i83i.] VISIT TO PLYMOUTH. 1 85 



about them immediately ; tell Edward to make inquiries 

 about prices. I go on Sunday per packet to Plymouth, shall 

 stay one or two days, then return, and hope to find a letter 

 from you ; a few days in London ; then Cambridge, Shrews- 

 bury, London, Plymouth, Madeira, is my route. It is a great 

 bore my writing so much about the Coronation ; I could fill 

 another sheet. I have just been with Captain King, Fitz- 

 Roy's senior officer last expedition ; he thinks that the ex- 

 pedition will suit me. Unasked, he said Fitz-Roy's temper 

 was perfect. He sends his own son with him as midship- 

 man. The key of my microscope was forgotten ; it is of no 



consequence. Love to all. 



Chas. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to W. D. Fox. 



17 Spring Gardens (and here I shall remain till I start) 



[September 19, 1831]. 



My dear Fox, 



I returned from my expedition to see the Beagle at Plym- 

 outh on Saturday, and found your most welcome letter on 

 my table. It is quite ridiculous what a very long period 

 these last twenty days have appeared to me, certainly much 

 more than as many weeks on ordinary occasions ; this will 

 account for my not recollecting* how much I told you of my 



plans. 



***** 



But on the whole it is a grand and fortunate opportunity; 

 there will be so many things to interest me — fine scenery and 

 an endless occupation and amusement in the different branches 

 of Natural History ; then again navigation and meteorology 

 will amuse me on the voyage, joined to the grand requisite of 

 there being a pleasant set of officers, and, as far as I can 

 judge, this is certain. On the other hand there is very con- 

 siderable risk to one's life and health, and the leaving for so 

 very long a time so many people whom I dearly love, is often- 

 times a feeling so painful that it requires all my resolution to 

 overcome it. But everything is now settled, and before the 



