2O2 THE APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' JETAT. 22. 



cabin if I like to come, and every sort of accommodation that 

 I can have, but they will not be numerous. He says nothing 

 would be so miserable for him as having me with him if 

 I was uncomfortable, as in a small vessel we must be thrown 

 together, and thought it his duty to state everything in the 

 worst point of view. I think I shall go on Sunday ta 

 Plymouth to see the vessel. 



There is something most extremely attractive in his 

 manners and way of coming straight to the point. If I live 

 with him, he says I must live poorly no wine, and the 

 plainest dinners. The scheme is not certainly so good as 

 Peacock describes. Captain Fitz-Roy advises me not [to] 

 make up my mind quite yet, but that, seriously, he thinks it 

 will have much more pleasure than pain for me. The vessel 

 does not sail till the loth of October. It contains sixty men, 

 five or six officers, &c., but is a small vessel. It will probably 

 be out nearly three years. I shall pay to mess the same as. 

 [the] Captain does himself, 30 per annum ; and Fitz-Roy 

 says if I spend, including my outfitting, 500, it will be 

 beyond the extreme. But now for still worse news. The 

 round the world is not certain, but the chance most excellent. 

 Till that point is decided, I will not be so. And you may 

 believe, after the many changes I have made, that nothing 

 but my reason shall decide me. 



Fitz-Roy says the stormy sea is exaggerated ; that if I do 

 not choose to remain with them, I can at any time get home 

 to England, so many vessels sail that way, and that during 

 bad weather (probably two months), if I like, I shall be left 

 in some healthy, safe and nice country ; that I shall always 

 have assistance ; that he has many books, all instruments, 

 guns, at my service ; that the fewer and cheaper clothes 

 I take the better. The manner of proceeding will just suit 

 me. They anchor the ship, and then remain for a fortnight 

 at a place. I have made Captain Beaufort perfectly under- 

 stand me. He says if I start and do not go round the world. 



