194 THE APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' ^ETAT. 22. [1831. 



instance, the South Coast of Tierra del Fuego, afterwards to 

 visit the South Sea Islands, and to return by the Indian 

 Archipelago to England. The expedition is entirely for 

 scientific purposes, and the ship will generally wait your 

 leisure for researches in Natural History, &c. Captain Fitz-Roy 

 is a public-spirited and zealous officer, of delightful manners, 

 and greatly ; beloved by all his brother officers. He went with 

 Captain Beechey,* and spent 1500 in bringing over and edu- 

 cating at his own charge three natives of Patagonia. He 

 engages at his own expense an artist at ^"200 a year to go 

 with him. You may be sure, therefore, of having a very 

 pleasant companion, who will enter heartily into all your 

 views. 



The ship sails about the end of September, and you must 

 lose no time in making known your acceptance to Captain 

 Beaufort, Admiralty Hydrographer. I have had a good deal 

 of correspondence about this matter [with Henslow?], who 

 feels, in common with myself, the greatest anxiety that you 

 should go. I hope that no other arrangements are likely to 

 interfere with it. ... 



The Admiralty are not disposed to give a salary, though 

 they will furnish you with an official appointment, and every 

 accommodation. If a salary should be required, however, I 

 am inclined to think that it would be granted. 



Believe me, my dear Sir, 



Very truly yours, 



GEORGE PEACOCK. 



* For " Beechey," read " King." Fuegians were brought back from 

 I do not find the name Fitz-Roy in Captain King's voyage, 

 the list of Beechey's officers. The 



