I9O THE APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' ^TAT. 22. [1831. 



Canaries, of which slight mention occurs in letters to Fox 

 and Henslow. 



In April 1831 he writes to Fox : "At present I talk, think, 

 and dream of a scheme I have almost hatched of going to the 

 Canary Islands. I have long had a wish of seeing tropical 

 scenery and vegetation, and, according to Humboldt, TenerifTe 

 is a very pretty specimen." And again in May : " As for my 

 Canary scheme, it is rash of you to ask questions ; my other 

 friends most sincerely wish me there, I- plague them so with 

 talking about tropical scenery, &c. Eyton will go next 

 summer, and I am learning Spanish." 



Later on in the summer the scheme took more definite 

 form, and the date seems to have been fixed for June 1832. 

 He got information in London about passage-money, and in 

 July was working at Spanish and calling Fox "un gran- 

 di'simo lebron," in proof of his knowledge of the language ; 

 which, however, he found " intensely stupid." But even then 

 he seems to have had some doubts about his companions' 

 zeal, for he writes to Henslow (July 27, 1831) : "I hope you 

 continue to fan your Canary ardour. I read and re-read 

 Humboldt ; do you do the same ? I am sure nothing will 

 prevent us seeing the Great Dragon Tree." 



Geological work and TenerifTe dreams carried him through 

 the summer, till on returning from Barmouth for the sacred 

 1st of September, he received the offer of appointment as 

 Naturalist to the Beagle. 



The following extract from the pocket-book will be a help 

 in reading the letters : 



"Returned to Shrewsbury at end of August. Refused 

 offer of voyage. 



" September. Went to Maer, returned with Uncle Jos. to 

 Shrewsbury, thence to Cambridge. London. 



" i \th. Went with Captain Fitz-Roy in steamer to Plymouth 

 to see the Beagle. 



