Ch. VI.] 1831—1836. 139 



and can tell him how grateful I feel for his kindness and 

 friendship. 



Believe me, dear Henslow, ever yours most faithfully. 



G. D. to J. S. Henslow. Shrewsbury [October, 6 1836]. 



My dear Henslow — I am sure you will congratulate me on 

 the delight of onco again being home. The Beagle arrived at 

 Falmouth on Sunday ovening, and I reached Shrewsbury 

 yesterday morning. I am exceedingly anxious to see you, and 

 as it will be necessary in four or five days to return to London 

 to get my goods and chattels out of the Beagle, it appears to 

 me my best plan to pass through Cambridge. I want your 

 advice on many points ; indeed I am in the clouds, and neither 

 know what to do or where to go. My chief puzzle is about 

 the geological specimens — who will have the charity to help 

 me in describing their mineralogical nature ? Will you bo 

 kind enough to write to me one line by return of post, saying 

 whether you are now at Cambridge ? I am doubtful till I hear 

 from Captain Fitz-Koy whether I shall not be obliged to start 

 before the answer can arrive, but pray try the chanco. My 

 dear Henslow, I do long to see you ; you have been the kindest 

 friond to me that ever man possessed. I can write no more, 

 for I am giddy with joy and confusion. 



Farewell for the present, 



Yours most truly obliged. 



After his return and settlement in London, he began to 

 realise the value of what he had done, and wrote to Captain 

 Fitz-Eoy — " However others may look back to the Beagle's 

 voyage, now that the small disagreeable parts are well-nigh 

 forgotten, I think it far the most fortunate circumstance 

 in my life that tho chance afforded by your offer of taking 

 a Naturalist fell on me. I often have the most vivid and 

 delightful pictures of what I saw on board the Beagle* pass 

 before my eyes. These recollections, and what I learnt on 

 Natural History, I would not exchange for twice ten thousand 

 a year." 



* According to the Japan Weekly Nail, as quoted in Nature, March 8, 

 1888, the Beagle is in use as a training ship at Yokosuka, in Japan. Part 

 of the old ship is, I am glad to think, in my possession, in the form of a 

 box (which I owe to the kindness of Admiral Mellersh) made out of her 

 main cross-tree. 



