206 THE APPOINTMENT TO THE ' BEAGLE.' &TAT. 22. [1831. 



C. Darwin to Miss Susan Darwin. 



17 Spring Gardens, Tuesday. 



[September 6, 1831.] 



MY DEAR SUSAN, 



Again I am going to trouble you. I suspect, if I 

 keep on at this rate, you will sincerely wish me at Tierra del 

 Fuego, or any other Terra, but England. First I will give 

 my commissions. Tell Nancy to make me some twelve 

 instead of eight shirts. Tell Edward to send me up in my 

 carpet-bag (he can slip the key in the bag tied to some 

 string), my slippers, a pair of lightish walking-shoes, my 

 Spanish books, my new microscope (about six inches long and 

 three or four deep), which must have cotton stuffed inside ; 

 my geological compass ; my father knows that ; a little book, 

 if I have got it in my bedroom 'Taxidermy.' Ask my 

 father if he thinks there would be any objection to my taking 

 arsenic for a little time, as my hands are not quite well, and 

 I have always observed that if I once get them well, and 

 change my manner of living about the same time, they will 

 generally remain well. What is the dose ? Tell Edward my 

 gun is dirty. What is Erasmus's direction ? Tell me if you 

 think there is time to write and to receive an answer before I 

 start, as I should like particularly to know what he thinks 

 about it. I suppose you do not know Sir J. Mackintosh's 

 direction ? 



I write all this as if it was settled, but it is not more than 

 it was, excepting that from Captain Fitz-Roy wishing me so 

 much to go, and, from his kindness, I feel a predestination I 

 shall start. I spent a very pleasant evening with him yester- 

 day. He must be more than twenty-three years old ; he 

 is of a slight figure, and a dark but handsome edition of 

 Mr. Kynaston, and, according to my notions, pre-eminently 

 good manners. He is all for economy, excepting on one 

 point viz., fire-arms. He recommends me strongly to get a 



