agreed with the proposition — it was the chance of a 

 lifetime. He would go back home w^ith Charles and put 

 the Doctor straight. 

 And he did. 



And on the personal endorsement of Josiah "Wedgwood 

 and Professor Henslow, Charles Robert Darwin was 

 duly booked as Volunteer Naturalist in Her Majesty's 

 service. 



JAPTAIN FITZ-ROY of the "Beagle" 

 liked Charles Darw^in until he began look- 

 ing him over w^ith a professional eye. 

 Then he declared his nose w^as too large 

 and not rightly shaped, besides, he was 

 too tall for his w^eight — outside of these 

 points the Volunteer would answer. On talking w^ith 

 young Darwin further, the Captain liked him better, 

 and the imperfections w^ere w^aived, although no 

 promise w^as made that they would be remedied. In 

 fact. Captain Fitz-Roy liked Charles so well that he in- 

 vited him to share his own cabin and mess with him. 

 The sailors seeing this, touched respectful forefingers 

 to their caps and addressed the Volunteer as "Sir." 

 Q[The " Beagle" sailed on December 27th, 1831, and 

 it was four years and ten months before Charles Dar- 

 win again saw England. 



The trip decided the business of Darwin for the rest 

 of his life, and thereby an epoch was worked in the 

 upward and onward march of the race. 



167 



LITTLE 

 JOURNEYS 



