Ch. V.] 1831. 119 



a part of Captain Fitz-Roy's letter, dated somo time ago, in 

 which he says : * I have a right good set of officers, and most 

 of my men havo been there beforo.' It seems he has been 

 there for the last few years ; he was then second in command 

 with the same vessel that he has now chosen. He is only 

 twruty-threo years old, but [has] seen a deal of service, and 

 won the gold medal at Portsmouth. The Admiralty say his 

 maps are most perfect. IIo had choice of two vessels, and ho 

 chose the smallest. Henslow will give me letters to all 

 travellers in town whom he thinks may assist me. 



I write as if it was sottlod, but Henslow tells me by 



no means to make up my mind till I have had long conversations 

 with Captains Beaufort and Fitz-Roy. Good-bye. You will 

 hear from me constantly. Direct 17 Spring Gardens. Tell 

 nobody in Shropshire yet. Bo sure not 



I was so tired that evening I was in Shrewsbury that I 

 thanked none of you for your kindness half so much as I felt. 

 Love to my father. 



Tho reason I don't want people told in Shropshire : in case 

 I should not go, it will make it more flat. 



At this stage of the transaction, a hitch occurred. Captain 

 Fitz-Roy, it scorns, wished to take a friend (Mr. Chester) as 

 companion on the voyage, and accordingly wrote to Cambridge 

 in such a discouraging strain, that Darwin gave up hope and 

 hardly thought it worth his while to go to London (September 5). 

 Fortunately, however, he did go, and found that Mr. Chester 

 could not leave England. When the physiognomical, or nose- 

 difficulty (Autobiography, p. 26.) occurred, I have no means of 

 knowing : for at this interview Fitz-Roy was evidently well- 

 disposed towards him. 



My father wrote : — 



" Ho offers me to go shares in everything in his cabin if I 

 like to come, and every sort of accommodation I can have, but 

 they will not be numerous. He says nothing would be so 

 miserable for him as having me with him if I was uncomfort- 

 able, as in a small vessel we must bo thrown together, and 

 thought it his duty to state everything in the worst point of 

 view. I think I shall go on Sunday to Plymouth to see the 

 vessel. 



" There is something most extremely attractive in his manners 

 and way of coming straight to the point. If I live with him, 

 he says I must live poorly — no wine, and the plainest dinners. 

 The scheme is not certainly so good as Peacock describes. 

 Captain Fitz-Roy advises me not [to] make up my mind quite 



