56 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



From my return to England (October 2, 1836) to my marriage 

 (January 29, 1839). 



These two years and three months were the most active 

 ones which I ever spent, though I was occasionally unwell, 

 and so lost some time. After going backwards and forwards 

 several times between Shrewsbury, Maer, Cambridge, and 

 London, I settled in lodgings at Cambridge * on December 

 1 3th, where all my collections were under the care of Hens- 

 low. I stayed here three months, and got my minerals and 

 rocks examined by the aid of Professor Miller. 



I began preparing my 'Journal of Travels,' which was not 

 hard work, as my MS. Journal had been written with care, 

 and my chief labour was making an abstract of my more in- 

 teresting scientific results. I sent also, at the request of 

 Lyell, a short account of my observations on the elevation of 

 the coast of Chile to the Geological Society, f 



On March yth, 1837, I took lodgings in Great Marlborough 

 Street in London, and remained there for nearly two years, 

 until I was married. During these two years I finished my 

 Journal, read several papers before the Geological Society, 

 began preparing the MS. for my * Geological Observations,' 

 and arranged for the publication of the ' Zoology of the Voy- 

 age of the Beagle' In July I opened my first note-book for 

 facts in relation to the Origin of Species, about which I had 

 long reflected, and never ceased working for the next twenty 

 years. 



During these two years I also went a little into society, 

 and acted as one of the honorary secretaries of the Geological 

 Society. I saw a great deal of Lyell. One of his chief char- 

 acteristics was his sympathy with the work of others, and I 

 was as much astonished as delighted at the interest which he 

 showed when, on my return to England, I explained to him 

 my views on coral reefs. This encouraged me greatly, and 

 his advice and example had much influence on me. During 



* In Fitzwilliam Street. 



f ' Geolog. Soc. Proc.' ii. 1838, pp. 446-449. 



