l82 APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' .ETAT. 22. [1S31. 



on the books for victuals, and he thinks I shall have no diffi- 

 culty about my collections when I come home. But he is too 

 deep a fish for me to make him out. The only thing that 

 now prevents me finally making up my mind, is the want of 

 certainty about the South Sea Islands ; although morally I 

 have no doubt we should go there whether or no it is put in 

 the instructions. Captain Fitz-Roy says I do good by plagu- 

 ing Captain Beaufort, it stirs him up with a long pole. Cap- 

 tain Fitz-Roy says he is sure he has interest enough (particu- 

 larly if this Administration is not everlasting — I shall soon 

 turn Tory !), anyhow, even when out, to get the ship ordered 

 home by whatever track he likes. From what Wood says, I 

 presume the Dukes of Grafton and Richmond interest them- 

 selves about him. By the way. Wood has been of the great- 

 est use to me ; and I am sure his personal introduction of 

 me inclined Captain Fitz-Roy to have me. 



To explain things from the very beginning : Captain Fitz- 

 Roy first wished to have a Naturalist, and then he seems to 

 have taken a sudden horror of the chances of having some- 

 body he should not like on board the vessel. He confesses 

 his letter to Cambridge was to throw cold water on the scheme. 

 I don't think we shall quarrel about politics, although Wood 

 (as might be expected from a Londonderry) solemnly warned 

 Fitz-Roy that I was a Whig. Captain Fitz-Roy was before 

 Uncle Jos., he said, " now your friends will tell you a sea- 

 captain is the greatest brute on the face of the creation. I do 

 not know how to help yoa in this case, except by hoping you 

 will give me a trial." How one does change I I actually now 

 wish the voyage was longer before we touch land. I feel my 

 blood run cold at the quantity I have to do. Everybody 

 seems ready to assist me. The Zoological want to make me 

 a corresponding member. All this I can construct without 

 crossing the Equator. But one friend is quite invaluable, viz., 

 a Mr. Yarrell, a stationer, and excellent naturalist.* He goes 



* William Yarrell, well known for his ' History of British Birds ' and 

 * History of British Fishes,' was born in 1784. He inherited from his 



