i83i.] BAROMETERS. 1 87 



C. Darwin to R. Fitz-Roy. 



17 Spring Gardens [October 17 ? 1831]. 



Dear Fitz-Roy, 



Very many thanks for your letter ; it has made me most 

 comfortable, for it would have been heart-breaking to have 

 left anything quite behind, and I never should have thought 

 of sending things by some other vessel. This letter will, I 

 trust, accompany some talc. I read your letter without at- 

 tending to the name. But I have now procured some from 

 Jones, which appears very good, and I will send it this even- 

 ing by the mail. You will be surprised at not seeing me 

 propria persona instead of my handwriting. But I had just 

 found out that the large steam-packet did not intend to sail 

 on Sunday, and I was picturing to myself a small, dirty cabin, 

 with the proportion of 39-40ths of the passengers very sick, 

 when Mr. Earl came in and told me the Beagle would not sail 

 till the beginning of November. This, of course, settled the 

 point ; so that I remain in London one week more. I shall 

 then send heavy goods by steamer and start myself by the 

 coach on Sunday evening. 



Have you a good set of mountain barometers ? Several 

 great guns in the scientific world have told me some points 

 in geology to ascertain which entirely depend on their relative 

 height. If you have not a good stock, I will add one more 

 to the list. I ought to be ashamed to trouble you so much, 

 but will you send one line to inform me } I am daily becoming 

 more anxious to be off, and, if I am so, you must be in a per- 

 fect fever. What a glorious day the 4th of November will 

 be to me ! My second life will then commence, and it shall 

 be as a birthday for the rest of my life. 



Believe me, dear Fitz-Roy, 



Yours most sincerely, 



Chas. Darwin. 



Monday. — I hope I have not put you to much inconven- 

 ience by ordering the room in readiness. 



