8 EARLY LETTERS [Chap. I 



Letter 2 these I like very much. I said this account should be short, 

 but I am afraid it has been too long, like the lectures them- 

 selves. 



1 will be a good boy and tell something about Johnson 

 again (not but what I am very much surprised that Papa 

 should so forget himself as call me, a Collegian in the 

 University of Edinburgh, a boy). He has changed his 

 lodgings for the third time ; he has got very cheap ones, 

 but I am afraid it will not answer, for they must make up 

 by cheating. I hope you like Erasmus' official news, he 

 means to begin every letter so. You mentioned in your 

 letter that Emma was staying with you: if she is not gone, 

 ask her to tell Jos that I have not succeeded in getting 

 any titanium, but that I will try again. ... I want to know 

 how old I shall be next birthday — I believe 17, and if so, 

 1 shall be forced to go abroad for one year, since it is 

 necessary that I shall have completed my 21st year before 

 I take my degree. Now you have no business to be frowning 

 and puzzling over this letter, for I did not promise to write 

 a good hand to you. 



Lettcr3 To J. S. Henslow. 



Extracts from Darwin's letters to Henslow were read before the 



Cambridge Philosophical Society on Nov. 16th, 1835. Some of the letters 



were subsequently printed, in an 8vo pamphlet of 31 pp., dated Dec. 1st, 



1835, for private distribution among the members of the Society. A 



German translation by W. Preyer appeared in the Deutsche Rundschau, 



June iSyi. 



[15th Aug., 1S32. Monte Video.] 



We are now beating up the Rio Plata, and I take the 

 opportunity of beginning a letter to you. I did not send 

 off the specimens from Rio Janeiro, as I grudged the time 

 it would take to pack them up. They are now ready to be 

 sent off and most probably go by this packet. If so they 

 go to Falmouth (where Fitz-Roy has made arrangements) 

 and so will not trouble your brother's agent in London. 

 When I left England I was not fully aware how essential 

 a kindness you offered me when you undertook to receive 

 my boxes. I do not know what I should do without such 

 head-quarters. And now for an apologetical prose about my 

 collection : I am afraid you will say it is very small, but 

 I have not been idle, and you must recollect what a very 



