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were concerned, but he worked energetically at entomology. He 

 formed here some of his most important friendships ; amongst 

 the number of these friends was Mr. Henslow, Professor of 

 Botany, for whom he had a high regard. This gentleman in- 

 fluenced his career more perhaps than anyone else. Whilst here 

 he came to know many scientific men through his friend Henslow, 

 and these acqaintances furthered his studies in Natural History 

 a good deal. When he left Cambridge he had almost finally 

 made up his mind not to be a clergyman, though he was 

 quite orthodox, — he did not feel justified in saying that he felt 

 himself called for the work. He was 23 at this time and he was 

 offered the post of Naturalist on board H. M. S. Beagle, which 

 was then preparing to start on a voyage of observation in the 

 South Seas. Professor Henslow recommended him as the 

 fittest person he knew to undertake the work> He collected 

 a huge number of specimens, few of which he had the time to 

 accurately describe, but they were brought home and made use 

 of, partly by himself and partly by other naturalists. The 

 voyage occupied five years, and was a most important event in 

 his life ; he became known to the scientific world and formed 

 friendships which were never broken in life. All who knew him 

 were charmed by his pure enthusiasm, his love of the subjects 

 he studied, and the ungrudging labours he bestowed on them. 

 When he returned from his voyage his observations and col- 

 lections attracted attention, and he read papers before the 

 <jreological and Zoological Societies, and was asked to take the 

 Secretaryship of the Zoological Society, but declined. As a 

 result of this voyage he published his famous book — " Journal 

 of Besearches of a Naturalist," and his book on " Coral Beefs," 

 besides various other geological papers. 



With respect to the " Coral Beefs " Sir Charles Lyell said ifl 

 a letter — " I am full of Darwin's new theory of Coral Islands. 

 I must give up my volcanic crater theory for ever, though it cost 

 me a pang at first, for it accounted for so much ; the annular 

 form, the central lagoon, — and the sudden rising of an isolated 

 •mountain in a deep sea." 



When he returned from his voyage he married and settled in 

 ■London, devoting himself to arranging his collections and to 

 further researches ; but his health began to fail, so he bought a 

 quiet country house at Down in Kent, retired there and spent 

 the rest of his life there. There he lived a simple country life, 

 which would have been very enjoyable, if it had not been for 

 his bad health. He worked so many hours a day regularly, 

 keeping a careful record of the time ; he devoted a certain time 

 .to newspapers and novels. He interested himself to some 

 extent in village affairs, for he acted as Secretary to a Friendly 

 Society and to a Coal Club. His personal character was of the 



