1831.] DEGREE. 183 



has some curious religious opinions. I never perceived any- 

 thing of it, have you? I am very glad to hear, after all 

 your delays, you have heard of a curacy where you may 

 read all the commandments without endangering your throat. 

 I am also still more glad to hear that your mother continues 

 steadily to improve. I do trust that you will have no further 

 cause for uneasiness. With every wish for your happiness, 

 my dear old Fox, 



Believe me yours most sincerely, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. DariL'in to W. D. Fox. 



Cambridge, Sunday, January 23, 1831. 

 MY DEAR FOX, 



I do hope you will excuse my not writing before I 

 took my degree. I felt a quite inexplicable aversion to write 

 to anybody. But now I do most heartily congratulate you 

 upon passing your examination, and hope you find your 

 curacy comfortable. If it is my last shilling (I have not 

 many), I will come and pay you a visit. 



I do not know why the degree should make one so 

 miserable, both before and afterwards. I recollect you were 

 sufficiently wretched before, and I can assure [you] I am now, 

 and what makes it the more ridiculous is, I know not what 

 about. I believe it is a beautiful provision of nature to make 

 one regret the less leaving so pleasant a place as Cambridge ; 

 and amongst all its pleasures I say it for once and for all 

 none so great as my friendship with you. I sent you a news- 

 paper yesterday, in which you will see what a good place [loth] 

 I have got in the Poll. As for Christ's, did you ever see such 

 a college for producing Captains and Apostles ?* There are no 

 men either at Emmanuel or Christ's plucked. Cameron is 



* The " Captain " is at the head the last twelve in the Mathematical 

 of the " Poll " : the " Apostles " are Tripos. 



