35 



CHAPTER V. 



DOWN — GEOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE — WORK ON 

 CIRRIPEDES (1842-54). 



From September 14th, 1842, until his death, Darwin 

 resided at Down, living a very retired life, and almost 

 exclusively engaged in his scientific researches. Al- 

 though Down is only twenty miles from London, it 

 is three miles from the nearest railway station (Or- 

 pington), and is only now for the first time receiving 

 a telegraph office. A home in such a place enabled 

 Darwin to pursue his work without interruption, 

 remaining, at the same time, within easy reach of 

 all the advantages of London. Here, too, he had 

 no difficulty in avoiding social engagements, which 

 always injured his very precarious health, and thus 

 interfered with work ; although, at the same time, 

 he could entertain in his own house at such times 

 as he felt able to do so. 



In 1844, and again in 1846, he published works 

 on the geology of the voyage of the Beagle ; the first 

 on the Volcanic Islands visited, the second on South 

 America. A second edition, in which both were com- 

 bined in a single work, appeared in 1876. He seemed 

 somewhat disappointed at the small amount of at- 

 tention they at first attracted, and wrote with much 



