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



but will you send one line to inform me? I am daily be- 

 coming more anxious to be off, and, if I am so, you must be 

 in a perfect fever. What a glorious day the 4th of November 

 will be to me ! My second life will then commence, and it 

 shall be as a birthday for the rest of my life. 



Believe me, dear Fitz-Roy, 



Yours most sincerely, 



CHAS. DARWIN. 



Monday. I hope I have not put you to much incon- 

 venience by ordering the room in readiness. 



C. Darwin to J. S. Henslow. 



Devonport, November 15, 1831. 



MY DEAR HENSLOW, 



The orders are come down from the Admiralty, and 

 everything is finally settled. We positively sail the last day 

 of this month, and I think before that time the vessel will be 

 ready. She looks most beautiful, even a landsman must 

 admire her. We all think her the most perfect vessel ever 

 turned out of the Dockyard. One thing is certain, no vessel 

 has been fitted out so expensively, and with so much care. 

 Everything that can be made so is of mahogany, and nothing 

 can exceed the neatness and beauty of all the accommoda- 

 tions. The instructions are very general, and leave a great 

 deal to the Captain's discretion and judgment, paying a sub- 

 stantial as well as a verbal compliment to him. 



***** 



No vessel ever left England with such a set of Chrono- 

 meters, viz. twenty-four, all very good ones. In short, every- 

 thing is well, and I have only now to pray for the sickness to 

 moderate its fierceness, and I shall do very well. Yet I 

 should not call it one of the very best opportunities for natural 

 history that has ever occurred. The absolute want of room is 

 an evil that nothing can surmount. I think L. Jenyns did 



