2831.] BAROMETERS. 213 



you know Humboldt ? (if you don't, do so "directly.) With 

 what intense pleasure he appears always to look back on the 

 days spent in the tropical countries. I hope when you next 

 write to Osmaston, [you will] tell them my scheme, and give 

 them my kindest regards and farewells. 



Good-bye, my dear Fox 



Yours ever sincerely, 



CHAS. DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to R. Fits-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 

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

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

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

 persond 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 39-4Oths 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, 



Q 2 



