CHARLES DARWIN. 95 



Perhaps it was hardly fair to misprize (it happened a 

 few pages back) Mr. Darwin's knowledge of character ; 

 for no one can possibly read the above without agreeing 

 that Charles Darwin not only could, in that regard, see, 

 but name. We have no difficulty to " agnize " all that 

 has been described the bold young man and gentleman 

 that is nephew of the Duke of Grafton, and a descendant 

 of that king, the gracious, graceful, graceless Charles II. 

 He is captain of a man-of-war, and yet only twenty-three 

 years old, while his naturalist is but twenty-two ; that 

 is, both, so far as age goes, boys : neither likely, then, 

 to avoid the other's angles from the consideration and 

 composure that are born of experience. Before sailing, 

 Captain Fitz-Boy was to Charles Darwin "everything 

 that is delightful," his " beau ideal of a captain ; " " you 

 cannot imagine anything more pleasant, kind, and open ; " 

 " if I was to praise him half so much as I feel inclined, 

 you would say it was absurd ; " " there is something most 

 extremely attractive in his manners and way of coming 

 straight to the point ; " " he asked me at once, ' Shall 

 you bear being told that I want the cabin to myself 

 when I want to be alone ? if we treat each other this 

 way, I hope we shall suit ; if not, probably we should 

 wish each other at the devil.' " After sailing, however, 

 it is not long before the picture becomes as we have 

 above seen it. By and by he writes, " The captain 

 keeps all smooth by rowing every one in turn." It 

 is very remarkable the perfectly respectful and friendly, 

 but unhesitatingly firm front which the concessive 

 Charles Darwin, who would not hurt the feelings of a 

 liy, keeps to the impetuous young commander who knows 

 not a check or a curb to the instant expression of his 

 will. He had said it the slaves spoke true you doubt 

 my word we part we cannot any longer live together ! 

 Self-willed, just as a matter of course the instant, 



