i833.] HOME LETTERS. 21/ 



me most kindly to Mrs. Henslow and all other friends ; I am 

 a true lover of Alma Mater and all its inhabitants. 

 Believe m.e, my dear Henslow, 



Your affectionate and most obliged friend, 



Charles Darwin. 



C. Darwin to Miss C. Darwin. 



Maldonado, Rio Plata, May 22, 1833. 



. . . The following business piece is to my father. Hav- 

 ing a servant of my own would be a really great addition to 

 my comfort. For these two reasons : as at present the Cap- 

 tain has appointed one of the men always to be with me, but 

 I do not think it just thus to take a seaman out of the ship ; 

 and, secondly, when at sea I am rather badly off for any one 

 to wait on me. The man is willing to be my servant, 

 and all the expenses would be under £^0 per annum. I 

 have taught him to shoot and skin birds, so that in my main 

 object he is very useful. I have now left England nearly a 

 year and a half, and I find my expenses are not above ;£^2oo 

 per annum ; so that, it being hopeless (from time) to write 

 for permission, I have come to the conclusion that you would 

 allow me this expense. But I have not yet resolved to ask 

 the Captain, and the chances are even that he would not be 

 willing to have an additional man in the ship. I have men- 

 tioned this because for a long time I have been thinking 

 about it. 



June. — I have just received a bundle more letters. I do 

 not know how to thank you all sufficiently. One from Cath- 

 erine, Feb. 8th, another from Susan, March 3rd, together with 

 notes from Caroline and from my father; give my best love 

 to my father. I almost cried for pleasure at receiving it ; it 

 was very kind thinking of writing to me. My letters are both 

 few, short, and stupid in return for all yours ; but I always 

 ease my conscience by considering the Journal as a long let- 

 ter. If I can manage it, I will, before doubling the Horn, 

 send the rest. T am quite delighted to find the hide of the 



