i833.] HOME LETTERS. 217 



me most kindly to Mrs. Henslow and all other friends ; I am 

 a true lover of Alma Mater and all its inhabitants. 

 Believe m-e, my dear Henslow, 



Your affectionate and most obliged friend, 



Charles Darwin. 



C. Darwin to Miss C. Darwin. 



Maldonado, Rio Plata, May 22, 1833. 



. . . The following business piece is to my father. Hav- 

 ing a servant of my own would be a really great addition to 

 my comfort. For these two reasons : as at present the Cap- 

 tain has appointed one of the men always to be with me, but 

 I do not think it just thus to take a seaman out of the ship; 

 and, secondly, when at sea I am rather badly off for any one 

 to wait on me. The man is willing to be my servant, 

 and all the expenses would be under £^60 per annum. I 

 have taught him to shoot and skin birds, so that in my main 

 object he is very useful. I have now left England nearly a 

 year and a half, and I find my expenses are not above £^"2.00 

 per annum ; so that, it being hopeless (from time) to write 

 for permission, I have come to the conclusion that you would 

 allow me this expense. But I have not yet resolved to ask 

 the Captain, and the chances are even that he would not be 

 willing to have an additional man in the ship. I have men- 

 tioned this because for a long time I have been thinking 

 about it. 



June. — I have just received a bundle more letters. I do 

 not know how to thank you all sufficiently. One from Cath- 

 erine, Feb. 8th, another from Susan, March 3rd, together with 

 notes from Caroline and from my father ; give my best love 

 to my father. I almost cried for pleasure at receiving it ; it 

 was very kind thinking of writing to me. My letters are both 

 few, short, and stupid in return for all yours ; but I always 

 ease my conscience by considering the Journal as a long let- 

 ter. If I can manage it, I will, before doubling the Horn, 

 send the rest. I am quite delighted to find the hide of the 



