i835.] LIMA. 233 



neath water ; yet it is clear the spot where the trees grew 

 must once have been above the level of the sea, so that it is 

 certain the land must have been depressed by at least as 

 many thousand feet as the superincumbent subaqueous de- 

 posits are thick. But I am afraid you will tell me I am prosy 

 with my geological descriptions and theories. . . . 



Your account of Erasmus' visit to Cambridge has made 

 me long to be back there. I cannot fancy anything more de- 

 lightful than his Sunday round of King's, Trinity, and those 

 talking giants, Whewell and Sedgwick ; I hope your musical 

 tastes continue in due force. I shall be ravenous for the 

 pianoforte. . . . 



. I have not quite determined whether I will sleep at the 

 ' Lion ' the first night when I arrive per ' Wonder,' or disturb 

 you all in the dead of the night ; everything short of that is 

 absolutely planned. Everything about Shrewsbury is growing 

 in my mind bigger and more beautiful ; I am certain the 

 acacia and copper beech are two superb trees ; I shall know 

 every bush, and I will trouble you young ladies, when each 

 of you cut down your tree, to spare a few. As for the view 

 behind the house, I have seen nothing like it. It is the same 

 with North Wales ; Snowdon, to my mind, looks much higher 

 and much more beautiful than any peak in the Cordilleras. 

 So you will say, with my benighted faculties, it is time to re- 

 turn, and so it is, and I long to be with you. Whatever the 

 trees are, I know what I shall find all you. I am writing 

 nonsense, so farewell. My most affectionate love to all, ani 

 I pray forgiveness from my father. 



Yours most affectionately, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to W. D. Fox. 



Lima, July, 1835. 

 MY DEAR Fox, 



I have lately received two of your letters, one dated June 

 and the other November, 1834 (they reached me, however, 

 in an inverted order). I was very glad to receive a history 



