Oh. V.] 1831. 121 



I shall buy nothing till everything is settled ; but I work all 

 day long at my lists, putting in and striking out articles. This 

 is the first really cheerful day I have spent since I received 

 the letter, and it all is owing to the sort of involuntary confidence 

 I place in my beau ideal of a Captain. 



We stop at Teneriffe. His object is to stop at as many 

 places as possible. He takes out twenty chronometers, and it 

 will be a " sin " not to settle the longitude. He tells me to 

 get it down in writing at the Admiralty that I have the fro« 

 choice to leave as soon and whenever I like. I daresay you 

 expect I shall turn back at the Madoira ; if I have a morsel of 

 stomach left, I won't give up. Excuse my so often troubling 

 and writing : the one is of great utility, the other a great amuse- 

 ment to me. Most likely I shall write to-morrow. Answer by 

 return of post. Love to my father, dearest Susan. 



C. B. to J. S. Hcwlow. 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 bo 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 ac- 

 commodations. The instructions are very general, and leave 

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

 substantial 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 very wisely 

 in not coming, that is judging from my own feelings, for I 

 am sure if I had left college' some'few years, or been those years 

 older I never could have endured it. The officers (excepting 

 the Captain) are like the freshest freshmen, that is in their 

 manners, in everything else widely different. Remember me 

 most kindly to him, and tell him if ever he dreams in the 

 night of palm-trees, he may in the morning comfort himself 

 with the assurance that the voyage would not have suited him. 



