Cn. V.] 1831. 115 



Geological work and Tonoriffo dreams carried him through 

 the summer, till on returning from Barmouth for the sacred 

 1st of September, he receivod the oiler of appointment as 

 Naturalist to the Beagle 



Tho following extract from tlio pocket-book will bo a help 

 in reading tho letters : — 



" Returned to Shrewsbury at end of August Refused offer 

 of voyage. 



"September. — Went to Macr, roturned with Uncle Jos. to 

 Shrewsbury, thonce to Cambridge. London. 



"11/A. — Went with Captain Fitz-Roy in steamer to Ply- 

 mouth to see the Beagle. 



'• -11 ad. — Returned to Shrewsbury, passing through Cam- 

 bridge. 



" October 2nd. — Took leave of my homo. Stayed in London, 



" 2ith.— Reached Plymouth. 



" October and November. — These months very miserable 



" December 10th. — Sailed, but were obliged to put back. 



" 21st. — Put to soa again, and wore drivon back. 



" 27th. — Sailed from England on our Circumnavigation." 



George Peacock * to J. S. Eenslow [1831]. 



My dear IIenslow — Captain Fitz-Roy is going out to survey 

 tho southern coast of Tierra del Fuogo, and afterwards to visit 

 many of the South Sea Islands, and to return by tho Indian 

 Archipelago. Tho vessel is fitted out expressly for scientific 

 purposes, combined with tho survey ; it will furnish, therofore, 

 a rare opportunity for a naturalist, and it would bo a great 

 misfortune that it should be lost. 



An offer has been made to me to recommend a proper 

 person to go out as a naturalist with this expedition ; he will 

 bo treated with every consideration. The Captain is a young 

 man of very pleasing manners (a nephew of the Duke of 

 Grafton), of great zeal in his profession, and who is very 

 highly spoken of ; if Leonard Jenyns could go, what treasures 

 he might bring home with him, as the ship would be placed 

 at his disposal whenever his inquiries made it necessary or 

 desirable. In the absence of so accomplished a naturalist, is 

 thero any person whom you could strongly recommend? he 

 must be such a person as would do credit to our recommenda- 

 tion. Do think of this subject ; it would be a serious loss to 



* Formerly Dean of Ely, and Lowndean Professor of Astronomy at 

 Cambridge. 



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