RETROSPECT. 305 



where we stayed six days. On the 2d of October 

 we made the shores of England, and at Fahnouth 

 I left the Beagle, having lived on board the good 

 little vessel nearly five years. 



Our voyage having come to an end, I will take 

 a short retrospect of the advantages and disadvan- 

 tages, the pains and pleasures, of our circumnavi- 

 gation of the world. If a person asked my advice 

 before undertaking a long voyage, my answer 

 would depend upon his possessing a decided taste 

 for some branch of knowledge, which could by this 

 means be advanced. No doubt it is a high satis- 

 faction to behold various countries and the many 

 races of mankind, but the pleasures gained at the 

 time do not counterbalance the evils. It is neces- 

 sary to look forward to a harvest, however distant 

 that may be, when some fruit will be reaped, some 

 good effected. 



Many of the losses which must be experienced 

 are obvious, such as that of the society of every 

 old friend, and of the sight of those places with 

 which every dearest remembrance is so intimately 

 connected. These losses, however, are at the time 

 partly relieved by the exhaustless delight of an- 

 ticipating the long-wished-for day of return. If, 

 as poets say, life is a dream, I am sure, in a voyage, 

 these are the visions which best serve to pass away 

 the long night. Other losses, although not at first 

 felt, tell heavily after a period : these are the want 

 of room, of seclusion, of rest ; the jading feeling 

 of constant hurry ; the privation of small luxuries, 

 the loss of domestic society, and even of music and 

 the other pleasures of imagination. When such 

 trifles are mentioned, it is evident that the real 

 grievances, excepting from accidents, of a sea-life 

 are at an end. The short space of sixty years has 

 II. 20 



