was married. During these two years I finished my 

 Journal, read several papers before the Geological Society, 

 began preparing the MS. for my ' theological Observations,' 

 and arranged for the publication of the * Zoology of the Voy- 

 age of the Beagle' In July I opened my first note-book for 

 facts in relation to the Origin of Species, about which I had 

 long reflected, and never ceased working for the next twenty 

 years. 



During these two years I also went a little into society, 

 and acted as one of the honorary secretaries of the Geological 

 Society. I saw a great deal of Lyell. One of his chief char- 

 acteristics was his sympathy with the work of others, and I 

 was as much astonished as delighted at the interest which he 

 showed when, on my return to England, I explained to him 

 my views on coral reefs. This encouraged me greatly, and 

 his advice and example had much influence on me. During 



* In Fitzwilliam Street. 



f * Geolog. Soc. Proc' ii. 1838, pp. 446-449. 



